Originally Posted by
Captain Bligh
This is part of my developing thesis, a fundamental disagreement with the people "guiding" our industry. They have it wrong.
Really more of a belief that one or two big plane flights a day would be preferable to most destinations, for most travelers. Especially if those flights would be able to operate "on time" most of the time. Better in my opinion than hourly service, where each flight is often way late due to traffic saturation (or ridiculously block timed to account for known taxi delays) Many have to be canceled on a weather day, when reduced arrival capacity is caused by instrument conditions. People don't need frequency as much as they need efficiency and more seats at peak times.
The second leg of my tripod of disdain is a rant on the Orbitz and Travelocity style websites that show travel option search results on a cheapest price first presentation basis. (but that's for another thread) I've noticed some of the airlines now have a priority choice (ie. price vs. schedule). I always meet passengers that claim they'd be willing to pay a little more for convenience, but the mouse clicks the marketing people count argue otherwise. Exec. compensation is of course the third.
Consider this: I'd like to see ATC priority given by number of souls on board.
That would be like the rules of the road for driving in Mexico...Gross tonnage has right of way.
A couple of years ago LGA cut the number of available slots and the carriers responded by cutting service with smaller aircraft. Total landings/departures went down but seat count remained close to the same.