7
Staying grounded
The airlines are increasing fares once again. Most of them upped tickets another $10 this week. It's the fifth industry-wide hike this year. Yet another reason to take the bus.
Reuters concludes this fare hike might be a sign of new airline pricing power:
"The bottom line is that we hit the bottom and it's starting to come off the bottoms, and pricing power is shifting," Seaney said. "The pendulum is shifting away from the consumer and back into a neutral position."
Eh, I'm not buying it, yet. First of all, the airline industry is divided into two camps -- those making profits and those that aren't. The companies losing money are the ones raising fares. Southwest and Airtran have not matched this latest hike.
Secondly, the airlines say they're seeing signs of increased demand. I'd like proof that the higher loads aren't mostly about airlines offering fewer flights. Although I don't have hard evidence myself, the people I know are flying much less right now.
Airfarewatchdog is doing its own unscientific poll today:
Airfarewatchdog believes that a lot of people aren't flying because, to put it bluntly, flying is a big PITA. If air travel were a better experience, we believe, more people would take to the skies, even at higher fares. But, of course, improving the product will cost money that the airlines don't have and we'd all have to pay higher taxes to fix our antiquated air traffic control system.
Among the comments:
"By the time I drive to the airport, find a parking space, get to the terminal, then go through the ridiculous inspections, I have wasted 3 hours. I can drive to Las Vegas in six hours and arrive way before my flight. Is there something wrong with this picture? You bet there is. People should completely stop flying on trips of anything less than 1000 miles."
But others have stopped flying simply because it's an uncomfortable experience. "Airlines have crammed more seats into their flying aluminum cans," one reader laments. Another gripes that seats are "as thin as cardboard" and that he has taken to riding the bus for trips of less than four hours. "The bus seats are much more comfortable and the travel time is comparable. I also get to see a bit of the country side and I've yet to have a bus fail to leave the terminal on time."
You flying less? Or willing to pay more if the experience was better?
Ah, the good ol' days, when I could arrive at the airport 20 minutes before flight time, stroll to the gate and take my seat 5 min. before departure. I know it's for my own protection, but having to remove my shoes, my jacket, my computer, empty my pockets, maybe raise my arms in some machine -- it takes any joy out of flying. Everytime I have to remove my shoes, I'm grateful that Richard Reid didn't hide the bomb in his underwear.
Here's a story on how one company - Virgin - can innovate and save money (be profitable) while pleasing the customer.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/02/virgin_america_start_up_thinks_big/
Personally I'm a train fan. I live in a city that uses rail, light rail and street car, so maybe my environment makes me partial. While Amtrak doesn't take riders everywhere we need to go, and the schedules are often ridiculous on the west coast, traveling on the train is almost luxurious. You can walk around, eat in the dining car, plug a laptop in and work, or just let the movement of the train lull you to sleep. No crazy highway drivers. No FAA. Now if only Amtrak could advance past 1980.
I'm a train fan, too, Jake. Unfortunately, for long hauls, in this country, trains are still pretty impractical. They're a great replacement for shorter trips, though. Building a better train system is the kind of stimulus I think a lot of people would support.
So, it's a 13 hour drive from where I live in MS to where my mother lives in OH. I managed to find a direct flight from New Orleans to Cincinnati. (There were no direct flights in to Columbus where Mother lives). So, I drove 2.5 hours to New Orleans. Waited 2 hours for my plane. Was in the air for 3 hours. Then I drove 2.5 hours to Columbus to get in a mere two hours earlier then I would have if I had driven ASSUMING there are no further delays in the flight.
I'm not flying again for anything less then a two day car trip and even then, I'll seriously consider driving anyway as then I don't need to count every pound of luggage.
I fly less because it is so generally annoying to fly. It's not just the big carriers, though they are a big part of it. It's also the bad airports (LAX, IAD) and the TSA theater of the absurd (and humiliated).
When I can I pay more (Virgin America) or at least get what I pay for (Southwest) and grin and bear it. But on United and American, it's just too too unpleasant. Those systems are broken in so many ways. If they would charge a little more to make the ordeal less grueling, they would at least get a little more revenue and more goodwill from the customer base. As you say, it's not like long air trips can be replaced by long rail trips, at least in CONUS.
I do not fly becasue of the TSA scene run by a bunch of robotic, insensitive,and crazy people.
I understand the reasoning that people need to be protected from terrorists, etc., very well but I do not understand why TSA has to hire people who want to touch private parts in the name of inspection. Obviously TSA knows about this and still hire these sex maniacs.
No one can talk to them becasue they will areest you if you do. What a sorry situation.
Several of my friends do not fly for the same reason. I and my friends drive or take the train and enjoy it. Great to car poll also.
It is the same story at London airports. Not sure about the other parts of Europe.
It is sick.
