Posted on 04/21/2017 7:20:29 AM PDT by C19fan
The distance between the front of the plane and the back is feeling longer.
Battling it out with discount carriers, the world’s biggest airlines are rolling out ultracheap economy-class tickets, or cutting back sharply on basic amenities for their lowest-paying customers. At the same time, they are pulling out the stops to lavish their premium fliers with more perks.
American Airlines Group Inc., AAL -0.15% United Continental Holdings Inc. UAL -0.77% and Delta Air Lines Inc. DAL -1.09% all now offer super-low fares, dubbed “basic economy,” that strip out even once-standard allowances, such as carry-on baggage or a choice of seat before boarding.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
You want to pay the price, you will get the service. The airline knows exactly how much it costs to lift our fat asses and haul it from here to there, the rest is service, and service ain’t free.
I suppose people could always take Greyhound for more money...
Yeah, but you’d miss the UAL beat-down and drag-off service.
How’s that? Airport security who don’t make it work at bus stations.
Switched to southwest a few years ago so havent flown first in a while, but first class then was what coach was in the 70s and 80s. First had a slightly more comfortable seat, with generally awful food (especially if you flew in the morning), and free drinks. There was a couple of exceptions, the LA to Newark had a decent steak but more importantly ice cream sundae, and Dallas to Reno also had the ice cream sundae. And it was also satisfying when they would bake the cookies and you knew the rest of the plane could smell it (yeah I know I am evil). Now foreign carriers especially in asia are really first first class with unbelievably hot flight attendants. That is what I envision travel was like in the 60s
Just tie em on to the wing.
Meals? Catch a seagull.
And you wonder why Norwegian Air Shuttle is becoming very popular for transatlantic flights—they have very reasonable Economy class fares, and their Premium class doesn’t cost ridiculous sums of money, either. Small wonder why this airline is trying to get as many of the new Boeing 787’s as possible.
Try flying in a C-130 Hercules for true luxury - in a mesh jump seat with a big old TANK strapped in beside you!
Nothin’ finer! ;)
I can put up with some crowdedness on domestic flights of 3 hours or so, if it saves some money. You arrive at about the same time the front of the plane arrives. I don’t use carry-ons so if they charge for that, I don’t care either, and it keeps me from getting hit in the head by people not strong enough to lift their crammed full carry-ons into the overhead bins.
International flights? Different matter entirely.
I’m wondering if one of the big airlines introduces a new type of service involving nothing but first-class seats on an entire aircraft. Instead of cramming 180 people into a plane and charging them $350 for a ticket, put 70 seats in the same aircraft and charge $1,000 per ticket. I’ll bet they’d by flying full most of the time.
I believe there are companies offering shares in fleets of private jets. You pay a subscription in order to take a certain amount of flight per year.
Right. NetJets is one of those. I’m thinking something more aligned to individual frequent-fliers who don’t necessarily work for major companies that can buy their own jets.
Check out La Compagnie.
MGM Grand tried it with DC-8s, 727s and 757s. Lasted a while.
That seems like a great deal. For advance booking, some of the flights are as little as $649 if you can fly mid-week.
Perhaps an all business class, with about 1/3 less people at 50% more per ticket.
Those shared jets are costly. $3,000 per hour is common.
If you are stuffed into a little seat between one sweaty fat guy in a sleeveless t-shirt and one fat woman who is not wearing a bra, your seat should be free!
For the days and times that work for me, Economy is $309.
Flying Business/First is $596
The difference is, is that in Economy I'll have to pay for 2 bags. $25 for the first, $35 for the second. That's $60 EACH WAY.
$120 total
So now my ticket plus bag fees is $429.
In B/F, I get a specialized check in, so I don't stand in a long line.
After check in, I go to a special line for TSA, so my time there is a few minutes.
(ORD and DEN are both large airports with long TSA lines)
Once on the plane, the Economy seat is 17.3" wide vs 21" for B/F. B/F has 2 seats together vs 3 and each seat has it's own arm rest vs sharing.
I have broad shoulders and wear a 54" jacket. That extra room is very much needed.
I also get 6" more of leg room.
In Economy, should I want something to eat, either I buy it in the terminal and carry it on the plane, or I buy a boxed samitch for $8.
In B/F a meal is provided.
Usually, when I do this, the difference between B/F and Economy w/ bag fees added, is usually about $100-$120.
Everybody's travel wants/needs are different. For me, after adding the bag fees, the extra cost for the added comfort and ease are worth it to me.
But I'm traveling single. No added cost for a spouse or kids.
But I know the times I want to fly, though other times might be cheaper.
Why fly late at night and arrive late?
THEN you pay for a hotel room. (kinda kills the advantage of a cheap ticket)
I'll pay $50 for an early am flight vs paying and staying a night in a hotel.
There is also MDW airport, about 25 miles from ORD.
I've driven friends, to or from there.
MDW might offer cheaper flights, but it's further away, less convenient and more expensive to get to and from. ESPECIALLY if you have someone taking or picking you up at/to the airport.
Most people only take into account the purchase price of the ticket, but miss the cost of the incidentals.
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