Navigating the not-so-friendly skies
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-08-09/navigating-not-so-friendly-skies
Traveling by plane was once an experience to be savored. Today, it's long lines, crowded planes, fewer frills and more and more fees. Our guests will offer tips for flying the not-so-friendly-skies.
Guests
Scott McCartney
travel editor and "The Middle Seat" columnist for "The Wall Street Journal"
Nicholas Kralev
journalist, educator and speaker on global travel, diplomacy and international affairs. He has written for the Washington Times, the Financial Times, and Newsday. He has visited more than 80 countries and is the creator of "On the Fly" seminars.
Susan Stellin
writes frequently about travel for the New York Times.
Comments
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I can't feel any sympathy for whiny air passengers complaining about the lack of frills, long lines, crowded planes and fees. Since deregulation and the world wide web all passengers have cared about is ticket price.
Those crowds are former bus passengers who have opted for faster travel. Guess what? That regional airline captain might earn less than that Peter Pan bus driver you used to ride with. You get what you pay for.
Removed
My husband and I have the time and funds to travel but, given my experience with business travel before retirement, I refuse to travel by plane. Back then the biggest irritation was passengers bringing so many bags onboard and trying to cram them into the overhead bins. I've heard that has gotten much worse and it sounds like there are even greater irritations for passengers. Other than chartering your own plane, is there any way to ensure a comfortable flying experience?
As I sat in the back of the plane last week watching the antics of passengers trying to shove oversized bags into the overhead bins I was struck by inspiration. The airlines seem to have gotten the policy on bags wrong.
The airlines should charge a fee for any carry on bigger than a standard purse or briefcase. They then need to make the first bag checked free. This would give passengers incentive to check a bag instead of trying to lug an over packed large bag onto the plane.
I do blame the airlines for the slow boarding process. They have rules in place on bag size but do not enforce them. They then whine when the passengers take too long to board. We need to get back to the idea that carry on was for the items we might need for our comfort and convenience while in flight. Not baggage!
I recently made major changes in flight plans made w/my SWA frequent flyer coupons: I got a $2.50 *refund* because a leg was deleted! My solution to the hassle of air travel - fly Southwest whenever possible.
I appreciate the gentleman who said that passengers need to be educated. I work in the travel industry and have talked to many travelers who don't know what they book or how they booked it. Ultimately, YOU are the only one responsible for your arrangements (and reading the fine print)!
I never bring carry-ons to stuff in the overhead bins but must wait for others to retrieve their considerable baggage from the overheads upon arrival. Why don't they let those of us who can "get up and go" to do so first?
Overbooking...such a pain. It causes delays boarding and sometimes results in being bumped. I find it very frustrating to change plans, have to call whoever is picking me up and change their plans etc.
I check bags so I don't have to run out and buy contacts solution the minute I land. All those confiscated liquids sit in huge garbage cans in the terminal. If this stuff is potentially dangerous, is any of it checked out, or is it handed out to the terminal staff? I watched an Iraq war vet with an artificial leg made to go repeatedly through the security machine, even though he kept telling them he had an artificial leg. Flying is a humiliating, exhausting experience--but if you complain, you could be detained.
Regarding the lack of TSA customer service - it is so disheartening that the default position is to treat every traveler like a criminal or potential terrorist. Of course I am in favor of safety - we all are - but there has to be a way to behave in a more positive manner. TSA and airline employee attitudes are usually abysmal - they forget that we are customers. They have managed to take every last ounce of romance (not to mention pleasure) out of air travel. That said, travelers have responsibilities as well. Americans are too fat and pack too much!
My husband is an Air Traffic Controller at a very high level regional control center and I am sick of hearing airlines and passengers blame late/delayed flights on the controllers. Each airport has a set limit of how many flights can take off and land in a set time period, but nearly every day airlines schedule more flights than the airport can handle. Because the airlines do not want to make its passengers wait at the airport they will take off even when they know they are heading straight into bad weather that they have to be re-routed around, causing the plane to be late, clogging up already crazy busy airspace, and costing the airline thousands of dollars in fuel costs. Airlines love to blame delays on air traffic controllers so they don't have to reimburse the passengers, but more often than not its the airlines' fault for its overscheduling and overbooking its flights. The controllers are just trying to keep everyone safe!
I am an artist and in my business travels I must carry by artwork. Prints have been stolen from my checked bags (even locked with the proper padlocks) so I can't check things. There are always problems now because of the the luggage charges. So many people carry such large carry on bags, or more than 2 bags that there is no room for all of the carry on bags in the overhead bins (and people refuse to put smaller bags under the seats).
I would gladly pay for a carry on instead of the first bag. This also might stop the long lines going through the security.
Also, Southwest may not be seeing the great profits that they always have in the near future. Years back they purchased a large fuel store at a low price, thus keeping their opperating costs down and not fluctuating. Their fuel store is now running low. So we'll have to see what the future holds, if they can keep the low fees and good service.
I suspect that Nicholas is not a native-born American; his willingness to game the system is unpatriotic. So a number of listeners sign up w/ Aegean & become "elite" flyers; the airline will then boost the minimum, as is only right. What I want is the cattle call that applied @ Southwest up until a few years ago. Even the current system seems fairer than any other.
If you fly only us Southwest works great.
A couple of points from a pilot at a major carrier:
After 9-11 boarding was a breeze-everyone was limited to a very small bag for carry on. Please check your bags. And yes I agree, airlines shouldn't nickel and dime you. Just set a fair price to go from point A to point B.
After a flight, walk back through the cabin, yes even First Class, and look at the condition. We, the traveling public, are complete slobs. It's embarrassing.
If you are not healthy, do not take your frail body up to 8000 feet cabin altitude. Stay home. Everyday our company alone lands several flights short of their destination due to medical emergencies.
The airline industry is a massive infrastructure and needs to be re-regulated. Take the paint and logos off of the airplanes, create one employee group, one management team, set standard prices to go from A to B. Competition drives ticket prices down which forces management to take it out of maintenance, employee hides, and services. Yet they (management) seem to still collect their massive salaries and bonuses.
Airline employees are not the enemy. Flight Attendants are there to get you off of the airplane in the event of an emergency. They are not waiters and waitresses. Your pilot does not control your flow times into major airports-that would be the FAA and the weather.
And please-put down your newspaper and listen to the safety demo...you never know, there might be a pop quiz later in the flight.
I keep hearing the word ‘democratic’ tossed about to describe decent treatment only being given to passengers who can afford to pay premium prices and who are willing to do so very regularly. I want to introduce you all to a new word: plutocracy. I wonder how many are comfortable owning up to the espoused philosophy that your fellow human beings only deserve the respect and rights they can pay for.
Try using a flight ticket organizer that hangs on a lanyard around your neck. I can put my passport, ticket, photo ID and a pen on it and it has saved me allot of time getting to international flights. Never miss place a ticket or ID again! Try using bottles that don't leak for bath items. Also, get a large canvas bag that meets carry on size and put your computer and other personal things into it for carry on - when you get to your destination, fold up the canvas bag and store it in your larger check bag or use it for purchases aboard during your stay.
I’m struck by how elitist the crowd seems to be today. I keep hearing the word ‘democratic’ tossed about to describe decent treatment only being given to passengers who can afford to pay premium prices and who are willing to do so very regularly. I want to introduce you all to a new word: plutocracy. I wonder how many are comfortable owning up to the espoused philosophy that your fellow human beings only deserve the respect and rights they can pay for.
I recently traveled with 2 small grandchildren (age 2 and infant). I tried to be prepared and well organized. Going through Security was difficult and frustrating. You have all the
paraphenila required for the children: you are required to take everyone's coat and shoes off; and then go through scanners individually. That meant that the 2 year old went through the scanner; I handed the baby through the scanner to the TSA personnel, while the 2 year old went running down the airport. I went through to catch the child, because no one attempted to stop him. Then had to repeat the whole process over, plus wait 20 minutes for someone to make sure the baby's bottles weren't a safety risk. No TSA person attempted to assist. A nice man in line behind me, stepped in to assist the second time through. It was an awful experience. When my daughter traveled this year (now with 3 in tow), I gave her $100 to tip the sky cap that helped her at the airport. She said that he helped her through the Security check, which we did not expect, and she gave him an additional tip. My advice: don't travel with children alone.
I recently traveled with 2 small grandchildren (age 2 and infant). I tried to be prepared and well organized. Going through Security was difficult and frustrating. You have all the
paraphenila required for the children: you are required to take everyone's coat and shoes off; and then go through scanners individually. That meant that the 2 year old went through the scanner; I handed the baby through the scanner to the TSA personnel, while the 2 year old went running down the airport. I went through to catch the child, because no one attempted to stop him. Then had to repeat the whole process over, plus wait 20 minutes for someone to make sure the baby's bottles weren't a safety risk. No TSA person attempted to assist. A nice man in line behind me, stepped in to assist the second time through. It was an awful experience. When my daughter traveled this year (now with 3 in tow), I gave her $100 to tip the sky cap that helped her at the airport. She said that he helped her through the Security check, which we did not expect, and she gave him an additional tip. My advice: don't travel with children alone. How about a show on just this topic?
As one of the people who clean airline cabins, I can back you up on the travelling public being slobs! And guess what, the people up in First Class are the biggest slobs of all! What a joke! They have no class.
But really people, if you want a clean airplane, pick up after yourselves! Give the flight attendants your trash, don't stuff it in the seat back pockects, and the airsickness bags are NOT there as mini trashbags! If you travel with small children and change a diaper while seated .....please give it to the flight attendant to put in the lavatory trashcan if you can't leave your children and do it yourself.
The next thing the public needs to know about cabin cleaning is this.. The airline management will say (out one side of their mouths) that they want clean cabins, but many times, we get rushed on and off and aren't given the time needed to do even a passable job. These are the jobs management wants to give to contract companies, who historically hire immigrants, many of whom are Muslims. This isn't a case of jobs American willnot do. Its another case of Management Greed.
I am forced by company policy to fly on Southwest frequently. My experiences have generally been poor between finding a seat to accomodate my 5'10" height and 235 lbs frame and dealing with others who think they are getting such a great deal. If I never had to fly them again I would be very happy. Your guest keeps saying to accomplish elite status easily--not even an option for business travellers. God save us from more like Southwest!
I agree that going through security needs improvements; and that the airplane passengers leave airplanes with allot of trash - I can not believe how much trash and yes, even first class - very messy; but the one about the people trying to take bags on that are too big as carry-ons is by far the worse offense. I can not understand how they get on board with them.
"we" make it/this conversation sound like "the birds & the bees" [the man gets on the plane, the woman rolls her eyes... and 9 hrs later your ancestors should be near; or you're drunk or greedy?]
I hate the diesel fumes in the cabin, that is quite depressing.
what about ship/ferry [and r.r.sail package- SENA?] travel? is WA and Alaska [Catalina CA]or Maine, the only place you can "sail" without deep reservations?
the sociological reality with transportation and a nation that has been transcontinental for ONLY 150 Years or so [steam engine], is that [the] statistically the average coast to coast trip has 1%... of youth [teen ultimatum] who SHOULD NOT be going home [you'll find love HERE nudge ], that is gonna make more luggage and baggage! than "we" should ever carry. and when you "go native"[reverse raceism] you make a pledge to ignore[ig normative $; quantification], that witch the "immigrant"/escapee never faced in youth ....in a strange land [paradise?]
Travel bags should stay in the car which is then loaded on a R.R. train, 3 days latter, your whole life [sedan royale/truck dog GK arrives] is there! & in one piece [unload nothing!!!] If this reaks of liberty "justly delivered" just immagine you're being temporarily-deported to somewhere nobody knows you but everybody CARES about you"...", and the diurnal midnight sun NEVER unravells you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,im=port [FLA winter- - yawn], but the November northern stars guide you like A TRUE PILGRIM, touring territory TERRIBLY? or on a mission "with love/partner" and normative or ancestral pride [AFTER! your fragile teen years] all aboard, to know is trivial, to ACT is divine/sublime/grapevine
An extremely interesting, though not very encouraging, program. I'm not convinced that Nicholas Kralev's prescription to achieve elite frequent flyer status is very practical for a lot of us. Yes, it's true that elite status can offer significant advantages when one runs into trouble: I certainly benefited from Premier status with United. Unfortunately, there is just no way for me to maintain that status unless I fly exclusively with United and/or pay premium prices to purchase the privilege. Because I live in a city served only by a handful of regional carriers, I simply don't have the option to fly exclusively with United in order to sustain the required mileage balance. Like the other two carriers that I can use here, United (Express) can't get me to any destination, and their fares usually can't compete, anyway. As a result, I end up accruing modest mileage totals with three different carriers, making it nearly impossible to attain elite status - even for a year or two.
certainly... but what happens when we "understand" the value of getting what we deserve? and then everybody starts-wanting what is specifically ideal to you, not them, While some might be justly happy only when they "get there". If people really new what's best for them[ true democracy], then why are so many peolpe hoping from here to there restlessly, and what would we pay for true future/present harmonious autonomy [autacracy?].
One of the participants said he didn't think fares change based on browsing history. I think it's possible they base the fare on some other historical data. I checked a fare on American's website and it was $X. The next day my husband, a frequent business traveller, went to American's website to buy my ticket and the price was $X + maybe $200. I immediately checked again on my own computer: the price was $X, and I purchased the ticket for $X. I can understand price increasing as seats are sold, but this was different. It makes me wonder whether they profile customers' travel history and use that in the pricing algorithm.
Too bad your guests failed to mention the source of most of the problems with the airline industry - over-regulation by government bureaucracy from top to bottom. If airlines and airports were freed to run their businesses in a manner that allowed differentiation and competition, they'd treat passengers as customers rather than cattle or prisoners. As it is today, our airline system bears more resemblance to the unresponsive central planning of the USSR rather than shining examples of free market capitalism responding to consumer demand. Where is the iPhone of the airline industry? Answer - it can't exist due to crushing government regulation.