If ever there was an act of God for which airlines shouldn't have to bear all the expenses, last month's Iceland volcano is one of them. AA refusing to pay the hotel and meals expense of stranded passengers in European countries? Good!
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100502/BIZ/5020376/1076/BIZ/US+airlines+ignore+EU+dictate+to+pay+passengers++costs
This isn't an isolated flight cancellation caused by the airline - this was a natural disaster. If governments want to step in to make the travelers whole, then that's fine. But to saddle private businesses (businesses that are nearly bankrupt as it is) with more costs for which they aren't responsible for causing - that's just stupid.
The European Commission says U.S. airlines should have covered the hotel and food bills of their passengers stranded in Europe during last month's airport shutdown there.
But three U.S. carriers - American, Continental and US Airways - didn't do that in most cases. And they, along with Delta Air Lines, aren't likely to pay off claims submitted afterward by stranded passengers who arranged their own accommodations and meals.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100502/BIZ/5020376/1076/BIZ/US+airlines+ignore+EU+dictate+to+pay+passengers++costs
This isn't an isolated flight cancellation caused by the airline - this was a natural disaster. If governments want to step in to make the travelers whole, then that's fine. But to saddle private businesses (businesses that are nearly bankrupt as it is) with more costs for which they aren't responsible for causing - that's just stupid.