Airlines and service...

[Larry Gude]

Bloomberg.com: Exclusive

...I just don't get this.

How hard is it to give a little more room, a little more service and charge for it? What is this race to the bottom business???

 

[vraiblonde]

How hard is it to give a little more room, a little more service and charge for it?

That's one of the problems when you go into cahoots with the government via bailouts and can't just run your business.

Remember when traveling by air was a luxury? Now it's considered a right to fly, and do it cheaply. I would happily pay extra - a good bit extra - to have a comfortable flight. Our JetBlue tickets weren't the cheapest, and wasn't that a pleasant flight?

 

[Larry Gude]

That's...

That's one of the problems when you go into cahoots with the government via bailouts and can't just run your business.

Remember when traveling by air was a luxury? Now it's considered a right to fly, and do it cheaply. I would happily pay extra - a good bit extra - to have a comfortable flight. Our JetBlue tickets weren't the cheapest, and wasn't that a pleasant flight?

...what I'm saying. I will NEVER fly Continental again because they went way too far cramming people in. Southwest has a good rep with me and I'll happily pay an extra $100 to fly Jetblue.

I mean, Jesus, 10% less people on a plane is, on a 130 seat 737, call it 13 less passengers times $200 or so, or $2,600, right? So, $2,600 divided by the remaining 117 people is $22 a piece for Chrissakes. Give me 20% more room and that's $50 freaking dollars in addition to less sodas, peanuts and luggage to handle and weight to carry. Are these people just insane?????

 

[MMDad]

...what I'm saying. I will NEVER fly Continental again because they went way too far cramming people in. Southwest has a good rep with me and I'll happily pay an extra $100 to fly Jetblue.

A huge chunk of the market is business travelers. We are required to travel on the cheapest airline in the cheapest seat available. Catering to these people is the first priority for airlines.

Most airlines have business class and/or first class if you want it. You already have the ability to pay more for more room.

 

[Larry Gude]

Hey...

A huge chunk of the market is business travelers. We are required to travel on the cheapest airline in the cheapest seat available. Catering to these people is the first priority for airlines.

Most airlines have business class and/or first class if you want it. You already have the ability to pay more for more room.

...they know their business. All I know is that I fly less because of this cattle business and I send the kids less. So, if I don't matter, I don't matter. Your boss shouldn't send you on a flight he wouldn't take and have you wore out, cranky and cramped up for a measly $50. Of course, if that's all he thinks his people are worth, he knows his business, too.

 

[MMDad]

...they know their business. All I know is that I fly less because of this cattle business and I send the kids less. So, if I don't matter, I don't matter. Your boss shouldn't send you on a flight he wouldn't take and have you wore out, cranky and cramped up for a measly $50. Of course, if that's all he thinks his people are worth, he knows his business, too.

It's not my boss so much as it is the law.

We used to be able to fly business class overseas. That is now illegal. My last trip to Japan in cattle car was an absolute joy.

 

[Larry Gude]

That's...

It's not my boss so much as it is the law.

We used to be able to fly business class overseas. That is now illegal. My last trip to Japan in cattle car was an absolute joy.

...just ####ed up. I'm suing your company for making it bad on the rest of us.

 

[GWguy]

...what I'm saying. I will NEVER fly Continental again because they went way too far cramming people in. Southwest has a good rep with me and I'll happily pay an extra $100 to fly Jetblue.

I mean, Jesus, 10% less people on a plane is, on a 130 seat 737, call it 13 less passengers times $200 or so, or $2,600, right? So, $2,600 divided by the remaining 117 people is $22 a piece for Chrissakes. Give me 20% more room and that's $50 freaking dollars in addition to less sodas, peanuts and luggage to handle and weight to carry. Are these people just insane?????

I'd agree with you, because I have the means to buy the ticket. There are many who will not or cannot spend more, like families on limited vacation budgets. The difference of $50 (your example) x a family of 4 is an additional $200. That could be a budget breaker. Airlines realize the potential lost $, and do what they have to in order to sell the ticket. Yes, meaningless next to the baggage charges, but what are ya gonna do?

 

[Larry Gude]

Oh come...

I'd agree with you, because I have the means to buy the ticket. There are many who will not or cannot spend more, like families on limited vacation budgets. The difference of $50 (your example) x a family of 4 is an additional $200. That could be a budget breaker.

...on! What's 50 gallons of gas among friends?



Let them fly Cattle Car Air. Hell, stuff 50% more people on that summ#####, cut fares by half and let's have some choice in this world!!!

 

[vraiblonde]

Most airlines have business class and/or first class if you want it. You already have the ability to pay more for more room.

Room is only one of the problems with the airline industry. Last year I went to Branson, MO. On the way back, my flight got canceled because of rain, stranding me in Chicago and costing me $300 for a hotel room. The next flight to the DC area was the next morning - going to Reagan, while my car (and departure airport) was BWI. So there was another $80 or so for transportation back to my car.

Count it up - $380 extra that trip cost me. And the people in business and first class were just as stuck as I was.

 

[MMDad]

...just ####ed up. I'm suing your company for making it bad on the rest of us.

Sue the government. They make the rules, we just have to obey them.

 

[Larry Gude]

Right...

Sue the government. They make the rules, we just have to obey them.

...but the way you get things done is start suing and deposing everyone.

It's the American way.

 

[MMDad]

Room is only one of the problems with the airline industry. Last year I went to Branson, MO. On the way back, my flight got canceled because of rain, stranding me in Chicago and costing me $300 for a hotel room. The next flight to the DC area was the next morning - going to Reagan, while my car (and departure airport) was BWI. So there was another $80 or so for transportation back to my car.

Count it up - $380 extra that trip cost me. And the people in business and first class were just as stuck as I was.

I agree with that. I've been stranded a few times. It's a major PITA.

But there's very little that can be done. Storms, broken airplanes, and other problems happen.

 

[Larry Gude]

I disagree...

I agree with that. I've been stranded a few times. It's a major PITA.

But there's very little that can be done. Storms, broken airplanes, and other problems happen.

..whole heartedly.

Americans are good at squeezing every last efficiency out of something and reducing cost as much as possible. This is all well and good when it results in a great product, such as most commercial aircraft or service. The problems arise when our spirit of competition leads us to forgetting what the original purpose was; moving people where they wanna go in a satisfactory way.

If that is the goal then we should have more airports and more planes. An airline should be fully capable, as a matter of business, of getting more aircraft, even if it is multiple smaller ones, and move people.

What happens when a cab or bus breaks down?