Originally Posted by
Aspilot
As the guy driving up front. I dont feel bad about the fees. I have taken massive paycuts due to cheap air fares and management that feels they can support them as long as they can use me as an ATM. Are my 12,000 plus hours not worth more than $199 round trip west coast to east coast?
Actually, and perhaps sadly no they are not. It is a competitive, deregulated system. At the time this is to the benefit of the consumer, but in any case the market sets the value of the transaction. If I'm willing to fly for $199 OK, but at $399 I might not be willing. Every market has a tipping point.
A few questions I have:
What we're the fleet make-ups in 1960, 1970, and 1980? What where the available seat miles. What was the average cost per seat mile? What was the population of the US at those times?
What were the percentage of mil vs. civilian trained pilots?
How many military pilot slots were available per population in 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980?
How might these numbers/ratios affect a pilots market value then vs. now?
All that said, I'm flying somewhat more but enjoying it somewhat less (and I am a fan/buff). I don't have unrealistic expectations of service based on my fare- I realize most might.
That said, I don't like being nickled and dimed either. Between this and the other painful parts of air travel, I will rent a car and drive in EVERY instance that doing so makes sense. This costs your industry between probably 4-8 flights year for myself.
Again, I don't like being nickled and dimed either- just one more straw on the camel....