“Getting there is half the fun” is an expression you don’t hear too much anymore. Maybe that’s because so many of us travel by commercial airline — an experience that’s more akin a root canal procedure than anything remotely enjoyable.

Just how miserable an experience airline travel can be surfaced again earlier this month when one of those 50-passenger regional jets — like we see so often in Tucson — on a flight that took off from Houston at 9:37 p.m. bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul was diverted to Rochester, Minn., due to weather. The plane landed about 12:20 a.m. with intention of refueling going on as soon as weather permitted. But as they waited it got close to 5 a.m. and the crew members on board reached their maximum allowed flight time.

The plane finally went to the terminal where the 47 passengers were allowed off about 6 a.m. About three hours later they reboarded the aircraft with a new flight crew and took off for Minneapolis, where they arrived at 11 a.m.  — 13½ hours after taking off from Houston.

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That’s outrageous. But as we all know it has happened before. And who doesn’t doubt it will happen again?

According to the Associated Press, on the same night, Aug. 7, as these passengers were held hostage, another airliner was similarly diverted to Rochester but those passengers got off their plane and were bussed the 85 miles to Minneapolis.

That may just summarize what’s the matter with airlines these days. It’s hard to tell how passengers on any given flight are going to be treated. There seem to be no standards.

Two years ago Doug Parker, president and CEO of US Airways, gave a speech in Tucson in which he said, “There really are only three things passengers expect of an airline: ‘1. Get me there on time, 2. Get my bags there with me, and 3. Be nice to me’.”

Parker acknowledged that wasn’t setting the bar very high.

Why don’t airlines set higher standards for themselves? As an industry — a service industry, mind you — airlines don’t seem to train their front-line airport employees very well.

We passengers have to share some of the blame. Before the industry was deregulated in 1978, airlines mostly competed on service but since they are no longer subject government rules on where they can fly and what fares they can charge, low airfares rule. With the Internet passengers can make sure they don’t pay a nickel more than they have to.

But then it’s almost as if airlines are punishing passengers for buying their lowest fares.

According to government statistics, there were 278 instances in June of passengers being held on planes for three or more hours.

And once again, Congress is talking about a “passenger bill of rights.” Whenever possible, government regulation is something businesses should try to avoid, especially when it can be done through proper training and common sense.

If airlines don’t figure it out soon, they may regret it. One of these days, the spineless weasels we elect to Congress may actually pass one of these bill of rights laws they’ve been threatening.

Contact David Hatfield at dhatfield@azbiz.com or (520) 295-4237.