Cha-Ching! There Go Airfares.

Think airfares are high now? Just wait. 

In a desperate attempt to pander to air travelers, the Biden administration just instituted new rules that require airlines to compensate travelers when flights are delayed through the fault of the carrier.

Ole Joe really stuck it to the airline industry, didn’t he?

Actually, he didn’t. In a breathless attempt to portray himself as a champion of the little guy and to make Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appear semi-competent, Biden just guaranteed a new round of fare hikes. You didn’t think the airlines were going to ABSORB that cost, did you? 

You’ll pay every time you purchase a ticket, even if your flight is on time from take off to landing.

As I see it, the government has just two main responsibilities regarding air travel: It needs to ensure that every aircraft is safe and that jets aren’t colliding. 

Oh, one other thing: The government  is responsible for putting air marshals on as many flights a possible to keep the peace on board.

But government doesn’t have any business sticking its nose into customer service.

First, let me say I think airlines ought to compensate passengers when travelers experience delays that are the fault of the airline. Nothing is worse than being part of an angry scrum in a boarding area, trying to rebook a cancelled or impossibly delayed flight.

I’ve been there.

Once, at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, I watched a sweating groom beg American Airlines employees to get him to Minneapolis that Friday night. He was already missing his wedding rehearsal and I could hear his fiancée screaming at him on the phone.

I worried about their marriage.

Our afternoon flight was cancelled and scores of us were on a waiting list to catch the last flight to the twin cities that night. 

We all had somewhere to be - I was covering the Republican convention that nominated John McCain for president. Still, every single person in line voluntarily gave up their place in the queue to push the groom to the top position. One guy even offered to rent a car and break the land-speed record to get him to the church on time.

We cheered when the airline rep with the microphone finally called the groom’s name and the harried man sprinted to the gate.

If memory serves, everyone got to Minnesota that night and we were given vouchers for our trouble.

If we’d been treated poorly, I would have avoided that airline ever after.

Even here in the ORF backwater we have choices when we fly. Some folks hate the cattle car vibe at Southwest Airlines and that airline’s lack of assigned seats. They never fly SWA.

Me? I like the laid-back crews and, being a small person, don’t really care if I get stuck in a middle seat.

Southwest is my go-to airline.

Passengers can shop around and find flights - and carriers - that work for them.

Here’s another example:

I’m looking for a cute summer dress. I thought I found one from an online store the other day, but when I checked the return policy I found that they don’t offer refunds. Only store credits.

Deal breaker.

So I kept looking.

Do I want the Biden administration issuing retail regulations that require all stores to issue cash refunds? No, I don’t. If I don’t like the policy of a store, I’ll shop elsewhere.

It’s the free market.

There are legal remedies available when a company commits fraud, but mandating good customer service?

Not the role of government.

Stop meddling, Joe. Flying’s expensive enough.