That was a good one...

 

I think you are smart enough to know what I ment.

 

Showing your ignorance there, a bit. SQ, CX ect don't receive a penny from the government. They also don't have the legal safety blanket of Ch. 11. If they go under, they are toast. Gone. Consequently, they have to operate smarter, strategically acquire new and better aircraft, and actually offer proper service, food and entertainment in order to gain custom. What's more, is that they have to compete against each other, not just the likes of United across the Pacific.

US carriers can just try to lower costs through bankruptcy. Hence the diabolical product and service standards found on board.

While the OP may have sounded frivolous, he has a point. Service on US majors is a disgrace. Look elsewhere in the world, and you will see.

Sure economites want low fairs, but in the premium cabins, you'll see that CX and SQ jets across the pacific are crammed with Americans happy to pay a premium for what's on offer.

 

Cognac and breadsticks, what an interesting thread. I wish they could cater ripe bananas, but they put on those small underripe ones, boo hoo. Those lie flat seats make me want to sleep and I really want to work on this spreadsheet and talk to the stranger next to me, boo hoo. There's a pothole in the road in DC, why doesn't Delta fix it, it impedes my comfort, boo hoo. I blame it all on the FAs, especially the Canadian ones that used to be strippers.

 

They...just...never...have...to...worry about going under, that's all. Nice to have a blank Sheik to backstop your every action, and a beautiful tax structure, no labor laws to contend with, and no anti-discrimnation lawsuits.

Smarter? Strategically acquire new and better aircraft? So US airlines are operating dumber, non-strategically, and buying old, and poorer aircraft?

Ever look at how we're funding the habit, as a nation, to ship those new and better airplanes to you, using revenue generated by our outrageous taxes, at rates we don't give our own carriers?

Ignorance? What a bunch of [malarkey]!

That's Irish, by the way.

The OP wasn't exactly wrong in his complaints, he just picked the wrong venue. I don't think he deserves a spot on the TOTD thread. That one's all yours.

Get back to the middle seat, and try not to touch anything dangerous while the real pilots are sleeping.

Wher is the emoticon for smirking?

 

I sure hope I don't come across as annoyed, and irritated at Poo, for showing up on an Airline Pilot Forum to tell us we have us to good because we have that sweet, sweet get-out-of-jail-free CH 11 card we can play anytime. That's not insulting at all.

 

Plenty of Asian airlines go under. I was not talking about the Middle East. I'm talking about the Far East. No blank 'sheikh'. Competitive advantage, a better product, better service. Hence, plenty of airlines (with strong backing) going/gone under in the region.

Look at the fleets operated by many US majors. It's not exactly state of the art across the board, is it? Are you claiming that fleet acquisition in the US has been forward thinking, compared to the rest of the world? No, of course it hasn't. There are exceptions, but on the whole, it's a far worse outlook.

Favourable rates? Do grow up. Place a big enough order (be a good enough customer), and you'll get better deals. I pretty sure AA got a discount like no other, when they placed an order for several hundred NEOs last year.

No need to get offended. I'm not exactly in the minority on these boards, when I claim huge mid-management at US legacies. Ch. 11 is a tool in the chest that can, and has been used, as a consequence of GROSS mis-management. Look at what's happening right now at AA. Citing labor costs? Bull****. GROSS mismanagement, poor fleet of gas-guzzlers from the dark ages, cancerous short-sighted corporate culture, and poor service, (a consequence of management, not the individuals).

Nice cheap shot at the end, there. You have NO idea of my background; combat experience, qualifications, so get back in your box, you sanctimonious little gimp.

 

Really? Would you pleasehighlight the portion of my post where I mentioned SQ or CX?

 

Fair point. However, I (perhaps wrongly) interpreted the tone of your post as suggestive of the fact that airlines that provide a service which knocks US carriers out of the ring, were only able to do so by having unlimited backing by the government.

All told, and this is only my opinion, airlines need to give passengers a reason to fly with them. This essentially boils down to two main options:

Do it better, or do it cheaper. After the farce that was the 'market share scramble' after deregulation, the latter is what the US carriers have done to consolidate the mess. This culture has sent a lightning bolt through the industry, and has filtered down from the top to the bottom of the individual companies.

Other foreign legacy carriers went for the first option. They are constantly upgrading their products, trying to get ahead that way. There is huge (successful) LoCo presence in their respective regions, but it is proven that providing premium service commands a premium price, which plenty of passengers are willing to pay. There is no need to play the LoCos at the same game - much like Porsche not needing to make a $20,000 runaround.

It's a very interesting discussion to have, and situation to watch. I'm not trying to be personal in any way on the topic. We're all professionals, and all work hard, study hard, and dedicate ourselves to doing the best job we can. This much is a given.

I apologise if anyone has taken my observations and opinions as being personal. They aren't.

Just like anyone on these boards - as far as employers go, we go for what job best fits our needs. Not the customers needs; That's for the MBA clones. It's interesting to watch, nonetheless.

 

Deregulation in 1978 changed the dynamics for US carriers, going from six majors legacies to three today (Eastern TWA, Pan Am, United, Delta, American --> United, Delta, American), along with the rise of low cost carriers. Legacies have changed business models to compete with low cost carriers, because people vote for services with the tickets they buy.

I'll mention Cathay and Singapore - they're confronting an LCC revolution in their sphere of the world, and they'll have to be responsive like the surviving US legacy carriers.

Cathay Pacific must seize the moment and launch a low-cost carrier | CAPA - Centre for Aviation

Delta has met the challenge successfully, earning $34B in revenue with likely record profits this year.