According to this story Air Canada is charging a beligerent passenger $1,350 for causing a 27 minute delay. They say the charges are for "the cost of overtime for flight crew, extra baggage handling and various other unspecified expenses".  While it sounds like the passenger was a real jerk this story has me wondering what would happen if the airlines received bills from every passenger they caused to be late to a meeting, miss a ride, miss a connecting flight, etc.

I think we might have a budding movement here.  Let’s see if we can introduce legislation that would allow us to bill the airlines for all the money they cost us when they’re late.  Of course there are situations when they can’t help it (weather and such), but there are plenty of times when it’s their own fault that the flights are delayed or cancelled.  I’ll tell you right now that a 27 minute delay would fall in the realm of "slight" delay from the airline’s perspective and if they’re going to bill passengers for causing a slight delay then they should be prepared to pay the piper for all the 27 minute delays they cause.

Sign me up.