Comments on: Cheap AirFares: Is Price the ONLY Thing??? http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:36:28 GMT http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.4 By: E Marie http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1328 E Marie Mon, 08 Oct 2007 19:03:21 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1328 I can give up the free meals, snacks, pillows, blankets, magazines, movies on long flights even, but what I would like retained is courtesy from the people at the counters. Even if I am not a first class or business class passenger, I would like to be treated with respect. I did pay for my flight too, not as much perhaps as they did, but my money is also green. I would hope the people at the counters would realize that electronic check-in can be a bit intimidating for us older passengers who do not fly often. One counter agent snapped at us that we had done things wrong and that thousands of other customers that morning seemed able to work the electronic check-in screens. He had told us to use any credit card to check in. Well, I did and the computer required the same credit card we had used to purchase our tickets originally. Anyway, please realize that not all of us are thoroughly adept with computers, or familiar with electronic check-in. My mother is 76 years old, has never gone online, and she never went to school. She would be intimidated by such expectations at the airport. I go with her and help her, and print out her ticket for her. So, courtesy is all I'm looking for, and I will give that in return. I can give up the free meals, snacks, pillows, blankets, magazines, movies on long flights even, but what I would like retained is courtesy from the people at the counters. Even if I am not a first class or business class passenger, I would like to be treated with respect. I did pay for my flight too, not as much perhaps as they did, but my money is also green. I would hope the people at the counters would realize that electronic check-in can be a bit intimidating for us older passengers who do not fly often. One counter agent snapped at us that we had done things wrong and that thousands of other customers that morning seemed able to work the electronic check-in screens. He had told us to use any credit card to check in. Well, I did and the computer required the same credit card we had used to purchase our tickets originally. Anyway, please realize that not all of us are thoroughly adept with computers, or familiar with electronic check-in. My mother is 76 years old, has never gone online, and she never went to school. She would be intimidated by such expectations at the airport. I go with her and help her, and print out her ticket for her. So, courtesy is all I’m looking for, and I will give that in return.

]]> By: cory http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1309 cory Sun, 07 Oct 2007 01:32:44 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1309 Connecting to this thread late, but just back after several trips of late and had another uncomfortable and tiring experience. To save money (our first priority) we participated in a free flight program which sent us to our destination on a carrier we never choose (because of their prices and schedules). Never again, even for free. Example...a flight from door to door that usually takes 5 to 6 hours on our preferred carrier, just took us 12 hours iclusive of delay, delay, delay. Riding on these coach seats that have NO room, having the person in front of you lay back their seat and then arriving to an empty airport, but yet it took baggage claim 30 minutes to get our bags delivered was not a pleasant way to spend any day. I do not think the airlines should feed anyone. The food is not worth even passing out, much less all of the garbage it creates. My hubby and I think that if the airlines did not "give" food for "free" then most people would not bother buying what they might have to offer. The perception of free just keeps the crap coming. Pack a lunch. Guess we're stuck with their beverages since you can't take your own any more. On a two, three or four hour flight, I do not need anything to eat. Make the bathrooms bigger. I am not a big person, but what a chore to use one of those contraptions. Porta potties are more spacious. Seats have to be made bigger and more comfortable. I can't believe there is not more airline cabin rage from everyone on this issue. NO ONE is comfortable, except maybe FC. I will go back to flying my favorite carrier (usually can get nonstop anywhere I go), accumulating miles and use them to soften the price blow occassionally. Our next trip, in three weeks, will be by car....even tho' it will take us 22 driving hours, I need a travel break from the craziness of today's plane travel. See the USA in a Chevrolet..................! Connecting to this thread late, but just back after several trips of late and had another uncomfortable and tiring experience. To save money (our first priority) we participated in a free flight program which sent us to our destination on a carrier we never choose (because of their prices and schedules). Never again, even for free. Example…a flight from door to door that usually takes 5 to 6 hours on our preferred carrier, just took us 12 hours iclusive of delay, delay, delay. Riding on these coach seats that have NO room, having the person in front of you lay back their seat and then arriving to an empty airport, but yet it took baggage claim 30 minutes to get our bags delivered was not a pleasant way to spend any day. I do not think the airlines should feed anyone. The food is not worth even passing out, much less all of the garbage it creates. My hubby and I think that if the airlines did not “give” food for “free” then most people would not bother buying what they might have to offer. The perception of free just keeps the crap coming. Pack a lunch. Guess we’re stuck with their beverages since you can’t take your own any more. On a two, three or four hour flight, I do not need anything to eat. Make the bathrooms bigger. I am not a big person, but what a chore to use one of those contraptions. Porta potties are more spacious. Seats have to be made bigger and more comfortable. I can’t believe there is not more airline cabin rage from everyone on this issue. NO ONE is comfortable, except maybe FC. I will go back to flying my favorite carrier (usually can get nonstop anywhere I go), accumulating miles and use them to soften the price blow occassionally. Our next trip, in three weeks, will be by car….even tho’ it will take us 22 driving hours, I need a travel break from the craziness of today’s plane travel. See the USA in a Chevrolet………………!

]]> By: Jaici http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1130 Jaici Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:42:00 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1130 Perhaps I'm just inexperienced, although I do fly at least 3 times a year on business or pleasure, but I haven't found any airline that treats me any different than another. I harbor no preference as far as service goes,sofor me price is of paramount importance, but it's not the only consideration. My schedule is probably the deciding factor when I'm traveling. I like to maximize my time, which means I like to leave earlier in the morning from a conveniently located airport rather than driving 2 hours from Colorado Springs to DIA so I can wait in a security line for yet ANOTHER 2 hours, just so I can make my 4a.m. flight on time. It's ridiculous, and I just won't do it. I also like to arrive at my destination at a decent hour, so I'm certainly not interested in a 5 hour layover at some random location. I will pay more, within reason, to have a decent flight schedule coming from the smaller airports that I'm close to. Customer service with a smile would be great, but I think that might be pushing our luck. ;-) Perhaps I’m just inexperienced, although I do fly at least 3 times a year on business or pleasure, but I haven’t found any airline that treats me any different than another. I harbor no preference as far as service goes,sofor me price is of paramount importance, but it’s not the only consideration. My schedule is probably the deciding factor when I’m traveling. I like to maximize my time, which means I like to leave earlier in the morning from a conveniently located airport rather than driving 2 hours from Colorado Springs to DIA so I can wait in a security line for yet ANOTHER 2 hours, just so I can make my 4a.m. flight on time. It’s ridiculous, and I just won’t do it. I also like to arrive at my destination at a decent hour, so I’m certainly not interested in a 5 hour layover at some random location. I will pay more, within reason, to have a decent flight schedule coming from the smaller airports that I’m close to. Customer service with a smile would be great, but I think that might be pushing our luck. ;-)

]]> By: Petra Mehner http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1123 Petra Mehner Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:01:10 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1123 I am a cheap traveler and only book economy seats. I have only traveled for vacation purposes. However, I am willing to pay $150 - 300 more when I fly long distance from Vancouver to Sydney, Frankfurt or London if it's a direct flight. I am also willing to pay a little bit more if I knew that I had an empty seat beside me or more leg room. Comfort is very important when you are flying non-stop for 10 - 15 hours. It would certainly help to make flying pleasurable. That's why I agree with flipflopbride's comments about limited space onboard airlines. I am a cheap traveler and only book economy seats. I have only traveled for vacation purposes. However, I am willing to pay $150 - 300 more when I fly long distance from Vancouver to Sydney, Frankfurt or London if it’s a direct flight. I am also willing to pay a little bit more if I knew that I had an empty seat beside me or more leg room. Comfort is very important when you are flying non-stop for 10 - 15 hours. It would certainly help to make flying pleasurable. That’s why I agree with flipflopbride’s comments about limited space onboard airlines.

]]> By: david http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1122 david Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:54:54 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1122 To reduce prices of tickets, how about reducing the number of flight attendants on flights less than 3-4 hours. There could be elimination of all in flight food and beverages except in first class, with one flight attendant managing the whole first class and main cabins. Small bottles of water couldbe handed out on the flight and people could dispose of them after deplaning. Almost all of the announcements and safety advisories are on a video screen now and the flight attendants don't need to repeat everything the captain says. The captain's assistant could help with securing the doors for cross check etc...I have been delayed on multiple occasions just waiting for the flight attendants to arrive from another flight, with everyone else boarded, baggage on board ready to go...Frustrating! Flight attendants are still needed for longer flights such as transatlantic ones, but this would reduce the airlines workforce and subsequently reduce their health insurance/disability exposures, possibly creating an ability to reduce airline fares. To reduce prices of tickets, how about reducing the number of flight attendants on flights less than 3-4 hours. There could be elimination of all in flight food and beverages except in first class, with one flight attendant managing the whole first class and main cabins. Small bottles of water couldbe handed out on the flight and people could dispose of them after deplaning. Almost all of the announcements and safety advisories are on a video screen now and the flight attendants don’t need to repeat everything the captain says. The captain’s assistant could help with securing the doors for cross check etc…I have been delayed on multiple occasions just waiting for the flight attendants to arrive from another flight, with everyone else boarded, baggage on board ready to go…Frustrating! Flight attendants are still needed for longer flights such as transatlantic ones, but this would reduce the airlines workforce and subsequently reduce their health insurance/disability exposures, possibly creating an ability to reduce airline fares.

]]> By: Tommy http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1121 Tommy Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:37:59 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1121 I fly once or twice a year, and I always go for the cheapest ticket. I never buy any of the food on the plane; never sit in first class. On every flight I've ever been on, I've just slept for most of it. (Of course, I've never been on a flight that's lasted more than 5 hours.) The flight is just to get me to my destination, and I'd rather spend as little as possible on the transportation so I can spend more at the actual destination. I think the success of the budget airlines like Southwest and JetBlue shows that people like me are more common than people who fly dozens of times a year, even though the responses in this blog would indicate otherwise. I fly once or twice a year, and I always go for the cheapest ticket. I never buy any of the food on the plane; never sit in first class. On every flight I’ve ever been on, I’ve just slept for most of it. (Of course, I’ve never been on a flight that’s lasted more than 5 hours.) The flight is just to get me to my destination, and I’d rather spend as little as possible on the transportation so I can spend more at the actual destination. I think the success of the budget airlines like Southwest and JetBlue shows that people like me are more common than people who fly dozens of times a year, even though the responses in this blog would indicate otherwise.

]]> By: John http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1120 John Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:30:54 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1120 Hi again, Ok, I got it. Perhaps many of us needed to vent a bit and got off track as to "suggestions" to the airlines. I will do my best with the short amount of time I have to do this. It looks like air travel is becoming just like anything else. One needs to, as much as possible, take things into their own hands and be pro-active. I've had to do this in several areas of my life already such as my medical care, and even in comparing prices at supermarkets, investigating things on the internet, etc. I hope everyone gets the picture. Excitedly, my hat is off to farecompare.com in helping me explore this. Perhaps the airline could make it easier on their customers in helping them become pro-active by doing a few things. Perhaps agents coming on the loudspeaker in the waiting area to let people know ahead of time of possible glitches in their travel at a connecting city/destination. Examples might be advance weather conditions, possible canceled flights. These are just a few....I'm sure everyone has a few more to add. This might allow waiting travelers to phone ahead to make car reservations, hotel reservations or allow one to notify their loved ones ahead of time that they don't need to start a 2 to 3 hour trek to pick you up because of a canceled flight or adverse air weather. Yes, they do this at times but at times when it is too late. I've seen monitors in waiting areas that change flight times and destinations......why not keep us up to date on what's going on at your connection/destination? Monitors to let you see what the current layout looks like at your connection/destination. This could also be added to "our new little seat screens that are usually not working or have not been placed" on the the aircraft. A daunting task for you airlines?? Well let's see who out does each other in this scenario. Perhaps a few conceirge phones in the waiting area to be used. Yes, a airline concierge that might be able to assist you in car/hotel reservations or notifying of a loved one. The conceirge/s wouldn't need to be available all the time but in crisis situations. People with cell phones, of course, would be able to do their own trouble shooting but this would certainly help the flier who doesn't have a cell phone or help that elderly person, by giving them peace of mind that "things" have been taken care of for them. ALSO....I've read of all the surly attendants and their remarks and horrible service. VERY GOOD POINT....! Another duty, perhaps, of these conceirges could be to take the customer service evaluations of passengers as they are stepping off their flights! What a concept to be handed a customer service questionnaire by your attendant at boarding. I bet knowing that they were being evaluated might at least keep a smile on their face! Perhaps the conceirge might be a deserving agent/ attendant with years of counter service and/or flight hours of serving the public and know the ins and outs of the needs of travelers. Don't you think that picking the brains of these long time, proved excellent service givers would be great. A sort of high esteem position given/rewarded to these people. A position earned! This position would be for only the best of unionized employees. Not management. Allowing them a little leeway in helping out. Yes....customer service could certainly get my business and at the same time with all the travelers the airline would attract could keep fares down. Again, thanks for reading....John Hi again, Ok, I got it. Perhaps many of us needed to vent a bit and got off track as to “suggestions” to the airlines. I will do my best with the short amount of time I have to do this.

It looks like air travel is becoming just like anything else. One needs to, as much as possible, take things into their own hands and be pro-active. I’ve had to do this in several areas of my life already such as my medical care, and even in comparing prices at supermarkets, investigating things on the internet, etc. I hope everyone gets the picture. Excitedly, my hat is off to farecompare.com in helping me explore this.

Perhaps the airline could make it easier on their customers in helping them become pro-active by doing a few things. Perhaps agents coming on the loudspeaker in the waiting area to let people know ahead of time of possible glitches in their travel at a connecting city/destination. Examples might be advance weather conditions, possible canceled flights. These are just a few….I’m sure everyone has a few more to add. This might allow waiting travelers to phone ahead to make car reservations, hotel reservations or allow one to notify their loved ones ahead of time that they don’t need to start a 2 to 3 hour trek to pick you up because of a canceled flight or adverse air weather. Yes, they do this at times but at times when it is too late. I’ve seen monitors in waiting areas that change flight times and destinations……why not keep us up to date on what’s going on at your connection/destination? Monitors to let you see what the current layout looks like at your connection/destination. This could also be added to “our new little seat screens that are usually not working or have not been placed” on the the aircraft. A daunting task for you airlines?? Well let’s see who out does each other in this scenario.

Perhaps a few conceirge phones in the waiting area to be used. Yes, a airline concierge that might be able to assist you in car/hotel reservations or notifying of a loved one. The conceirge/s wouldn’t need to be available all the time but in crisis situations. People with cell phones, of course, would be able to do their own trouble shooting but this would certainly help the flier who doesn’t have a cell phone or help that elderly person, by giving them peace of mind that “things” have been taken care of for them.

ALSO….I’ve read of all the surly attendants and their remarks and horrible service. VERY GOOD POINT….! Another duty, perhaps, of these conceirges could be to take the customer service evaluations of passengers as they are stepping off their flights! What a concept to be handed a customer service questionnaire by your attendant at boarding. I bet knowing that they were being evaluated might at least keep a smile on their face!

Perhaps the conceirge might be a deserving agent/ attendant with years of counter service and/or flight hours of serving the public and know the ins and outs of the needs of travelers. Don’t you think that picking the brains of these long time, proved excellent service givers would be great. A sort of high esteem position given/rewarded to these people. A position earned!

This position would be for only the best of unionized employees. Not management. Allowing them a little leeway in helping out.

Yes….customer service could certainly get my business and at the same time with all the travelers the airline would attract could keep fares down.

Again, thanks for reading….John

]]> By: Ruth Dillon http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1111 Ruth Dillon Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:44:42 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1111 Cleanliness--on a recent plane trip on AA I noticed that planes are not as clean as they used to be. I really felt that I was sitting in a germ pit, with things left from the previous passenger, the magazine holder "sprung" so that it hit me in the leg, the bathrooms, etc. I love to travel, always am just finishing a trip or starting to plan the next one. But I am seriously thinking about trains now. Cleanliness–on a recent plane trip on AA I noticed that planes are not as clean as they used to be. I really felt that I was sitting in a germ pit, with things left from the previous passenger, the magazine holder “sprung” so that it hit me in the leg, the bathrooms, etc. I love to travel, always am just finishing a trip or starting to plan the next one. But I am seriously thinking about trains now.

]]> By: Roosevelt http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1097 Roosevelt Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:55:20 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1097 I think the question on lowest cost matters whether vacation or business. If leisure - I want the lowest cost because I do not consider commercial flights relaxing or comfortable experience. If business related, I want the best customer service and comfort. I wouldn't complain about a meal onboard because it usually sux, however, if I'm delayed for 4 hrs. anything besides peanuts is swell. Unfortunately, in the US market I think Continental is the only stand-out. JetBlue is higher end of the discount carriers for leisure routes. I absolute will pay more for Continental because I think they have better customer service and cater to the needs of the customer. US Air has horrible cust. service and trying to get anything done via their off-shore call center is an exercise in patience. I think the question on lowest cost matters whether vacation or business. If leisure - I want the lowest cost because I do not consider commercial flights relaxing or comfortable experience. If business related, I want the best customer service and comfort.

I wouldn’t complain about a meal onboard because it usually sux, however, if I’m delayed for 4 hrs. anything besides peanuts is swell.

Unfortunately, in the US market I think Continental is the only stand-out. JetBlue is higher end of the discount carriers for leisure routes. I absolute will pay more for Continental because I think they have better customer service and cater to the needs of the customer.
US Air has horrible cust. service and trying to get anything done via their off-shore call center is an exercise in patience.

]]> By: Marjorie Getz http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1096 Marjorie Getz Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:53:25 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2007/09/14/cheap-airfares-is-price-the-only-thing/#comment-1096 Price is a secondary consideration---and only when choosing between two airlines with similar services. Because I fly long-haul, comfort and service are paramount. There is inherent value in arriving at a destination and not losing a day (or more) from fatigue as a result of an exhausting, uncomfortable flight or stressful airport experiences. As a general rule, I avoid U.S. carriers like the plague. Some of these employees of the American carriers should take a ride on an Asian carrier sometime to understand what the word "attitude" means. JAL, Cathay Pacific, Air Pacific, Singapore Airlines----all are terrific and I can't think of one bad experience I have ever had. Just prior to Japan Air Lines entry into the One World alliance, I flew a first class round trip between Boston/Chicago/Tokyo which I booked (on the phone) with AA. The return from Tokyo to Chicago, to my surprise, was on JAL. While AA's first class 777 space was nice, JAL had nearly TWICE the space. More spacious and better seats, better menu, better service, cleaner bathrooms, etc etc etc. But the true test came when I arrived back in Chicago and AA denied me entry into their first class lounge because I hadn't come back from Tokyo on AA! Mind you, I had BOOKED THE ENTIRE FLIGHT exclusively through AA. I might also add, this was a $14,000 ticket. The lounge manager was surly, unprofessional, and rude. All this effort to keep one passenger, who had payed a ton of money for her ticket, waiting out in the hall on a plastic chair because AA itself, not I the passenger, had booked me on another airline (I was indeed connecting from Chicago to Boston on AA, first class). Just because of this small experience, I will never fly AA again. It's the attitude. I wrote to the CEO of AA about this, and received a reply which stated that "this misunderstanding is a frequent problem". Well if that's the case, why the heck haven't they FIXED it? Price is a secondary consideration—and only when choosing between two airlines with similar services. Because I fly long-haul, comfort and service are paramount. There is inherent value in arriving at a destination and not losing a day (or more) from fatigue as a result of an exhausting, uncomfortable flight or stressful airport experiences.

As a general rule, I avoid U.S. carriers like the plague. Some of these employees of the American carriers should take a ride on an Asian carrier sometime to understand what the word “attitude” means. JAL, Cathay Pacific, Air Pacific, Singapore Airlines—-all are terrific and I can’t think of one bad experience I have ever had.

Just prior to Japan Air Lines entry into the One World alliance, I flew a first class round trip between Boston/Chicago/Tokyo which I booked (on the phone) with AA. The return from Tokyo to Chicago, to my surprise, was on JAL.

While AA’s first class 777 space was nice, JAL had nearly TWICE the space. More spacious and better seats, better menu, better service, cleaner bathrooms, etc etc etc.

But the true test came when I arrived back in Chicago and AA denied me entry into their first class lounge because I hadn’t come back from Tokyo on AA! Mind you, I had BOOKED THE ENTIRE FLIGHT exclusively through AA. I might also add, this was a $14,000 ticket.

The lounge manager was surly, unprofessional, and rude. All this effort to keep one passenger, who had payed a ton of money for her ticket, waiting out in the hall on a plastic chair because AA itself, not I the passenger, had booked me on another airline (I was indeed connecting from Chicago to Boston on AA, first class). Just because of this small experience, I will never fly AA again. It’s the attitude.

I wrote to the CEO of AA about this, and received a reply which stated that “this misunderstanding is a frequent problem”. Well if that’s the case, why the heck haven’t they FIXED it?

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