read and learn my friend. read and learn:mj07: the smilie was unnecessary just thought I would put it in there because it apparently spoke to the point of your post so well.
DB.............done!
hope that helps,
FDC
Airline observations
- Thread starter Lookn4help
- Start date
DB.............done!
hope that helps,
FDC
Yeah good call, we need that dumbass idiot that put us there over the last eight years back. You will never ever ever ever ever get me to agree with you on that point. Bush/Cheney got us in this mess. Period. No arguing the fact. GOP set this country back 16 years. Look at the numbers and look at the idiot that put them there. He is making public appearances down here at local campuses. You think he was an idiot then you should see him now without a professional speech writer, what a friggin train wreck. Maybe Cheney will give him a shotgun blast to the face and noone will say anything...........nah that couldn't happen.
Sir,
Naturally, I was trying to be ridiculous. But in all honesty, when did having a suitcase on a flight become something to be penalized for? Or choosing where you sit?
Can't the airline just say, "costs have gone up", rather than seemingly keep them in the same ballpark, and tack on imaginary charges?
FDC, you know people are sheep as well as anyone does. Here's a new twist on this that I will let YOU pitch to the CEO, and it will probably move you up the ladder over there:
Do this scam in reverse!
Charge people $260 right out of the gate. NOW, you don't want to choose a seat? Savings of $6 per segment! You don't want to pack a suitcase? BING! Save $25 more!!! And on it goes.
It's the same situation, but now........people are "saving" money, instead of spending it!!!!!
:00hour
"You wouldn't believe what I saved on my last flight with AA!"
:shrug:
Amen
Not sure why there is so much complaining...oh yeah, madjacks is full of a bunch of pussies. I thought you had to reach the age for social security before incessant complaining began.
The airline industry loses an insane amount of money to fly you from point A to point B. I'm just happy it didn't go the way of the mortgage industry and I still have the ability to get on a plane and fly somewhere.
For those bitching about the costs adding up at the end instead of when you pay for a 'discounted' rate...what's the problem? Is it that hard to mentally tell yourself that when you book online you will probably pay another 50$ in fees at some point.
Sometimes I wonder how some of you folks get out of bed in the morning.
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My opinion is that this outrage is the fault of the airlines because they are doing an extremely poor job of communicating properly.
yyz's point about reductions is a great approach to improve the public perception.
Here's another hint for everyone: when something says "As Low As..." it means that if you are not the perfect, low-cost customer then you will more than likely pay more than the price listed.
I have no problem with that type of marketing.
yyz's point about reductions is a great approach to improve the public perception.
Here's another hint for everyone: when something says "As Low As..." it means that if you are not the perfect, low-cost customer then you will more than likely pay more than the price listed.
I have no problem with that type of marketing.
Airline Observations
Airline Observations
Fatdaddycool; It's not the cost of service that I question it's WHY AM I PAYING for a service that I AM PROVIDING ? As for your concern for the American working force, WHO DO YOU THINK LOSES A JOB everytime the airlines find another way to have the CUSTOMER do the job for them! To those who seem to believe this is an elitist post your wrong, I believe that if I am paying for a service the company I do business with should provide the service not take the money and then say by the way you do the work and I'll take a fee. Flying is a privledge and I know this, but the direction I see airlines going I believe is counterproductive to success. JMHO; but plese understand the post before assuming it's just a rant about charges due to being cheap.
Airline Observations
Fatdaddycool; It's not the cost of service that I question it's WHY AM I PAYING for a service that I AM PROVIDING ? As for your concern for the American working force, WHO DO YOU THINK LOSES A JOB everytime the airlines find another way to have the CUSTOMER do the job for them! To those who seem to believe this is an elitist post your wrong, I believe that if I am paying for a service the company I do business with should provide the service not take the money and then say by the way you do the work and I'll take a fee. Flying is a privledge and I know this, but the direction I see airlines going I believe is counterproductive to success. JMHO; but plese understand the post before assuming it's just a rant about charges due to being cheap.
I think this is what the problem is. Flying SHOULD be a privledge, but the American public think airlines should be no different than bus service.
Think 20 years ago - most people (other than business folks) flew a couple times a year.. now it is not uncommon for a lot of folks to take 3-5 flights a year (roundtrip) - ok, I'm guessing here, but I bet I"m close.
The problem is, 20 years ago you could fly NY-LA roundtrip for $400. Today you can do it for $400 - or less. Yet, over a 20 year period, the cost of everything else has at least doubled (good 'ole rule of 72).
If the airlines overall would charge $800 for the fare listed above, they would not have to cut service - AND THEY COULD MAKE MONEY. Which they certainly should be able to do - turn a profit.
Yes, there would be fewer fliers, but as crowded as planes are today, that would be a good thing.
Problem is, you have SouthWest - who is the Walmart of airlines, that really screwed everything up. THEY turned flying into a commodity - basically bus service in the air. Now up until now, they've made money with their low fares. I understand that is not happening any longer, due to the fuel costs not being hedged as they had been (not sure of the exact facts on this - if I"m wrong, someone correct me).
I'd rather have fares appropriate for 2009 - with the appropriate service, no extra fees, and enjoyable experience. It used to be enjoyable to fly - it is no longer.
Maybe the airlines need to collude, yep collude, to raise fares and charge an appropriate amount where they all can make money and provide a much higher level of service, without dinging people for having a suitcase.
Fares are the same or less as they were 20 years ago. How many consumer items can you think of where you can say that? It is crazy. I feel for anyone who works in the airline industry - even FDC...
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This is true. They are not able to make a profit at this point and are looking for ways to do so.
The problem I have had in the past with your distaste for Southwest is that you blame them for something that is non-existent.
If the general public wants an airline to provide a service like a bus route, then why is it Southwest's fault that they obliged.
The real problem is that the airlines that used to provide a more "luxorious" service for a higher price (inflation adjusted) decided to chase the carrot of the masses.
Now the tables have turned, and there is probably a lot of profits to be had for a company that becomes the anti-Southwest (much like Southwest became the anti-Delta/AA/United).
Charge an uncomfortably high price for limited flights and make it exclusive and a real pampering flying "experience".
But it is in no way Southwest's "fault" that the other airlines got scared and decided to chase the masses instead of continuing a higher level of service.
SW make some great strategic decisions to allow it to grow - and yes, the other carriers "chased" them - to their own detriment.
The playing field will be more level in the future. SW has built a large, loyal customer base. People either love 'em or hate 'em - and I know a lot of people hate them.
I just cringe when I'm at the airport in Tampa (go there a lot) and I see the folks lining up for the cattle call. Some people I'm sure enjoy that, but I guess I'm not one of them.
It'll be interesting in that SW just announced 2 weeks ago that they will begin flying into Milw beginning on Nov 1st. Granted, there will be limited direct flights (Orlando and Phoenix mostly), but they will fly into their hubs (not CHI Midway), so you'll be able to get anywhere you go.
Milwaukee is known for being very cheap, so I'm sure there will be a lot of SW fans here - even if it means 7 hours of flying time to get to Dallas, for example (assuming one connection).
IMHO - SW is a great "people carrier" for the vacation crowd, but is not so good at the business class due to their lack of amenities.
I just hope that their "treating people like cattle" culture doesn't spread to the other airlines (not that other airlines are THAT much better in that regard).
I'll fly SW one day just to see how it is - it's one thing hearing about it, and another to experience it for one's self. But being 6'5", I kinda doubt that I'll enjoy it unless I have a bulk head or exit row seat.....
I wish the airlines would take a cafeteria style appoach on everything. I can't afford (or justify) paying for First Class seats without FF miles, but I would be willing to pay more for certain things.
Checking luggage? Pay per bag.
Exit row seating? Pay a bit more.
Window/aisle seat? Pay a bit more.
Meal? Pay for it.
I think that the people that are tying to get the lowest price fare can bring a carry-on and sit in a middle seat. I hate getting stuck in the middle and would be willing to pay a little more not to. And, I would pay upto $50 more to get an exit row seat. I also don't want to pay for things I don't want (meal).
Just my thought.
Checking luggage? Pay per bag.
Exit row seating? Pay a bit more.
Window/aisle seat? Pay a bit more.
Meal? Pay for it.
I think that the people that are tying to get the lowest price fare can bring a carry-on and sit in a middle seat. I hate getting stuck in the middle and would be willing to pay a little more not to. And, I would pay upto $50 more to get an exit row seat. I also don't want to pay for things I don't want (meal).
Just my thought.
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I'm personally one who loves them because I don't look at flying as a luxorious experience. I fly for business and pleasure decently often (but no platinum level traveller by any stretch). I want a flight to be on time, cheap for me and/or my business, and the people working there friendly. Southwest is the ONLY airline in the US that delivers on all of those credentials at this point.
Not being 6'5", I can not imagine how shitty flying coach would be. I'm short so it doesn't bother me.
The "cattle call" comment is almost exclusively made by people who have never flown Southwest or not flown them more than a couple of times. i flew from Nashville to Tampa on Thursday and stood in line less than 3 minutes. My wife and I sat together in the 6th row with me in the aisle.
In 10 minutes I'll be logging back into Southwest to check-in so we can be in the A section for tomorrow's flight.
Bottom line on Southwest is that they are affordable, have the most friendly employees in the industry, and depart/arrive on time more frequently than any other airline. Hard to really hate that company unless you've spent half your life in an airplane and feel the luxuries of first class and airport club bars are a must in the flying experience.
Last tidbit: my wife and I flew round-trip from Nashville to Tampa for $320 all-in.
I'm personally one who loves them because I don't look at flying as a luxorious experience. I fly for business and pleasure decently often (but no platinum level traveller by any stretch). I want a flight to be on time, cheap for me and/or my business, and the people working there friendly. Southwest is the ONLY airline in the US that delivers on all of those credentials at this point.
Not being 6'5", I can not imagine how shitty flying coach would be. I'm short so it doesn't bother me.
The "cattle call" comment is almost exclusively made by people who have never flown Southwest or not flown them more than a couple of times. i flew from Nashville to Tampa on Thursday and stood in line less than 3 minutes. My wife and I sat together in the 6th row with me in the aisle.
In 10 minutes I'll be logging back into Southwest to check-in so we can be in the A section for tomorrow's flight.
Bottom line on Southwest is that they are affordable, have the most friendly employees in the industry, and depart/arrive on time more frequently than any other airline. Hard to really hate that company unless you've spent half your life in an airplane and feel the luxuries of first class and airport club bars are a must in the flying experience.
Last tidbit: my wife and I flew round-trip from Nashville to Tampa for $320 all-in.
They probably don't go where you do, but Midwest Airlines is all Southwest is, and more. They are based in Milwaukee, so they are very nice for my wife and I. We are not huge fliers - both of us probably have 30-35 flights per year - but enough to be taken care of well by Midwest.
Oh yea - and Milw to Tampa direct (I just booked a bunch of these) - roundtrip for $125.
It's not always that cheap, but that was great!
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I've heard tons of good stuff about Midwest, but as you said they're not in my area. From what I have read, it would be my kind of airline.
To add to my profile, my absolute favorite hotel to stay in (outside of special circumstances) is Holiday Inn Express. They have everything you need except a hotel bar for a consistently fair price.
You coming to the golf outing, mags?
Haven't even looked at it to be honest. I have a lot of travel in the next 3 months, between business and pleasure.... sure hope I get Exit Row :00hour
One of these years I"ll have to make an appearance - it looks like everyone has a great time, based on the pics...
Last MJ event I went to was one of the first Super Bowl parties that Fletcher/MJ organized out at the Sunset Station (or one of the stations - I get them confused)... it was a lot of fun...
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I was kind of at that one.
By the time the Super Bowl came around, my brain was completely shot.
One of the few people I actually remember meeting at that event was Nick Douglas. :0corn
I was kind of at that one.
By the time the Super Bowl came around, my brain was completely shot.
One of the few people I actually remember meeting at that event was Nick Douglas. :0corn
Yep - I remember Nick - he was originally from WI also.....forgot his real name... Ben something or other....
I also remember MJ, Raymond, and Fletcher - the rest of it is a blur...
