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Why Airlines Want to Make You Suffer
This fall, JetBlue airline finally threw in the towel. For years, the company was among the last holdouts in the face of an industry trend toward smaller seats, higher fees, and other forms of unpleasantness. JetBlue distinguished itself by providing decent, fee-free service for everyone, an approach that seemed to be working: passengers liked the airline, and it made a consistent profit. (www.newyorker.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Fortunately, I'm retired and time is less of a factor than a few years ago. I refuse to fly within the domestic U.S. these days, and prefer to drive. I have more legroom, effectively unlimited baggage storage, discretionary restroom choice, choice of seatmate, and few if any weather delays. I wonder how much revenue the airlines are losing from people who have just given up flying? I now avoid flying whenever possible.
Right there with you, Mike. I'm doing the same and that's after retiring from an airline after 32 years of service.
I too have given up flying because of the hassle and treatment. If I can't drive there, I don't have to be there!
I dont fly much but its not because of legroom. Service is just about non existant. TSA is a hassle and the info they want from you is really non of their business. So I drive mostly.
I tend to disagree with the author's premise as outlined in the headline. IMO the airlines do not want you to suffer, it is just that they don't care and you don't matter. What matters is the return on stockholder equity. Passengers are just self-loading cargo.
I try to stick with SWA for domestic when possible (every other week), and then drive rest of the way if the destination is not serviced by them. They are consistent, seats sizes are the same, no fees for 2 bags, and the employees seem to like working there + those giant bags of peanuts! The other airlines are awful pretty much all the time, and the employees seem to hate their jobs, from gate agents on up the line.