If you’re flight is canceled, call 877-359-3776 and bitch up a storm bigger than Katrina.

No, that’s not some magical number that will want to hear your complaint or rebook your flight, it’s the hotline to FlyersRights.org — the group run by Kate Hanni, which managed to get the the Passenger Bill of Rights passed through the Department of Transportation.

Now, airlines face severe penalties (up to $27,000 per passenger)  if a plane is delayed and passengers end up stuck on a runway for three hours and one minute.

Yes, there are those nightmare flights that people sit near leaking toilets for hours. According to the DOT, 61 flights were on the tarmac for three hours or more in February. But is that a big number or a little one? We say minuscule, considering how many flight took place in February.

In the Houston Chronicle, Continental Airlines’ CEO Jeff Smisek said passengers could take days to get to their destinations if flights are canceled rather than delayed a few hours.

“The government is inconveniencing more passengers by passing what is candidly a very stupid rule,” Smisek said.

And not to take up the side of Big Air, but things like weather happen. As USA Today pointed out (after our piece mocking the stupid new policy), airlines are much more likely to cancel flights now instead of trying to get a flight rolling. Midwest thunderstorms often cause tarmac delays, as do deicing planes, which we hope airlines continue to do.

But back in the day when there were lots of planes going to the same location, tight budgets and dwindling profits have lead airlines to suck the fun out air travel. Flights are crammed full of poeple and there are fewer options. That means, when the flight is canceled, it could be days before you reach your final destination.

It also means that it’s time to seriously consider flight insurance — because I doubt Kate Hanni is going to pay for your vacation you missed.

Our prediction, in the future, people will have an option to pay a small fee to ensure they are on the next flight.

Related posts:

1. FlyersRights.org tries to raise the price of airline tickets for you
2. You have the right to an iPhone app to make sure you’re not violated
3. By the numbers: Airlines 2009 performance improving, kind of
4. Passengers earn right to leave plane after 3 hours
5. You have to fight for your right to … fly

Tags: canceled flights, flyersrights.org