True, but if it were not, people would drive, and load factors would go down in a heartbeat. A good example is the high-speed train between DC / NY / Boston. When you factor in driving to the airport, TSA, accomodations and amnenities worse than a Greyhound bus (and the same weirdo's next to you), the train is a great option as you're treated better and takes less time when you add it all up. And you don't get cancelled by weather. As a result, it's hard to get a seat.

Two other points to ponder. WRT the LCC's...most don't use resellers, and in the case of SWA and JB their ticket prices are well above the majors serving the same routes. Evidently the passengers are willing to pay more for a better "experience". I know I am.

Second, look at how the fractional industry is booming, especially considering that most of their new clients are individuals and not corporations. That's a clue that a big portion of the market values convenience and their time over cost.....just the customers that the majors would love, but have totally abandoned.

Just my $.02

Spongebob

 

Airlines raise, and lower, prices constantly. When prices are increased they get immediate feedback on how the new price is affecting booking. If they see too much of a drop in bookings then the price increase fails.

There are two ways that an airline can raise prices. First, they can increase the actual fares and they do. Another way is to decrease the number of tickets that they make available at the lower fares. If they were selling up to 20 of the cheapest fares on a flight they can reduce that to 15. The result is that they've raised the price on five of the seats.

 

Speaking of trains they have more room than F/C does

 

To get these types of customers back, airlines would have to drastically improve their services and treatment of passengers. For instance, first class meals served at most major airlines are usually not good, though good may not be the word I had in mind. Interiors of their jets needs great improvement for comfort.

 

j

How about when the customer 'was right' instead of the post-9/11 way that FAs treat passengers. Basically, if a passenger even disagrees with something a FA says, the FA can claim some sort of disruption and have some federal agency at the gate waiting when the plane lands. I do understand the need to empower the FAs to some extent. I also think that the caliber of passenger has gotten bad. On top of both of those, I believe people act the way they are treated, and right now, passengers using airlines feels like a cow headed to slaughter throughout the entire process; up to and including the actual flight. If there were some level of respect given to the passengers, I think many would act more reasonably.

When the Navy is not paying the bill, I only fly first class (VERY RARELY DUE TO PRICE). I feel like I am treated in first class the way I was treated in coach 15 years ago.

Of course, the primary reason I do not fly commercially more than about 1 time per year is that I would rather go to the dentist than go to an airport.

 

I hear ya, and I agree. Even as an airline pilot, I get greeted often with disrespect by gate agents and FAs (sometimes by same airline FAs I fly for!).
I think the wages these airlines pay only gets them people with sour attitudes and subquality. To top if off, TSA people at security checkpoints are the highlight of the beginning of our trips, where we are often treated with contempt even though they would not have their jobs if it wasn't for airlines. No one likes to start their trip having to go through the TSA experience and subject themselves to disrespect and removing their shoes to on walk on dirty floors, and can't even carry bottled water.

The bottom line is airline management does not care or are they interested in spending money to improve the quality and the level of customer service required to attract the high clientele they would like to get back. These passengers have long since gone over to their private jets or to fractional ownership route or foreign airline First Class route. Next time you fly international, compare Foreign Airlines First Class service to that of US major carrier First Class experience. You will see the difference.

 

Therein lies the problem --too much empowerment by F/As compared to pre 9/11 , its as if this date gave them the green light to treat pax the way some of them do and before i get flamed .Go back to before 9/11 and think about the differences in F/A,s attitudes.
If they had treated pax this way back when I was flying pax a/c in the 80,s they would probably have been shown the door.
By the way you do not hear much about air rage aboard a/c these days do you?hmmmmmmmmmmm.


We hope you have enjoyed your flight aboard cattle car airlines!

 

Yep, and who better else to pay for all these "upgrades" and "ameneties" than the EMPLOYEES.............. Sorry, but we gave at the office. We are entitled to make a living too, and if that offends you, then so be it. I'm tired of all the passengers who think their bargain basement ticket entitles them to a first class seat, unlimited drinks, and to be treated like a king or queen. Our vacation passes are less than worthless due to all the "entitlements" of the passengers who "demand" they be treated with respect while we are walked all over and given the "leftovers". You want comfort, but are you willing to pay for it? With fuel at the price it is, I'm surprised we haven't put in aluminum lawn chairs to save on weight............ Everyone demands the best but only wants to pay the least.......................and you get what you pay for.

 

Better yet I,m surprised they have not devised a way to have SRO in A/C and yes I agree we are all supposed to be making a living at this but some unfortunately do not see it this way for some unknown reason.
As for respect I remember it was supposed to be earned not handed out like candy.Maybe I missed something along the way.

 

Evidently, there is a significant segment that is saying "yes'...look at Southwest, AirTran, Midwest, JetBlue, EOS and the growth in not only Franctionals but the Charter business.

In case you haven't looked, the "LCC's" are not the cheapest tickets out there (sometimes significantly more expensive), yet their load factors remain high.

Unfortunately, the major airlines have totally abandoned their ability to capture this market (those willing to pay more for better service) by focusing on load factors which requires the ensuing attack on variable costs. Based on my last couple DH's to Europe, the majors have now introduced this same level of service to overseas travel too....yet, Cathay Pacific just had a record quarter/year - with $100/barrel oil. There being no comparasion in level of service/comfort between them and United (for one).

Spongebob