Posted on 05/29/2012 8:18:29 PM PDT by caldera599
The airlines are making it much more difficult for families with children to travel these days. In recent developments: United Airlines joined US Airways and American Airlines in no longer offering preboarding for families with kids flying in coach. Families are having more difficulty getting adjoining seats. That's because airlines are reserving more seats for frequent fliers and those willing to pay, usually $50 round trip, for the most desirable seats in coach -- window and aisle, and closest to the front of the plane.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.msn.com ...
After having a job for over 15 years that had me make almost 400 business trips, I am happy to report my new part time position requires NO travel.
Eff you, American/US Air/Delta/et. al. Airlines!
I'd fly again if they had ashtrays back in the back where most people live through the crashes.
/johnny
“but I can already tell what the liberal solution to this will be; return to regulation!”
Uncle Chuckie is on it! - “Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is looking to help families avoid having to add more cash to a typical airline flight. The Associated Press reports Schumer is asking Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to issue rules that would prevent airlines from charging premium seat fees so parents can sit next to their children.”
It is a good thing. ;) Congrats.
/johnny
By the time airlines add all their fees to the ticket price, it is astronomical. Some regulation is actually good.
Last time my friend flew, the add on fees exceeded the ticket price. Some deal!
There is a reason we are driving 900 miles for vacation rather than flying. Cost was only a part.
Poor little tykes... they're losing valuable seat-kicking time.
I racked up so many miles on Delta that I can fly for free for the rest of my life.
There was a time as a single man when I used to love business travel. I’d stay a sat night to cut costs for the company and give me a new place to visit. I used to book flights that I thought were likely to need bump volunteers and then volunteer. I had a lot of free tickets which i used for personal travel.
Now I cannot stand to be in an airport. I engage in no commerce in airports. I drink water out of the sink rather than pay for bottled water in a place where I am treated like a criminal. I avoid as much air travel as my wife will let me:)
To the headline: yes and yes again.
heh..putting your kid in a middle seat with two strangers makes it easier on the parents. Then you can sit back and have a couple drinks while the kids are entertained by someone else. If the airlines are stupid enough to let that happen..along with people taken their whole life as carry on to avoid bag check prices..well let them live with it for a while. Back when our kids were small, but able to carry their own bags we let them sit away from us all the time. Quieter for us..
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Yes! And for the reasons you mention. |
Same here. 1100 miles. To fly was just insane price wise, plus the headaches of getting a type 1 diabetic on the plane and the fact that the TSA would likely shoot me dead when they try to feel up our 8 year old girl because there is no way we are stepping in to the xray machine.
So it’s much safer (and cheaper) for us to just spend the money on gas and enjoy the sights along the way.
If you recheck in at the airport right before your flight, you can usually pick the ‘good’ seats that open up for free. It helps if you sign up for a frequent flyer account first, but you don’t have to be a frequent flyer or have a ton of miles. When I travel with my children, I use this trick so we can all sit together.
I haven’t flown in 10 years (since 2002) and have no plans to do so ever again. If I can’t drive, I don’t go. We drove to Orlando from Memphis several times now.
The airports are like going to prison.
Nobody should pretend to be surprised about the way tickets are being priced. There's a simple reason for it: Internet flight booking. It's all about the way people buy tickets. You go to Travelocity, or CheapTickets, or Orbitz, Expedia, Kayak... Whatever... People shopping there are looking for the lowest fare-- and nothing else. So... The airlines are going to shave their fares down as low as possible so they will sort to the top of those lists. An easy way to do that is to push as much as possible off into other "fees" and whatnot.
It's disingenuous to pretend to be offended by a lack of amenities, when that's not what you were shopping for. You wanted the lowest fare, and you got it. Quityerbitchin'. If you wanted certain other amenities, then you shoulda shopped for them. You could have. You chose not to.
For the last few years, when I have traveled, I have chosen to fly first class. Yes... It costs more. But I have a seat that fits me with room to spare. My bags check free. My drinks (no small amount, there) are free. The food is better. My checked bags come out first at baggage claim. All in all... For me I'm interested in more than just price.
...to add insult to injury, every time I asked the adults to please prevent their children from kicking my seat, they reacted as if they needed to call Chucky Schumer toot sweet for child abuse!
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