Airline watchers hopeful about holiday travel

by Jessica Mador, Minnesota Public Radio

Minneapolis — Airline industry watchers say passenger service should be good this holiday season, if Thanksgiving is any indication.

Minneapolis-based airline analyst Terry Trippler says the airlines worked hard this Thanksgiving to improve their passenger service.

"This is an amazing industry. I don't know what other industry you can see do a 180 so quickly they can have the worlds worst service in the summer and turn around and have the best at Thanksgiving," says Trippler. "I expect no less of them at Christmastime. Of course the wild card in all of this is the weather."

Trippler says passengers who are willing to fly at off-peak times will likely have better service this holiday.

He says airlines are worried about possible passage in Congress of a Passengers Bill of Rights. The proposal would penalize airlines if passengers are stranded on jets without adequate food, water or sanitation.