You can't have it both ways. Either fees added in or they're not because what is acceptable to you might not be acceptable to someone else. That was the result of a big study late last year when all of these fees started ... well, got out of control (many were already there). People don't want to pay for a service that's included if they don't use that service. For example, "Don't make me pay for your crappy airline food, I brought my own lunch".

Personally, I think airlines are having an "identity problem". Maybe that isn't the best way to describe it. Do passengers want a seat from point a to b .. or do they want meals, a bar, child day care, pet services, airphones, internet, etc.etc.? Thinks about the bus and the train. You get a seat -- maybe a bathroom. If you're on Amtrak, you might have a meal car that you can choose to use.

SWA is pretty upfront, you don't get much but a drink and a seat. Enjoy. And their fare structure is as simple as it gets. And that is very successful for them. But even they have raised some fees and keep the airport, security, and tax fees out of their teaser quotes. So I'm not sure how accurate the "no fees" commercials really are.

I hate to say it, but, I think it would be nice if the government just required everyone to list what you're getting and the final price. They do it with many other industries ... for example, buying an automobile, getting new cell phone service. You know exactly what you're getting, what's included, how long you can return the item, and what your payment is.

Somehow, the airlines must change the passenger expectation on how much a ticket is. And teaser rates ($59 bucks to Austin) doesn't help. It only reinforces the notion that everyone expects to fly anywhere below cost.

YouTube - Everything is amazing, nobody is happy...

 

It's all about being the cheapest fare listed on the internet as these show up first in any airline ticket search. Once you get the potential customer's attention you're halfway home, you hit him up for the true cost of the ticket later.

 

Vagabond, you can ride with me on Greyhound anytime.

 

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....

 

Interesting comments. And then you "expose" yourself saying you'll rent a car? Ever looked at all THEIR nickel and dime expenses? They put the airlines to shame. A $29.95 daily rental is over $50 before they are done tacking on all their "goodies". Oh well, if your time is only worth $8.00 an hour I guess driving is fine. ........ And my time and expertise IS worth more than you might think. Funny how many will pay $75 for a nosebleed section ticket to see a guy play basketball, but won't fork over $200 to fly from LA to NYC in a state of the art airplane to see grandma because it's "too expensive".

 

Did you guys just get flamed from a Moderator. Can you say flame bait.`

 

Based on my job I can typically "work" my way to and from, gaining value there. Also, the rental car is a moot point. Why? I can rent a car in my hometown for about half of renting it in a big city (ATL, EWR, BNA) and if I fly there I have to rent a car anyway, so it's really no extra cost.

If I can- I teleconference, etc., anything to avoid the TSA, surly gate employees, $8 bagels, etc.

I never said any airline should not charge what they can, nor should employees be paid more- I only said the market sets the value. Hey charge $1200 roundtrip and see how that model works- it's your business. I'm a national sales manager for a large equipment company- I deal with price pressure every day, just like your business. I deal with it but never (well hardly never) whine about it.

I think these fees speak a little bit to poor management, but based on the sales (internet) model you are stuck with I can see why they are being implemented for incremental income. Doesn't mean I have to like them as a consumer.

 

How has JetBlue helped "the problem"?

Try not to be too much of a Hypocrite.

 

Additionally, frequent flyer loyalty is dead-meaningless to the business traveler. I'm a million miler on one airline and it gives them only the least edge. My expenses are scrutinized, so it is a balance of fare price and schedules, with my preferred airlines coming last.

Loyalty is like an available frequent flyer seat-nonexistent.

Perhaps this wouldn't be so if the airlines had made airline point a profit center. They probably made a lot of money, but at what cost?

 

Some of the more scathing replies here are an image of what's hurting the legacy carriers at this time. As a freight hauler, I fly as a paying passenger on a variety of airlines very frequently. Especially when I'm going on vacation, since I have a wife and a kid and don't want to bum rides with the chance of getting split up.

Although I agree that some of the fees are fair to some but not to others, some of them are rather ridiculous. There is where I decide who I'm going to fly with. If your airline is going to treat me like cattle I might as well go with the cheapest I can find. I don't need to pay extra just to say I flew with brand-x.

As an example, American no longer flies nonstop between Orlando and San Juan, but JetBlue, Airtran and Spirit do. Why would that be? I recently flew between the two cities on American via Miami. What a goat rope?

As another example, when you buy a one way ticket on one of these discount carriers, you pay a fair price, not the penalty one way rip-off that the legacy carriers ask for.

Have you checked how much Southwest charges for a flight change, checked bag, drink?

You don't always get what you pay for. Might as well go cheap.