Another Airline Gone

Gather App
Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support AutomaticWasher.org:

And a lot more failures are on the horizon. UA/CO just called off their merger today after COntinental backed out. United isn't expected to last much longer without a partner.
Frontier is in BK because their credit card processing company got nervous. F9 went for BK to freeze their contract with them.
At Northwest, we are getting ready to be screwed royally by Delta. I'll be lucky if I'll be able to hold a MD-88 line, let alone the possibility of layoffs. Goodbye holidays off!
So there are soon to be many more airline people becoming ex-airline people. And in the meantime we'll be seeing more cities losing airline service as this plays on.
 
Whirlcool, Yeah I totally understand you, we have pulled out of 4 cities so far and sold about 11 planes, just layed off 250 FA's and put 200 pilots back on reserve, I hope that DL doesnt crew with you guys to much, you have been through the wringer and back.. We keep hearing that we are prime picking for a hostile take over by someone, maybe United, Lufthansa already owns 19% of us.. Who knows these days,
 
United/Lufthansa

When I had to get to the US as fast as possible back in 2005, Lufthansa/United weren't the slightest bit interested in helping me.
Delta/Air France bent heaven and earth to get me out as quickly as possible. It is awfully hard to feel any sympathy for United - at the time, I was flying Lufthansa/United six-eight times a month, business class in Europe. Hadn't flown Delta in decades.
Delta and Air France may be a bit more expensive at times, but I will never forget their helping me in a genuine emergency. Also never going to forgive my former "friendly skies" airline. There are many reasons why the airlines are in trouble, but one simple fact of the business world seems to have been forgotten by the young-dynamic-managers running things: You can't run a business without customers. Treat us badly, we will go somewhere else.
The real tragedy is not the loss of Untied Airlines; frankly they deserve to go out of business given their lousy attitude towards customers; no what makes me said is the loss of the workers' jobs. The managers who are largely responsible will all leave with millions of dollars, it's the little folks who will take it in the neck.
 
Southwest Airlines

is the only airline I have ever flown on that even came near treating me like a human being not another cash cow. Get on get off and give us ALL your money is what I have got from all the rest. and I have been on all of them. I think that AA is now the worst. May their ass suck creek water.
 
I haven't ridden on any of the airlines in several years-the last time I rode-Was US Air-They seemed to have the attitude-"If you don't like our service you can walk or drive"The Railroads had this attitude too-and look what happened to passenger rail-people went to the airlines!Now with the bad attitude towards passengers on the airlines-what long haul public transit are they going to?Maybe the railroads should have a rebirth for passenger rail!would ride with them in a heartbeat!At present airlines are losing money-yes due to the incompetent mangements-and railroads are MAKING money-But remember railroads haul mostly freight and cargo-and airlines are supposed to haul people.I stopped riding-the high airline costs in and out of Greenville(one airline)And the lousy service.To get lower prices out here you may have to be willing to drive to Raleigh or Charlette.Again your main choice is USAir.I like other airlines better.In the past United and Delta worked good for me-I miss the real old days of airline riding-when it was actually FUN and not a chore.Like when riding Western Airlines into or out of Rapid City,S Dak and the pilot would circle the badlands so you could see it-quite a sight from the air.
 
Bob Crandall, the longtime CEO of AA, now retired, was on Lou Dobbs (CNN) the other night. He advocates RE-regulation of the industry to protect the flying public. Not a big surprise.Eventually there will be some kind of "Passengers Bill of Right" (with teeth in it) enacted to help out with all the poor service situations. But the "sheeple" need to raise hell with their lame politicians and keep up the pressure. The fact is that no matter what airline you fly on these days you can expect your experience to be unpleasant. As Crandall said "If I am unable to communicate directly with an airlines website because it is "down" for a while, I shouldn't have to talk to somebody in India to take care of my needs". Isn't that the truth!

Using more efficient aircraft, eliminating the saturation flight frequency from airport to airport by lowering the frequency and substituting aircraft with larger capacity, will help. The airports are handling waaaaay more traffic than they were EVER built to handle.

Updating the SERIOUSLY antiquated Air Traffic Control System is paramount. We still use a system nearing fifty years of age (or older). We need a GPS based system. Much of the log-jam in todays system is due to antiquated equipment.

Stop allowing the unions and other outside factors dictate management to a company. In todays times a company may need to change policies and directions quickly to maneuver through an unexpected situation----such as unexpected spikes in fuel costs (which are going to continue) and situations where another airline goes out of business, and a sudden assumption of new service, routes and aircraft present themselves.All the contracts, etc. just get in the way of the companies being able to defend themselves economically so they can survive. However contracts do need to be in place to require certain levels of (pay based on) performance by senior management officials and "caps" on income put into place. Those "golden parachutes" need to dissapear as well.

Mergers are not the only answers to the ailments of the industry but are a response to panic by senior management.
IMO the airlines have ended up in this mess by a combination of alarming outside influences like skyrocketing jet fuel prices and mis-management or a combination of both.

In the lobby of ROA's airport terminal last night a recorded message played over the intercom "Due to HIGH SECURITY people should keep and eye out for unusual things such as baggage left unattended".
My thoughts were that it was highly unlikely that "HIGH SECURITY" existed in any form with the TSA system currently in use but that the threat of a terrorist act is always possible. Interesting "verbage" for psycological purposes, no doubt, the "sheeple" being well assured the government is always at the ready to protect them.

The airlines have become the "Trailway's" bus of the skies. Everyone wants the cheapest possible fares but aren't will to accept the lack of ammenities that come allong with that mentality.

The truth is that air travel of the future will be only for the well to do. Airfares are going to continue to rise at alarming rates and the thought of just hopping on an airplane and flying a few hundred miles for a weekend visit are quickly going to come to an end. Americans are going to have to press for a national system of high speed transportation to compensate. Just double the "walk-up" fare now charged by the airlines and you will get an idea of what the not-too-distant future will bring!

What I miss the most at this point is the "Golden Age" of commercial aviation----that is now long gone!
 
Some good points, Steve

Although I would point out that we have much stronger unions over here and they have not caused the problems - similar to yours - it has been the greedy managers. Screw the customers, screw the shareholders is their motto.
In fact, the only thing holding things together in the US right now is a union - there is an interesting article in this week's TIME about it, take a look at the link. Scary -
Sure, unions can get overly greedy. But I've had my ass saved by my union not once but twice. Management in organized, we, alone are not.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1735387,00.html
 
Air travel.

My family has been loyal to United for over 25 years for reasons unknown to me.

In 2001 we flew from Washington Dulles to Denver where we stopped for a few days. We then flew to Anchorage, Alaska. After vacationing in Alaska (which was beautiful) we flew back to Denver for a few days then home to Washington. On each of the 4 legs United screwed up our seat assignments and lost our luggage on the last flight home.

Just a month ago my grandmother had to go into the hospital (now she's in rehab and the drama continues). At the same time, my mother (who cares for my grandparents) was supposed to accompany my father to Colorado to help him deal with his mother's estate (she passed away in November). We called United because obviously my mother could not leave Virginia with all the health-related drama going on. She wanted me to go in her place. United flatly refused to give me her seat (this was about 4 days before the flight). United said I could not get on the same flight as my father because it was "sold out." No amount of explaining that my mother would not be on the flight could convince them that a seat would be available. Eventually they quoted a price of over $2,000.00 for a round trip ticket for me. I went to Travelocity and found an acceptable itinerary for $375.00 on another airline. My father, not wanting to stray from United, instead booked me a ticket on United for about $800.00. With customer service like that, how has United lasted this long?

I remember a long time ago, back in the 90s, when United served actual food on long flights. It was usually terrible, but at least it kept you occupied and not hungry. Now I just buy a big sandwich in the airport and take it with me.

The nicest airline on which I ever flew was Independence Air, remember Fly-i? Their employees were professional, but with a good sense of humor. They were of limited frills, but they got me where the ticket said consistently and on time. They never lost my luggage, their staff was courteous and prompt. I liked Independence as much as I could like an airline, considering that I would rather undergo dental work than fly, yet I fly often. Naturally, they are no longer with us.

I prefer driving or the train. Amtrak has so much potential that they don't use. They could really corner the market on customer service, legroom, food, etc. but unfortunately they don't. I also can't stand when politicians gripe and complain about funding Amtrak when the airlines receive so much in the way of subsidies. Even the roads are subsidized (when you go on a road trip, who pays for the roads?). Railroads have to maintain their own roadbed and traffic control systems. Regarding fuel economy, a train is one of the most efficient ways to travel. Trains also pick you up downtown and drop you off downtown, unlike airports which are usually not located in the middle of a city's central business district.

Just a little rant,
Dave
 
Dave,

I really wish folks in the US could come to Europe for a week or so and see what a modern railway system is like.
I will never understand the argument: "I love my car, I want my independence, so no modern public transport."
What the one has to do with the other is beyond me.
It's like the idiot breeders who resent gays - they really ought to be thankful for us, that's less competition. The same with light-rail systems - the more folks taking the train, the more open roads and unlimited horizons for folks who really like to drive.
And, er, can afford it -
 
Public Service

There was a time when the airlines actually thought it was good for business, building brand loyalty, word of mouth, etc. by helping customers in a bind like your family or mine.
I am sorry to hear you had the same bad treatment in a crisis I got.
What are the odds that two members of our group would have the same rotten experience with Untied Airlines?
They deserve to go out of business, just, like I wrote above - its's the workers who get screwed, not the jerks who caused the problem. They'll cashout with golden handshakes.
 
Airline Service . . .

This really has gone to the dogs,especially on the ground. For many years I would often fly American because they had a good selection of flights and decent service. However, last time I flew them between LAX and DFW their ticket machine didn't work in Dallas to issue my boarding pass (it worked for others, so I assume a programming error) so I had to wait in line to get my boarding pass. Bewteen waiting in line and the lengthy luggage search by their security guys I almost missed the flight - they even told me to run to the plane! Most other people were passed right through security and when I politely inquired as to why they chose me (it had happened at LAX too) they told me American had somehow marked my boarding pass indicating I was to be searched. If that's the way American rewards loyalty, then I don't need them. Next time, I'm using Southwest.
 
I agree AA is going to the dogs

AA used to be a cut above the others. Now it's almost unrecongizable. Planes are old and filthy. Employees are ok, but travel on AA just doesn't go as smoothly as it once did.

What I did notice in the past year on United, in contrast to what most people here are writing, is an improvement in their service. I stopped flying United in 2000, between SoCal and SFO, because the best on time record I had in eight trips was 45 minutes late...the other trips were MORE than 45 minutes late in both directions. This was when they were very profitable and they had a "we don't care" attitude.

The final straw was an air traffic control delay (not their fault) during monsoon conditions in SoCal: 90 degree tropical heat (a tropical storm missed AZ and hit us) in August. They needed our gate for another flight, so they towed our plane to the other side of the airport and refused to turn on the auxiliary power. It was 88 F in the back of the plane and they wouldn't turn on the APU to cool the plane down. The crew had their forward doors open to catch a breeze, while the back of the plane cooked.

However, I did fly United twice last year to New York. In some cases, they offered direct (no change of plane) flights to New York LaGuardia....Continental offers nonstops to Newark, but there is no nonstop service to JFK from OC, so a one-stop flight to LaGuardia is a real plus if you are going to Manhattan. Both trips went off without a hitch, transferring in either Denver or Chicago.

On the way back from the first trip, I was asked to change seats at LaGuardia. Seems a family of four had mistakenly booked themselves seats in an exit row which is not allowed with toddlers. I was seated in Economy Plus with a whole row to myself. The gate agent asked if I would switch to an exit row middle seat (thereby giving up my three seat "bed") to solve the situation (the family was obnoxious, we all wanted to shut them up and get the plane on its way).

In return, she made a notation in my record and told me to see an agent in Denver re: my "reward". When I got to Denver, I learned she had awarded me five 500 mile upgrades, enough to upgrade one way to First Class on my next flight, which is precisely what I did. Also, the cost on United was lower than the competition, and their itineraries offered the fastest connections (or sometimes direct flights).

I have to go to NYC in June and once again booked United, they were at least $100 less than AA and I found a roundtrip to LaGuardia for $288 total, pretty amazing when one considers June is peak season. I had given up on United, but after trying them again in 2007, it seemed as if they had cleaned up their act versus 2000.
 
UA

Tony has worked for United for about 8 years now and is happily awaiting his last day with them. In the time I've known him I have been witness to some unbelievable treatment of their employees especially at the F/A levels. I really think understanding what these employees go through on a daily basis can really shed some light on why attitudes aren't so great on the airplanes anymore. I certainly cannot blame them.

Tony, alone, had to undergo two major surgeries the past two years. Both were for his lower back and both times he had to remain off the job for recovery for approximately 4 months. That is when we learned that, in addition to his 50% paycuts and total loss of the retirement funds, he also was no longer eligible for any kind of disability pay. That's right...NO PAY at all during his surgeries and recovery periods. My paycheck here in D.C was barely enough to get us through those times.

As if no pay wasn't enough, then he was forced to go to a hearing and possibly be fired for having had these medical procedures. YES, possibly FIRED!!! We had to go through this process for months. The company claimed that he was not "dependable" because he had called in sick and went on a medical leave.

Personally, if I had the money, I would have hired a good lawyer and pulled up a nice, fat lawsuit against United. So many employees are being treated this way. There is rampant harrasment coming down from management because they are being told to do so. They want all of their long-standing employees who are members of the union to be gone. It's better for United to hire minimum wage, non-union people to do twice as much work.

How can they do things like this? Just as Steve mentioned earlier, alot of it I feel started with deregulations. It baffles us every time we hear someone in an airport complain about how expensive their $199 roundtrip fare from Dulles to San Franisco is. Yes, CEO Glenn Tilton is running off with unbelievably huge amounts of money. His BONUS alone last year was over $40 million. That was the same year that Tony went with nothing for several months.

It is simple economics. It costs alot of money to fly an airplane anywhere. When prices were no longer regulated the fare wars began. Back in the "Golden Age" of flying it was the passengers who paid to fly somewhere and it would cost alot. With low fares the employees are paying for your tickets now. That $199 fare doesn't even cover airport taxes my friends.

Next time you board a plane and you see that flight attendant passing through the isles think about a few things. Think about how long they've been working for that company. Some UAL flight attendants have been working for 60+ years with plans to retire. They HAVE to keep working now. Think about the ones like Tony who endure, not only harrasment from angry passengers when a flight is canceled or delayed, but the harrasment they get before they ever get near that plane from their bosses.

Tony has a few more weeks left with United and, after he turns in his badge, I hope we never fly on them again. I've grown such a hatred for that name that I practically spit when I see one fly over.

Sorry for the soapbox but I really do hope people try to see it from different eyes before they blame that friendly face on the plane. Next time try to thank them for doing what they do and thank them for doing everything they've been trained to do to ensure you a safe trip. After all, that is they main function. Not the beverage you get.

Jon
 
I flew Contiental out of Newark last year, and it was on time and comfy enough. One bad thing was the movie - so everyone had their shade down. I'm not one for Disneyfied entertainment.

Anyway, it wasn't bad. Nor was the destination (Puerto Rico), now the cost - free, thanks to a customer who went to a competitor because he was $5 cheaper.

Of course, the airline ticket for me was the least of his costs - I'm at least $1000 a day, and more if it's an emergency...
 
May I enquire?

"I'm at least $1000 a day, and more if it's an emergency..."

Would you please tell? Either here or me in email? I am nearly dying of curiosity.

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
By the late 1950's the airlines had seen the Railways "off" in a BIG way. People were traveling like never before and a coast to coast flight could usually be accomplished within about a ten hour window (westbound) (if they could keep all four engines going at the same time). But less than 1% of Americans had ever flown!

Then on January 25th, 1959 American Airlines inaugurated Non-Stop Boeing 707 pure-jet service on a flight from Los Angeles to New York in about four and a half hours, and the race was on!
The airlines could not get deliveries of jetliners quick enough and the traveling public could not wait to fill their seats.

During the 1960's the traveling public quickly became used to being "jet-setters". But, those comfortable (and slow) old piston powered aircraft the jets had "kicked to the curb" were mostly paid-off by then and the CAB started to allow the airlines to offer the public some wonderful low fares if they would just fly on them. Eastern started an "Air-Bus" service in 1961 between New York, Boston and Washington,D.C. which later evolved into the fames Eastern "Air-Shuttle".
You didn't need a reservation or anything---just show up at the airport and board the airplane. You could even buy your ticket on board.(New York-Boston $12.00 ow, New York-Washington,D.C. $14.00 ow.) Departures evey hour on the hour from about 8AM to 10PM. If the airplane was full, they rolled another one up to the gate and away you went even if you were the only one on the airplane!
Eastern made money hand-over-fist on the "Shuttle" for years and years eventually offering all jet service.

Anyone recall Delta's "Early Bird" and Owly Bird" fares of the late 60's thru early 70's? This was reserved seating and the flights were for departures before (appox.) 6AM and after 11PM. I can remember Atlanta to Miami in the splendid comfort of a DC-8 Jet for about $32.00 ow. A few years ago when a Delta reservations agent quoted me a rather appalling rate between Atlanta and Miami I described to her the Early/Owly Bird fares. After a moments pause she informed me she "wasn't that old"!

Then the wide-bodied Jets appeared. First the four-engined "jumbo" Boeing 747, then the DC-10 and L-1011 tri-jets. Now, the airfares went even lower. Anyone remember the Laker "Sky-Train" DC-10's to London? What a bargain! (While it lasted). This was what really started to anger the old established carriers who were beginning to find it harder and harder to compete with the new "up-starts". Then Pres. Carter signed into law the Airline Deregulation Bill of 1978 and the s&%t really hit the fan!

Peoples Express, and New York Air were just a few of the many different bargain-fare carriers that sprung up oalmost overnight. And airline started to apply for new routes all over the place. I seem to recall that Braniff showed up with applications for 400+ new city-pairs!

Air-fares came down, and as the competition got tough, the ammenities such as hot meals, complimentary wine, and reserved seating dissapeared. The seat-pitch got really tight as the airlines tried to squeeze more and more passengers into the airplanes trying to make a profit from the low fares. Suddenly airplanes were almost always full and passengers who had been used to having a seat or two to move around in saw their "comfort-zone" invaded. Lines were long, tempers flared.

By the 1990's the passengers mantra was always "we want cheaper airfares"! The airlines such as Southwest that had survived just by offering consistently cheap fares without the frills, flourished. After the collapse of Eastern, Value-Jet (later to become Air-Tran)sprung up to fill the void in Atlanta and they have become a big thorn in the side of Delta.
The old established carriers were forced to cut all the frills to try to compete but it wasn't enough. They had to eliminate a lot of the "extras" which included (good and experienced) people, and inefficent aircraft just to name a few. All the stops were pulled out to eliminate middle-management while the senior management were pulling down ridiculous salaries and fringe benefits including the famous "golden parachutes" which is their reward for screwing up the company and getting sacked. Most of us would love to walk away from a job we f%*@ed-up with 50M in cash and stock options (on top of our 20M or so salaries). Only a few of them have really led their companies through troubled times astutely. In the mean time the front-line employees who actually face the crazed and often hostile public every day are now getting paid chump-change for the privilege. And I won't even start about the "TSA". (Where are my blood-pressure pills?)

So, now the airlines have survived the(human and)economic holocaust of 9/11 and are currently facing a the same potential holocaust we are all facing at the fuel pump.
The airlines have been trying to give us those cheap fares we were used to but those days are fading fast as the reality of catastrophic fuel costs have arrived.

My prediction is that within the next five years the cheapest coast to coast flights will be into the thousands of dollars, and even shorthops will be hundreds and hundreds of dollars.
A new day is dawning right before our eyes folks. I think airfares are up about $150.00 "across the board" just since this January. And they are still climbing. If you can still find a good fare for travel this summer you'd better snatch it up right now! "Travelatrocity" and all those discount search engines aren't going to be much help a year or so from now.

We had better get a nation-wide system of rapid-rail up and going in the next ten years or so, or a lot of us will be visiting each other by bicycle.

Imagine what a rail system we could have by now if we hadn't made this illbegotten invasion into Iraq! Imagine how much fuel would be saved every year if the majority of those tractor-trailer rigs that now clog our roadways were piggy-backing on trains???!!!! The effect on traffic alone would save billions of gallons just wasted idling in bumper to bumper log-jams.

O.k. I'm exhausted---sistah's over the rant----for now. Did I take that evening dose of lithium--------?
 
"I'm at least $1000 a day, and more if it's an emergency..."
Would you please tell? Either here or me in email? I am nearly dying of curiosity.

Systems integrator. We build/test/program/service the control gear that makes water come and go from your home, if you're on "city water". We've got equipment all over the NYC metro area. That includes the NYC DEP, Westchester DEF, Suffolk sewer, Hempstead water, Brick, Toms River, Newark, Oyster Bay.... Mostly PLC controls, and instrumentation. For PLCs, we do: GE, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Modicon, Bristol. Instrumentation is everything, including the ever popular Hach chlorine units. We sell pumps (Zoller, Fairbanks-Morse), and other process equipment. 15 person firm. We also do other work (mostly transit), and also are a bit of a 'hired gun' to fix stuff at times - a coworker of mine is wrapping up a project at Greystone (loony bin) in NJ, where he's been since December (I was asked to help but declined for personal reasons)

In this case, we quoted a local firm a price for a control panel going to a manufacturing facility in PR. We offered a 'test at shop, plug in and go at site' panel. Well, someone else (overseas, no less) was gonna save the guy a buck and build it cheaper. Then when time came for startup, his programmer balked at the idea of going there where those people live. So they came running to us in a panic, and I got the project. With a barely understandable code printout, and a box 'o cables, I got sent to San Juan with their equipment guy (who had lots of work to do, too). We left the Monday of that huge storm that dumped tons of rain on NJ - in fact, we were one of the last planes out, I think. The location was Juncos, the hotel was in Palmas Del Mar. The other guy wasn't into sight seeing, but I got some time to drive around the area. Get out of the tourist traps, seriously. The non touristy areas are 1000 times more interesting.

Anyway, a few late nights, some headscratching, and a lot of reprogramming, and they were up and running. Got us some more business from 'em :)

If you've not been to Puerto Rico, you must go. It was by far the most interesting and enjoyable (even if frustrating) field call I've ever had, and though I was nervous at first, I loved it. Once you get out of San Juan, it's a really exciting experience, and nothing like the rest of the US at all.

One downer - there's very high levels of poverty still. Stuff you take for granted here, you rarely see there. Cars? lots of ancient Japanese ones (we're talking 70's ancient). Few BMWs or the like. Motorcycles? Very few Harleys (I saw two, total) - they're exceptionally expensive there. Sugar - Domino is sold in the stores with stickers advertising it's an import from New York :) You'll see US retailers there and local chains.

The milk, was far better than anywhere else I've had. I think it's because the cows graze naturally, and get exercise because the bull's in the field with 'em ;)
 
Wow! Who put a quarter in Gyrafoam? ;-)

Very interesting thread and a good snippet of the history of air-travel.

I haven't had any horrible experiences on flights, but mine are always for "pleasure" trips and I never expect much in the way of service - beverages aside, I really don't need anything for a short flight anyway but quietly endure everyone else around me scarfing down peanuts, trail mix or the giant tuna salad sandwich they brought on board - and making the air stink like an ancient Roman Vomitorium. Whatever. I find it curious that people get cranky and rude with the flight attendants when the weather gets nasty and flights are delayed. My flight home from Florida in February was delayed 45 minutes due to a repair to the hydraulic sensor system and judging by the reactions around me, you would have thought civilization was nearing collapse. I'm sure none of these people have been on a bus in a third-world country before, but given the Southwest clientèle, I almost expected a piglet and a chicken to run up the aisle at any point. I think our 'American Idol attention span' and decades of instant gratification, buy now - pay later lifestyles have created the Monster Consumer that isn't satisfied unless they have everything exactly their way and right now. We should have never started air-conditioning the grade schools - generations of over-indulged wimps and whiners. Just wait until it's $200 to fill the Hummer - then the s*%t will really hit the fan!

Jon is right, be courteous - or at least show those who are working for your safety and comfort a minimum level of civility - and leave the piglet at home!
 
Does Anybody Remember Muse Air????

I come from a family of airline personnel. My dad was a flight attendant for Muse Air/TranStar in 86/87 and then worked for Continental from 87-91 during the turbulent Lorenzo years. My uncle was a captain for Continental until he retired three years ago.
In my time of traveling, I have seen many changes in the airline industry. I remmember as a kid watching the Flight Attendants and Pilots on strike at the airports. I have seen service go from being somewhat decent to downright awful on some flights. But, considering most airline employees are working much harder for less pay, and very little job security, you can't help but put yourself in their shoes. Oh, remember when you could just call the airline of your choice and get a reservations agent on the phone? Now, some airlines have outsourced and charge astronimical booking fees for making a reservation over the phone. Of course, I usually book my travel online but what about somebody that doesn't have easy access to a computer?
Also, one thing that many passengers forget is that you get what you pay for. In this day and age, all people want is the cheapest fare. Back in the day before deregulation, airfares were much higher. After deregualtion we saw all of these discount carriers creep up and fold within 5 years or so. People's Express, Air Florida, Muse Air to name just a few.
Speaking of Muse Air, that was one classy airline. I remember new planes, blue leather seats, decent meals, a friendly and very professional flight staff, and after every flight a flight attendant would give mints out to passengers in the jetway.
So all in all, with the rising cost of fuel, a slow economy, airlines losing millions of dollars,and bankruptcies it is going to be a very hard time for airlines and travelers. I say fasten your seatbelts because it is going to be a bumpy ride traveling in the future.

Just my two cents...

Stephen
 
This is for the flying public

And not to the members on this site.. People shut the h@#l up, you want cheap fares, then deal with the fact that things will be taken from you to get those cheap fares, and to be blunt stop acting like sissy's and bitches, when something does not go your way on board, that is LIFE, "DEAL WITH IT"!!! And no the world does NOT revolve around YOU. My mother was a F/A for TWA from 1973 to 1999, and retired before, Hellarican, swallowed them up, and spit them back out, and she can tell me of a different kind of travel where passengers, would be greatfull to the crew onboard, for their services, and planes were on time, airports were not OVERCROWDED!!!! Passengers were calm. So to all the flying public of today, the reason service onboard is sh#@*y, is because YOU!!! that's right YOU yourself have made it this way screaming "We want cheap fares", well folks you got em, so stop, whining, bitching, and acting like big bonafied sissy's, when the airlines cut out your precious food for you to stuff your rotten faces with, and cram you in the planes like sardines, and airports get overwhelmed handling the flights YOU are on, SHUT UP and deal with it, that's life, you wanted low fares, you got em. If i have offended anyone, oh well, you'll get over it with a quickness, trust me . As fas a gas prices skyrocketing, well, we have done it to ourselves, with our Monstrous SUV's, and huge, fuel thirsty V8's, and Hummers, lets face it, Americans are SPOILED ROTTEN!!!! No wonder Europeans hate us, not to mention our extremely ARROGANT, mentality. So in closing, for the airlines being what they are today, fuel prices soaring, airlines going bankrupted, company's moving to China, you have done it to yourselves people, with the mentality of, " We want it CHEAP and we don't care about quality" Is why America is what it is today, bravo for a job well done America, keep up the good work.
 
"Americans are SPOILED ROTTEN!!!! No wonder Europeans hate us"

I disagree vigorously!

ALL AIRLINES SUCK EVERYWHERE! (but some DO suck more than others) now more then ever pointing it out does not make Americans (or any one else) "Spoiled Rotten"

As to all this "hate" that Europe has, I have not seen all that much ..some mostly aimed at the president (I always tell them that I will deliver their message if I ever meet him). Based on my 5 trips in just over 2 years everyone has been nice to me.

As to being "SPOILD ROTTEN" you have THAT backwards big time. Americans work harder then folks in the EU by a significant margin. For example when you walk into the factory area at the German plants at the company Im associated with 2 things are apparent, 1 no one makes you put on safety glasses, 2 no one is doing anything! ..THEN it is time for a break again! .. it seems like its always time for a break and what a shock NOTHING ships on time from the plants in Europe. and what do they do on break ? A MAJOR subject is anger over jobs going to the old Eastern block countries. At the same companies American plants you walk into the production area (With safety glasses) and everyone is do something! and product even ships out from time to time. When they do get a break a major subject is anger over jobs going to Mexico!

As to Airlines It is the passengers that are the victims here, the Airlines have had some bad luck but the mess that they are in is about more then additional security and high fuel prices ... it starts with viewing your customer as an unlimited resource to be plundered!
 
Ding,ding,ding--------

I thought I rang the bell with my rant but SQ got it for this thread!

It really is interesting how our opinions range from funny inuendo to anger!

I can't speak for anyone but myself, however I find the current process of using air travel very unpleasant, and avoid it whenever possible. When I do have to travel by air I tend to use the internet for "check-in" and my boarding passes. I use "curb-side" baggage check-in whenever possible and I find this helps me to keep my annoyance level down as opposed to waiting in line at a ticket counter somewhere and enduring some sort of baggage inspection hassle right off the bat.

So it is usually not until I have to endure the obnoxious attitudes and inept employees of the TSA before I really start to get annoyed.(Oh yeah, I really feel a sense of security because of them --eyes to ceiling) Atlanta is particularly bad. It is no wonder that by the time passengers board an aircraft they are already stressed to the breaking point! Then just add a mx problem with the aircraft or a "ground-stop" due to wx and everyone is primed and ready to go ballistic. I really feel for the flight attendants, and if they have an attitude that day its because maybe they have had to endure the same log-jam of traffic on the way to the airport, the same obnoxious people at TSA and then some a$$ of a supervisor at crew sched. yanks them around. Oh yeah, they will be 'smilin when we the public come through the door!
Life is just too stressful these days!

It sure would be nice to board a high-speed rail system and enjoy the scenery passing by, a visit to a dining car for a nice hot meal, and a nap in a comfortable seat before arrival at a downtown location (avoids the traffic to and from the airport).
 

Similar threads

L
Shwans/Yelloh is gone for good.
Replies
3
Views
164
63kenmore
6
stan
Another Kenmore DD washer
Replies
14
Views
1K
pstehle
P
servis-dream
The Ultimate Nerd Project II
Replies
4
Views
493
Chetlaham
Chetlaham
maranoman
Whirlpool DD Neutral Drain Occasionally Reversed
Replies
0
Views
199
maranoman
maranoman
Unimatic1140
ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS - Please Read This...
2 3 4
Replies
109
Views
7K
rinso
R

Latest posts

Sponsored
UnlistMe
Back
Top