Tax Money for Airlines

I viewed with grim distaste the rush of airline CEOs to Congress pleading for U.S. funds to bail them out of their present financial plight (Sept. 19). These are the same people who have stiffed the airline passengers with service that ranged from indifference to insolence, whose announced schedules are changed without notice and who unilaterally reduced commission levels of travel agents. Now, as a U.S. taxpayer, I am asked to throw them a lifeline.

David H. Wallace

Newport Beach

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Because of our fears over the terrorist bombings, my family has postponed a trip to New York City that was planned for the end of September. The airline is charging us $100 per ticket for rescheduling our flight. How can it defend this? Shouldn’t profits be secondary right now?

Steven Weinstock

Los Angeles