I doubt a class action on inept airline management and willful failure to comply with regulations will reach the Supreme Court. In its present composition, the court might actually rule in favor of the airlines, and the mistreated passengers and their lawyers probably know it as well.
More likely, the Dept. of Transportation, headed by a competent, former presidential candidate, will introduce new regulations designed to rid the worst of airline misdeeds. Current regulations hold airlines liable only if an event is based on non-airline related causes, like a severe snowstorm. The problem is that for aircraft related problems (e.g., unavailable flight personnel, mechanical problems, delays caused by waiting for a landing gate or a long line of departures ahead of you, lost baggage), the airline rarely takes responsibility, or worse, offers compensation at a fraction of total cost incurred by passengers. Improved regulations, with fines on the airlines added to deter further infractions, could prevent the mess that now occurs regularly, even in good weather conditions. The threat of reverting to an earlier period, when fares were less subject to "market" conditions, should persuade the airlines to shape up, or else. Who knows? Even Qualcomm might find new demand for AI based software that can anticipate future events better than what the airlines are content to live with now?
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