New FAA authorization bill

[Dont call me Shirley]

http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2012/01/faa-bill-compromise/617332/1

Deal on FAA bill tweaks union rules, adds flights in D.C.
By Bart Jansen, USA TODAY Updated 15h 37m ago
By Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Aviation Administration would get a four-year authorization after years of temporary extensions, under a compromise that congressional negotiators announced Tuesday.

The bill calls for $15.9 billion a year for FAA through fiscal year 2015. Lawmakers released only highlights publicly – not the actual legislation – until members of the conference committee have signed it. That was expected before Wednesday. But highlights include:

Among the good stuff: additional beyond perimeter slots for DCA, something that US is bound to try for. Among the not so good stuff: it will be harder for unions to petition for organization (not sure what that has to do with FAA authorization, but that is Congress for you).

 

[flybynite]

It does more than tweak union rules....read it and weep.

This is a backdoor attack against unions by the GOP.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Here's some fallout from the new bill already, courtesy of the Killer Bee's.

Spirit Blames New DOT Rules for Yet Another Fee
One of the DOT's recently enacted rules gives flyers the option to change or cancel a reservation within 24 hours of booking; it's this law in particular that's given Spirit cause to charge extra. The airline's reasoning? By reserving seats for customers who have yet to commit, Spirit will lose inventory and, consequently, money—or so it says. Hence it's passing the purported cost on to its passengers.

It's been a week since the DOT's new rules went into effect, so it's doubtful the airline has had the chance to make an accurate assessment of how much the rules have impacted its bottom line. So it seems that Spirit is using rules created to protect flyers as an excuse to charge them more. Oh, the irony.

Spirit President and CEO Ben Baldanza offers no hard data. Instead, he serves up an artfully stretched metaphor: "People love the idea of not having to commit to a reservation, but this regulation, like most, imposes costs on consumers. Wouldn't we all like to eat all we want and not get fat? Regulators like to try to sell the idea of this rule, but have ignored the cost impact to consumers. You simply can't eat all you want without consequences."

I LOVE this move by Spirit and I hope all other airlines follow suit. The stooges in DC have no business over regulating private enterprise PERIOD, Hooray for the "Killer Bees's" Challenging them and pointing them out for the thieves and Crony Capitalists they are.

This is one fee I'd cheerfully pay. Should US follow their lead?

 

[tech2101]

Here's some fallout from the new bill already, courtesy of the Killer Bee's.

Those DOT rules that went into effect on 1/24/2012 have nothing to do with the FAA Reauthorization Bill that passed yesterday, 2/3/2012.