Government should make overbooking of flights illegal
The new government rules for air travellers will not address the issues with overbooking. The only way to stop airlines abusing their customers is to make overbooking of flights illegal.
Hotels aren’t allowed to overbook rooms and then turn away travellers when they show up at reception. Cruise ships can’t overbook and leave passengers standing on the dock.
Once a plane is fully sold, only standby tickets should be allowed to be issued, with the standby conditions clearly specified. To protect airlines from cancellation losses, cancellable tickets should be priced at an appropriate premium to cover the risk.
Allowing any business to accept payment for more product than they have available is unfair to customers and should be outlawed.
Steen Petersen, Nanaimo
What about minimum wage?
It’s all very nice that NDP Leader John Horgan and Green party Leader Andrew Weaver are getting along so well on several issues, but I’m curious when they’ll be discussing the $15-per-hour, minimum-wage issue. Or has that matter gone by the wayside? Brian Ellis, Burnaby
Welcome the police
It’s important to remember that police officers most often provide safety, security, outreach and protection. Supporting the stigma of the “strong arm” of law enforcement isn’t healthy or helpful. It’s very sad that some organizers of the Vancouver Pride Parade resist the city police’s participation based on a fear of creating negative feelings among vulnerable minorities. Mokie Burnham, Victoria
Opportunity missed
A journalist asked Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos last week during a news conference with him and U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House: “Do you support President Trump’s plan to build a wall along the Mexican border?”
Santos replied, “I am not here to lecture Mr. Trump.” The latter added, smiling, “Walls work, ask Israel.” The journalist missed the opportunity to rebut Trump by saying, “I will ask Israel and you ask Germany.”
Jerzy Rudowski, Langley
Here’s a theory ...
Has anyone considered that the Republicans planned to impeach Donald Trump all along?
Even the most rabid, right-wing Republican knows that they could never get a religious zealot like U.S. vice-president Mike Pence ever elected as president.
However, think about it, if you elect a complete moron like Trump, who you know will be impeached, you could then assure that your religious zealot of a vice-president puppet will take power by default. Yikes!
Stephen Middleton, Vancouver
Not worthy of court case
Re: Aunt of boy who spent a day tied to another boy at school files suit.
Cry me a river. When I went to school, we had the strap, were caned across the fingers, forced to stand in the corner, belittled in front of other students, told to write lines, given detention, put in the cloak room, and many more weird punishments were dished out by teachers.
I know what happened to Jo-Ann Nahanee’s great-nephew — being tied three-legged-race style to another boy all day — was wrong, but hardly worth a court case.
Brian Barnes, Steveston