Alaska Airlines is eligible for $1.2 billion in federal relief from the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s part of a $25 billion package currently being negotiated that will be spread among the major airlines depending on their size.
The focus of the relief is keeping airline employees paid. A worthy idea, and one likely to be followed up by further relief legislation sure to be necessary as pandemic impacts proceed into summer.
That leads me to my beef with airlines. Passengers are not being granted the same relief. Instead of refunds — which many families out of work may desperately need — airlines including Alaska Airlines are offering vouchers. They say they’ll be good when “things get back to normal.”
But no one knows when that will be, or if those passengers will be able to afford travel given the recession that soon could turn into a real depression.
People are doing the right thing to save lives. It’s time for the airlines to do the right thing, too. Grant a voucher if a customer prefers. But pay a refund whenever requested. No questions asked.
Not only is that the right thing to do, it’s also good public relations.
If airlines are not willing to make that move — which I see as tantamount to stealing — then perhaps it is an issue we should raise in Congress. Let this and any future relief package for airlines be contingent upon their agreeing that refunds will be paid when demanded.
— Hal Spence
Homer
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