Just saw that the BBC reported that 2009 was the worst year so far for airlines.

[leftyladyfrommo]

I have to wonder how much of that has been caused by the airlines themselves. Everyone I have talked has said that flying is just awful and they only fly now if they just have to. The airlines have treated their customers so badly that no one wants to fly anywhere.

I remember when flying was really something. People used to get all dressed up. It was really a big deal to get to fly. Customer service was outstanding. Food was good.

Boy have the airlines come down in the world.

[Bonhomme Richard]

1. For me it is all the BS you have to go through....

at the airport. It is such a pain that I will drive if I can get to my destination the next day. It seems it takes a full day to get anywhere flying. It's no wonder they are losing customers. I must say that when I flew a month ago the tickets were really cheap. Paid $189.00 one way to Seattle non stop from JFK on a major carrier. My best friend is a Captain for that airline and when I told him what I paid he just put his head in his hands and said that it didn't even cover the fuel cost.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. In this economy, people have cut back on leisure flying, so passenger

loads are going to go down no matter what.

With their relentless emphasis on cost cutting, the airlines have painted themselves into a corner. They have cut costs all they can for the leisure traveler (who is a smaller part of the flying public now), and they have to make up for it by charging business travelers and business/first class travelers astronomical amounts.

(Last time I flew internationally in 2007, I priced the tickets to London in different classes just for fun, even though I knew I wouldn't be able to afford a premium seat. Advance purchase coach was $1000, same-day coach was $3000, business was $7000, and first was $12,000. I walked through both cabins on the way off the plane at Heathrow. I would have loved to sit in a comfy chair instead of in a torture frame, but there was NO WAY that business was worth seven times as much or first class twelve times as much as coach. Even the comfy seats/flat beds and the free-flowing booze and food were not worth paying that much for eight hours.)

Here's a thought. Market an airline specifically to business travelers that rolls service and comfort levels back to previous levels. Yes, a ticket to London will cost $2000 walk-up or advance, but you're guaranteed a comfortable seat (18" wide, 34" pitch, 2-2-2 seating), a power port, audio-visual programming, real food, and free booze.

Alternatively, follow the lead of several foreign airlines and offer premium economy to full-fare coach passengers.

With the crowds of travelers gone, price cutting and trying to make it up on volume is a foolish business strategy.

[Doctor_J]

3. Funny how that corresponds to no one having any money

Love supply-side theory

[Q3JR4]

4. I think by and large people understand what

the airlines have to deal with; increased security mandated by the TSA, and rising fuel costs. I, for one, would be more than willing to pay the increased cost in cash and time, but I won't deal with an industry that treats its customers like shit. If you need more money don't charge http://consumerist.com/2010/01/a-chart-of-the-myriad-airline-baggage-fees.html">outrageous baggage fees, you increase the cost of the tickets so the customer knows what s/he's getting. Not to mention that the men and women who actually fly the planes probably should be getting a living wage.

I'm just saying.

Q3JR4.

[SoCalDem]

5. It's just a Greyhound bus with wings

And any trip that involves a short flight, would be infinitely more pleasurable by car..

a friend of mine had to go to Sacramento..

45 minutes to drive to the airport
had to check in an hour early
the flight was 45 minutes delayed AFTER check in
actual flying time is about an hour
took 45 minutes after landing to gather luggage, get rental car & actually leave the airport

Took OVER 8 hours, and cost the price of the ticket & the rental car

It's less than 400 miles away, and can be reached in less than 8 hours.. The road is not bad, there are plenty of places to stop & have a bite along the way..No one will frisk you and give you the evil-eye.. you can pack as much as your car will hold, and you can listen to any radio station/cds, etc you want..

[Golden Raisin]

6. Maybe that's because

everything about flying now (including the experience on the ground) is ugly, expensive, inconvenient, onerous, uncomfortable and dehumanizing. And wait until they start allowing passenger cellphone usage inflight (which is currently under serious discussion). Older generations have a harder time with how unpleasant flying has become because they remember when plane travel was actually decent.