Good points. all. I guess mine is that I'm constantly hearing how foreign carriers are so much better at pulling this air carrier thing off. Why would a domestic airline not try this model? I'd be willing to bet people would pay a little more for an outstanding product.

On the other point, I'm not really letting it get to me. I just row the boat. But I do want the passengers to be happy with the service.

 

Our Government sucks the blood out of this industry through taxation --- to a degree greater than alcohol, tobacco, etc. The latest increase in TSA fees will go right out of the industry and into "other programs." Foreign Governments, especially in the Middle East right now, are actively promoting and greasing the skids for their airlines. Given this dichotomy and others surrounding labor law or lack thereof, it is impossible for "us" to be like "them." It will be a test to our survival in the years to come, no doubt about it.

 

Note that Virgin America's RASM is below UAL on the identical routes out of SFO even with a better on-board product. There are folks that will pay more but there are not many of them in the Y cabin apparently or the global network and FF miles trumps quality on a single segment.

Sadly, the management of UAL has determined that we only have to work enough to suck as bad as DAL and AMR...and they have even failed their execution of that low threshold.

 

<<"Sadly, the management of UAL has determined that we only have to work enough to suck as bad as DAL and AMR...and they have even failed their execution of that low threshold">> Bingo.

And as CuzEd mentioned, one simply cannot compare foreign airlines to those in the US. Many of them receive generous subsidies and are seen as Ambassadors for the country. How much do you think that Etihad pays for jet fuel, or their employees?

I think that 99 percent of us are sick of this business model and the lousy product we offer because of it. I hate it when someone asks me what I do for a living. But, I have learned how to roll with the body blows.

 

Two things.... It wasn't FAR117, because the TSA agent said "Merry Xmas", so that was pre FAR117, PBS, and CCS. It was just our normal level of stinking. If it was a fuel stop in SEA that caused the initial delay, it was probably thanks to the genius beancounter who decided a 737 should do a 757's job. As others have said, don't let it bother you. The blogger claims he understands the industry, but... he then says that flights should never be oversold - no other industry does it. Well, that's lovely, but 1) that's life in a business airline where it's ROUTINE that many folks who booked a flight don't show up. Even if it WASNT oversold, and just sold out, he would have been on standby. What is the alternative, UNDERSELLING the seats to keep some open or delays? Whose gonna pay for that? Bump a passenger on the later flight? Can you imagine the cow this blogger would have had if he had been removed from his flight so that another passenger could have his seat due to an earlier delay? Oh, and I've twice showed up for a rental car and not had any inventory because they oversold their cars. I didn't blog about it. 2) EVERY airline has these meltdowns. Every. Single. One. I just got reemed by a relative because her friends mother got left in DTW by the all-mighty Delta for 2 days with no options. Vowed never to fly DAL again and tell everyone she knows about it. Same with my Sister and USAirways. Granted we have more than most, but it's going to happen everywhere. Fear not. It won't get better =)

 

Not so grasshopper. Welcome to the age of the internet. It has been demonstrated time and again, that the customers will go for the lowest fair on line every time. EVERY TIME! To the point that on a flight 1-3 hours, (SWA) even an extra bag of peanuts doesn't really make a difference.

Be on time, make the connection, don't **** off the customer is about all that matters. Simple things we are failing miserably at.

 

What James said..........


The customers are getting what they pay for. They are paying the absolute lowest price that they can click on.

It is a very complicated system with lots of moving parts. If you have 100,000 torqued off employees that don't care, it is only 79% reliable.

Spend of bunch of time and money on employee morale, and the reliability goes way up to..............84%.

For 200 dollars, you can get on a plane and fly 5.5 hours across the continental US. Three quarters of the time, reliably and on time.

It is a good thing I am not a CS agent. I would tell people to buy a horse and wagon, and walk like they used too. There are no baggage fees that way, and their expectations of an "on-time arrival" go way down.

 

Well if the airlines were staffed to efficiently handle events that occur a few times a year the passengers would be crying every time they buy a ticket.

Airlines used to make money below 60% load factor but tickets cost a lot more. Well the market has spoken - people want cheap tickets. They will complain about everything but when it comes to behavior (buying a ticket) the almight dollar rules supreme.

Sad as it is - the U.S. airline industry is giving its passengers exactly what they want. Cheap tickets.

Scoop

 

You have dressed appropriately when TSA pre-check looks at you funny for all those liquids in your bag. Flash them with the non-creepy overcoat and all is well. Brownie points when you walk up to your gate and the agent says boarding has not begun yet.

 

Wait a minute...we're supposed to flash gate agents now?