Nickle and diming the American public to death in the not so friendly skies

[ddeclue]

:rant:

<rant>

Congress needs to put an end to the phoenomena of tack-on fees in which businesses all across the country are now engaging.

The price of something should be the PRICE without any asterisks, gotcha clauses or charging people for something that really isn't an "extra" service.

It shouldn't be full of add on monthly fees for this that or the other as banks and cable companies and phone companies just love to do.

And it shouldn't be $15/checked bag at the airport beyond one bag when the airlines obviously know there is no way to travel with just one tiny bag unless you plan to buy and abandon your entire wardrobe in every port of call.

Indeed it causes more travel hassle for the airlines to be charging these "checked bag" fees because everybody then tries to avoid those fees by carrying-on all their bags. If anything there should be a fee for "carry-on" and a DISCOUNT for checking your bag ahead of time.

Let's just say that I am flying a "US" Airline...with a major hub at Charlotte Douglas tonight on business and this "US" Airline was NOT my choice of air carrier between Orlando and Newark - I would have much rather flown on JetBlue with their big comfortable seats and TV's to watch.

This "US" Airline put me into a seat that would only be appropriate for someone 5'5" and 140lb with no leg room, no elbow room, no entertainment at ALL including on their three overhead monitors that sat blank the whole flight and their audio system that did nothing all flight.

This "US" Airline then had the nerve to want to charge me $3 for a coca cola! Needless to say I did not buy one thing or check one bag and they will NEVER get my own personal business if I am the one paying for the ticket given the shabby cheap bottom of the barrel treatment they give to their passengers.

I would also say that my London trip on this same "US" Airline back last November going both ways from Orlando to Gatwick was no more comfortable and had the same problems of poor in flight service.

If I'm gonna fly cheap I'd rather fly on a "Southwestern" Airline to most places as they are at least marginally better than this "US" Airline was. For flights to Atlanta, if I'm going cheap I'd rather flight on a "Spirited" Airline for the same reason.

If I have a choice however, I'm flying on JetBlue because ever since they came on the scene they've offered better service, decent seats and good entertainment for prices comparable to that "US" Airline that I'm stuck on tonight. We'll just have to see if the airline I fly on the return trip Tuesday night represents a positive "Delta" from tonight's experience.

</rant>

A Not So Happy Customer!
Doug De Clue
Orlando, FL

[Thickasabrick]

1. Feel lucky. I hear an outfit called Ryanair is going to install pay

toilets. On the other hand, USAirways sent me an email saying they were going to have free drinks again.

[Bill McBlueState]

2. at least nobody's charging for quotation marks n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Flying absolutely fucking sucks these days.

I only do it if it's totally unavoidable. And I used to enjoy it, once upon a time. Now it's pure hell.

[ddeclue]

4. JetBlue is the exception to the rule...

I'm reminded tonight of that Seinfeld episode where Jerry is up front with the supermodel in First Class and Elaine is stuck in steerage with the obnoxious people in the tiny seat.

[BamaGirl]

5. Don't count on it

"We'll just have to see if the airline I fly on the return trip Tuesday night represents a positive "Delta" from tonight's experience."

I flew that airline from Jax, FL to San Fran and back last summer. It was pretty miserable. I'll be flying this summer from here to DC and back. Probably the same airline since I can't get even a comparable price from any other line and they all seem to misers these days anyway. I really wish there was high speed rail from Atlanta to all points north. :(

[exboyfil]

6. Has the demand curve for flying got so inelastic

that any sort of customer service means nothing. It is to the point that, except for Frequent Flyer miles from my credit card (which I am getting out of this year), I will not even consider flying for personal reasons and I avoid flying for business like the plague.

I think this recession is going to kill off this industry. It has been years since I paid for tickets, and I have no interest in ever paying for them again. Pulling my shoes off etc in the Jacksonville airport did it for me. Charging for checked bags. Charging for booking tickets (even with so called Free Frequent Flyer miles). That last one especially did me in - $30/ea for so called free tickets. I cancelled my AA Citibank card after that, and my wife, once we hit two tickets, will cancel hers as well.