Low air fare prices and bad air travel service? Do you see a connection here?

Question: Low air fare prices and bad air travel service? Do you see a connection here?
As a pilot, all I ever heard on flights was how terrible the service was, how lazy/grumpy/tired flight attendants were, and how air travel quality, in general, has taken a literal nose dive. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard a passenger complain, “Air travel isn’t what it used to be! It used to be an elegant way to travel. Now it’s a horrible experience I don’t look forward to.”

With this being said, why is everyone so hung up on finding the absolute CHEAPEST flight? I see a never-ending stream of questions in the Air Travel section about finding cheap flights. Questions like, “What website gives your the goodest (sic) prices on airfare.”, “Can anyone suggest a really cheap airline?”, and “Flying from SFO to Hong Kong… need airfare under $ 150! Help!” seem to proliferate.

The very fact that we, as pilots, are forced to drive aluminum tubes with wings full of CHEAPSKATE passengers around the skies really sticks in my craw. I, for one, can distinctly remember taking my time getting to the airport, dawdling in the security line, chatting with the cute girls at the coffee bar, etc. just so I could ensure those same price-thrifts arrived at their destinations AS LATE AS POSSIBLE. Think about this the next time you are bargain shopping for that ultra-cheap flight. After all, if you insist on buying at K-Mart prices, expect K-Mart service.

Maybe if folks would be willing to pay a bit more for coach fares we’d actually be able to return to the days of great service, on-time performance, and elegant air travel.

Is anyone with me on this one? Would you pay higher air prices for better service?

Oh ,and an FYI: we’re PILOTS, not Greyhound Bus drivers.

GOD bless you-

Captain Art Griego
French Toast: I am willing to help in whatever way I can, as long as it complies with FAA regulations.
James: Thanks for your input. And are YOU really an airline pilot? See how questioning another pilot’s credentials works there, Ace?

And the Southwest Air model is utterly failing. Sure, it was great for a while but they are encountering staggering losses at the moment, and service quality will soon follow.
http://thewildinvestor.com/southwest-post-losses-we-are-in-trouble/
http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Southwest_Airlines_Company_(LUV)

You may think Southwest is quality, but this is kind of like comparing one cheap, poorly made good to another slightly cheaper and more poorly made good.

And comparing the price you pay to the product you receive is indeed relevant. I don’t know what world you live in, but I live in a little town called Reality. Maybe you need the hatband on your pilot’s cap loosened, “Captain”.

GOD bless you-

Captain Art Griego
Schmeckel: It seems like you’ve actually flushed out your headgear and are prepared to fly straight. Good work.

Answer:

Answer by Teutonic French Toast (w/syrup)
Would I pay higher air prices for better service?

Depends on what services you’re offerin’ there, Captain. You ARE offerin’, right?

Question: What is the cheapest way to fly to Australia from the US?
I’ve been looking at taking a trip next December to Australia for about 15 days, but when I was looking at airfare “deals” it said that a round-trip flight for two was going to cost nearly $ 6000 and two one-way tickets were going to cost $ 5000 – not to mention the way home.

Is this really how much airplane tickets cost? I was hoping to get to Australia and back for $ 2500!!!!

Thanks for the help!

Answer:

Answer by malabar
You haven’t said from where in the US or to where in. Australia.
Prices for flights December 2010 are not yet available but on entering a random search for return ticket from Los Angeles to Sydney Sept 2010 and there are flights at less than US$ 1200 return for booking now.
http://www.skyscanner.ie/flights/lax/syd/100912/100927/airfares-to-sydney-kingsford-smith-from-los-angeles-international-in-september-2010.html

Know better? Share your answer in the comments below.

8 Comments

Soundproofed Instant Coffee

January 8, 2011 at 6:38 am

I would be willing to pay anything for a sexy Captain like yourself to give me a ride. I still can’t get over the fact that a man such as yourself is single…*swoon*

It’s everybody’s favorite Instant Star here, we’re having a lovely avatar swap day though.

Schmeckel Deckel

January 8, 2011 at 7:28 am

I respectfully disagree with your views on religion, sir, but here you have my wholehearted agreement. Egalitarianism only help losers who probably should have been fed to the wolves as babbies. Raise the fares and keep out the riffraff!

grumpy geezer

January 8, 2011 at 8:03 am

The flying part really hasn’t changed in the last 60 years, other than getting easier. Only the air travel part has declined.

Branson thought that he could get people to pay a little more for quality air service with Virgin America, but so far that place hasn’t made a dime of profit, and isn’t likely to in the near or distant future. The only good news is that he’ll have to siphon off some of the money from his other enterprises in order to keep VA afloat. (while trying to give the impression that he’s complying with cabotage laws)

It’s been proven time and again that folks are not gonna pay anything more than they have to. Get used to the idea of air travel being a Greyhound bus with wings. That’s the ugly future of air travel.

mhmd

January 8, 2011 at 8:53 am

Don’t see why Airline pilots think Bus drivers are an inferior class of transportation worker.

I really don’t care about the trivialities, if the food tasted bad, if they didn’t serve food, if they wanted to charge to use the lav, or if the agent couldn’t stand around and chat for half an hour. I just care that they get me where I want to go in time, that if they can’t, they tell me that, and try to explain why not and what they plan to do about it.

I think quality of service varies by the airline and the crew. I’ve been happy with Continental, generally. I once was so impressed with one of their FAs that I wrote a letter to CO Inflight about her. And it was because the way she dealt with other passengers. I usually fly business first on CO long flights. But even compared to first on American, I think Continental FAs were better people.

US Airways people only work there because they got laid off from the city jail.

Marci †SFECU† pray4revival

January 8, 2011 at 9:00 am

I’m sorry the air travel situation has gotten to be a disaster compared to what it used to be. Did this all come about after the 9-1-1 tragedies? Maybe all the smart would be air line stewardesses decided to get another job and left it to the ones who weren’t able to get anything else. Sounds bad all right, but I know the way they look through all your stuff and throw things out before the flight must get on their nerves an awful lot!!! My elderly mother went on a plane and they looked through her stuff (she was about 90 at the time and they stole some manicure scissors from her and confiscated it. Those things are expensive and she had a habit of counting every penny so this was mean to do. Possibly this type of scenario has something to do with the bad attitudes of the passengers.

Oz M

January 8, 2011 at 9:20 am

If you want to fly with no hassles, just go the the many on-line websites giving your intended travel dates and you will get an exploded list of all the main stream airlines flying. Each of course pay a commission to the web site.

If you want to save big bucks, search the internet for different airlines and query their prices on line and book on-line direct with the airline. no commissions paid.

The lesser airlines can provide comparable service at often a fraction of the price if you are willing to take a side trip in that country. For example, I once flew from Australia to Los Angeles and return for a huge percentage less than the major carriers fares at the time. The Airline gave me an overnight stay in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in a 4 star hotel/resort at no extra cost during the mandatory 30 hour layover between continuing flights. Also had enjoyable layovers at Taipai Taiwan and Tokyo Japan. The last two while only being in the transit areas of the airport for a couple hours, were entertaining visiting the different shops and restaurants.

Tip : Direct non-stop flights cost the biggest money.

I am currently seeing agents advertising flights in their shop windows for Australia to US return for as low as $ 1100 return, which equates to about $ 950 USD.

Try this as an example of what I mean …
Qantas from Darwin Australia, return to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam = $ 1400.
JetStar booked direct = less than $ 450.

Mark

January 8, 2011 at 10:15 am

there are quite a few sites that you can search that will likely give you the best prices available. check out the website BookMe and you will be able to compare prices on all the reputable travel sites in just a couple minutes. it’s very convenient and will save you a bunch of time and money. Also, make sure you buy them online… otherwise they charge much higher fees for phone orders. good luck.

Vic

January 8, 2011 at 10:58 am

Try v australia,qantas,aa,conti,delta,air canada,also I Searched on this site and got the Cheapest Flight,Check it out,it also had Discount Coupon Codes for JetBlue,Southwest,AA,Delta,Expedia, Travelocity,Orbitz,Priceline,etc.
http://freetravel4ever.blogspot.com

Soundproofed Instant Coffee

January 8, 2011 at 6:38 am

I would be willing to pay anything for a sexy Captain like yourself to give me a ride. I still can’t get over the fact that a man such as yourself is single…*swoon*

It’s everybody’s favorite Instant Star here, we’re having a lovely avatar swap day though.
Schmeckel Deckel

January 8, 2011 at 7:28 am

I respectfully disagree with your views on religion, sir, but here you have my wholehearted agreement. Egalitarianism only help losers who probably should have been fed to the wolves as babbies. Raise the fares and keep out the riffraff!
grumpy geezer

January 8, 2011 at 8:03 am

The flying part really hasn’t changed in the last 60 years, other than getting easier. Only the air travel part has declined.

Branson thought that he could get people to pay a little more for quality air service with Virgin America, but so far that place hasn’t made a dime of profit, and isn’t likely to in the near or distant future. The only good news is that he’ll have to siphon off some of the money from his other enterprises in order to keep VA afloat. (while trying to give the impression that he’s complying with cabotage laws)

It’s been proven time and again that folks are not gonna pay anything more than they have to. Get used to the idea of air travel being a Greyhound bus with wings. That’s the ugly future of air travel.
mhmd

January 8, 2011 at 8:53 am

Don’t see why Airline pilots think Bus drivers are an inferior class of transportation worker.

I really don’t care about the trivialities, if the food tasted bad, if they didn’t serve food, if they wanted to charge to use the lav, or if the agent couldn’t stand around and chat for half an hour. I just care that they get me where I want to go in time, that if they can’t, they tell me that, and try to explain why not and what they plan to do about it.

I think quality of service varies by the airline and the crew. I’ve been happy with Continental, generally. I once was so impressed with one of their FAs that I wrote a letter to CO Inflight about her. And it was because the way she dealt with other passengers. I usually fly business first on CO long flights. But even compared to first on American, I think Continental FAs were better people.

US Airways people only work there because they got laid off from the city jail.
Marci †SFECU† pray4revival

January 8, 2011 at 9:00 am

I’m sorry the air travel situation has gotten to be a disaster compared to what it used to be. Did this all come about after the 9-1-1 tragedies? Maybe all the smart would be air line stewardesses decided to get another job and left it to the ones who weren’t able to get anything else. Sounds bad all right, but I know the way they look through all your stuff and throw things out before the flight must get on their nerves an awful lot!!! My elderly mother went on a plane and they looked through her stuff (she was about 90 at the time and they stole some manicure scissors from her and confiscated it. Those things are expensive and she had a habit of counting every penny so this was mean to do. Possibly this type of scenario has something to do with the bad attitudes of the passengers.
Oz M

January 8, 2011 at 9:20 am

If you want to fly with no hassles, just go the the many on-line websites giving your intended travel dates and you will get an exploded list of all the main stream airlines flying. Each of course pay a commission to the web site.

If you want to save big bucks, search the internet for different airlines and query their prices on line and book on-line direct with the airline. no commissions paid.

The lesser airlines can provide comparable service at often a fraction of the price if you are willing to take a side trip in that country. For example, I once flew from Australia to Los Angeles and return for a huge percentage less than the major carriers fares at the time. The Airline gave me an overnight stay in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia in a 4 star hotel/resort at no extra cost during the mandatory 30 hour layover between continuing flights. Also had enjoyable layovers at Taipai Taiwan and Tokyo Japan. The last two while only being in the transit areas of the airport for a couple hours, were entertaining visiting the different shops and restaurants.

Tip : Direct non-stop flights cost the biggest money.

I am currently seeing agents advertising flights in their shop windows for Australia to US return for as low as $ 1100 return, which equates to about $ 950 USD.

Try this as an example of what I mean …
Qantas from Darwin Australia, return to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam = $ 1400.
JetStar booked direct = less than $ 450.
Mark

January 8, 2011 at 10:15 am

there are quite a few sites that you can search that will likely give you the best prices available. check out the website BookMe and you will be able to compare prices on all the reputable travel sites in just a couple minutes. it’s very convenient and will save you a bunch of time and money. Also, make sure you buy them online… otherwise they charge much higher fees for phone orders. good luck.
Vic

January 8, 2011 at 10:58 am

Try v australia,qantas,aa,conti,delta,air canada,also I Searched on this site and got the Cheapest Flight,Check it out,it also had Discount Coupon Codes for JetBlue,Southwest,AA,Delta,Expedia, Travelocity,Orbitz,Priceline,etc.
http://freetravel4ever.blogspot.com