Outgoing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg got to play flight attendant on Saturday morning after the United Airlines flight he was traveling on for the short flight from Chicago O’Hare to Traverse City, Michigan, suffered a lengthy tarmac delay.
With just weeks to go before his time in office comes to an end, Buttigieg was in high spirits as he took on the job of the flight attendants by walking the aisle and handing out snacks from a wicker basket.
The moment was caught on camera and shared on Instagram by another passenger on the plane who noted that Buttigieg is just a “regular guy” who also has a “sense of humor.”
Wearing sneakers and a light blue sweater, Buttigieg did, indeed, seem to be enjoying the moment, even if some of the other passengers onboard looked a little confused as to what was going on.
United Airlines flight UA440, marketed as a United Express service and operated by regional carrier GoJet, suffered a delay of one hour and 24 minutes, although the pilots of the CRJ-550 jet were able to make up some of that lost time, landing in Traverse City just over an hour late.
Buttigieg has spent much of his time in office fighting to improve travelers’ rights and claims that a campaign by the Department of Transportation in 2022 resulted in airlines dramatically improving the service they provide to passengers impacted by delays and cancellations.
As a result, nearly every major US airline now promises to rebook delayed passengers on another flight with their airline at no extra cost, and Alaska, American Airlines, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and United will rebook passengers on partner carriers.
Every major airline, with the exception of Frontier, also provides customers with hotel accommodation for overnight delays, while every major carrier, including Frontier, will provide refreshments for delays stretching more than three hours.
Earlier this year, the DOT also pushed through a new regulation that requires airlines to provide a full cash refund to passengers who are facing a significant delay and decide that they no longer want to travel.
Other consumer-friendly legislation has, however, proved more problematic. An attempt by the DOT to force airlines to display ancillary service fees like checked baggage and seat costs upfront is stuck in a legal quagmire after facing opposition from major US carriers, including United.
The ‘junk fees’ regulation was set to come into force in October, but a US Appeals Court granted a stay on implementation of the rule until a full lawsuit, which will examine whether the DOT overstepped its regulatory powers, is heard.
Earlier this month, the DOT published plans to introduce European-style compensation rules that would require airlines to pay passengers if their flight was significantly delayed or canceled.
Although comments on the proposals are now being gathered, it’s unclear whether the incoming Trump administration will proceed with the proposals.
