Members Lucky Posted March 19, 2011 Members Posted March 19, 2011 I am in shock as I look at airfares for different travel times this spring and summer. Last year I flew to New York for as low as $230, but this year that is peanuts. Flights are $400 and up, sometimes more than $700. San Francisco is no longer a cheap destination for me either. Luckily I got two seats to Rio later this summer using frequent flier miles- 40,000 each. Consider that I used 120,000 miles to go to Thailand in coach, and 32,500 to go to Vancouver. Delta long ago stopped offering frequent flier tickets at the "saver" level. But United was great for finding a seat at 25,000 miles until just recently, when they went to 50,000 miles for just about any ticket. So if you want to go anywhere, book now before it gets worse. And take me with you! Quote
Members BigK Posted March 19, 2011 Members Posted March 19, 2011 Or vote with your feet. I've canceled a planned April trip that wasn't essential. As prices increase some demand will fall. I'm really sick and tired of the airlines charging for luggage even though I never traveled with checked luggage before they started charging. The result of charging for checked luggage(instead of charging us all $10-20 more per flight which I'd happily pay) is slower boarding time as people compete for overhead bin space and slower time through the TSA checkpoint as more carry on luggage has to be checked. The TSA has just requested that the airlines consider stopping charging for at least 1 bag. Quote
Members TampaYankee Posted March 19, 2011 Members Posted March 19, 2011 I really loved the air and hotel bargains prevalent in 2002/2003, and the Canadian exchange rate too. I got lots of great travel bargains. Just wish I knew then what I know now about travel destinations and resources. Quote
Guest jimboivyo Posted March 19, 2011 Posted March 19, 2011 nature of the beast. Consider the price of oil for a second. It's high and will remain high for awhile. Airlines got folks used to cheap airfares for so long that people forget they still need to break even to pay their monthly nut. Flying should go back to being a privilege, not a right. What commercial air travel has become is bus mentality thanks to such low fares for so long. Quote
TotallyOz Posted March 19, 2011 Posted March 19, 2011 Flying should go back to being a privilege, not a right. What commercial air travel has become is bus mentality thanks to such low fares for so long. Sir, that is a load of horse shit. No offense intended. Flying a privilege? No, it should be affordable to all. Are escorts a privilege? Well, yes, I guess they are but they are a lot more fun to ride than an airplane! I love the low fares and will travel often. When it gets uncomfortable to travel because of the price, hotels loose out and other businesses loose out. Quote
Guest jimboivyo Posted March 19, 2011 Posted March 19, 2011 Sir, that is a load of horse shit. No offense intended. Flying a privilege? No, it should be affordable to all. Are escorts a privilege? Well, yes, I guess they are but they are a lot more fun to ride than an airplane! I love the low fares and will travel often. When it gets uncomfortable to travel because of the price, hotels loose out and other businesses loose out. I'm am more than willing to agree to disagree on this one, but hear me out. In the days when commercial travel was more expensive, the level of service, baggage, seating and every other amenity was better. Airlines didn't have such a hard nose bottom line and employee morale was high. That's all changed. Most passengers want cheap airfare, but then complain about how they're treated. It can't work both ways. Unless you're in the top tier of their loyalty programs, it's tough getting treated with any amount of respect as a flier anymore. Heck, most airlines don't even break even in the first 60% of tickets sold on each flight. Staggering number and a broken way of running a business. My feeling on this isn't elitist. It's dollars and common sense. Yes we all like finding a deal to somewhere we need or want to go, but in the long run it's costing us a more pleasant flight. 20 years from now, every airline will probably function like easyjet. Thats kind of scary to me. Quote
TotallyOz Posted March 19, 2011 Posted March 19, 2011 In all fairness, I am top tier with 2 airlines. I have no complaints on how I am treated by the airline. TSA treatment is another issue. I just came back from Thailand and I had 7 bags all over 60 pounds. I got 3 free and had to pay for 4. The cost was 600. To me, that was a fair price to pay. I know that 3 large check in bags should be plenty but for me it isn't and I don't mind the extra expense. But, I am top tier with that airline. If I had chosen a different airline it would have been crazy expensive. Also, I often don't choose other airlines for this reason. I cannot think of the last time I rode American Airlines or United. I much prefer to pay more for better service but I don't think that is going to happen. I think we will keep paying more and the service will keep getting worse. Quote
Members RA1 Posted March 20, 2011 Members Posted March 20, 2011 I think the point is "traveling" is a privilege, not a right. The world and, free world in particular, has come a long way in what we expect but none of it is guaranteed. Now, if one's point is that after paying for a ticket one should get some level of service, that is a different issue, according to me. There, one should get what one pays for and, all too often, that is exactly what is offered, not much in cost and not much in "service". Best regards, RA1 Quote
Members TampaYankee Posted March 20, 2011 Members Posted March 20, 2011 I think the point is "traveling" is a privilege, not a right. Not so sure that this is consistent with the American ideal of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'. We used to tell the Chinese to let their people travel and even emmigrate if they wish -- it was a basic human right. We stopped saying that in so straight forward a manner when the Chinese replied "How many Chinese immigrants would you like to receive? 30 million? 50 million? We wouldn't even notice... Quote
Members RA1 Posted March 20, 2011 Members Posted March 20, 2011 Perhaps I should have said the freedom to travel is a right but traveling itself is a privilege. Understand the difference? Best regards, RA1 Quote
Members mvan1 Posted March 21, 2011 Members Posted March 21, 2011 Flying should go back to being a privilege, not a right. A privilege to travel? That is what that halfwit, Janet Napolitano and the moron, John Pistole keep saying when people complain about the trashy treatment they get when going through their "TSA security" at airports. No, travel is a right, not a privilege. Somehow, that concept got left out of the government's "rules" when a passenger buys a ticket to travel on an airplane. - Quote
Guest zipperzone Posted March 21, 2011 Posted March 21, 2011 What always amuses me is the dichotomy of people always wanting more everything without having to pay for it - and this doesn't just apply to airfares Airlines have astronomical overhead costs and have invested billions in equipment, yet we conveniently overlook this when we expect to fly LA to London & return for the price of a good meal in a top restaurant. A slight exaggeration, but not much. And should they be expected to show a profit? GOOD LORD NO :excl: The price of mayonnaise goes up at the grocery store and we put it in our basket without a thought. But just let the price of an airline ticket go up and we are prepared to start a consumer revolution. I have a friend who lives in Arizona and regularly travels to Vancouver. She shops till she drops looking for airline seat sales. Last time she was here she bragged that her ticket only cost her $59. I always think that if an airline has to shave costs to offer a fare that low, it is probably on maintenance. You wouldn't get me flying on one of those buckets. Quote
Members RA1 Posted March 22, 2011 Members Posted March 22, 2011 Zip- Not being facetious when I ask you do you fly and, if so, on what airline(s)? Just curious. Best regards, RA1 Quote
Guest zipperzone Posted March 22, 2011 Posted March 22, 2011 Zip- Not being facetious when I ask you do you fly and, if so, on what airline(s)? Just curious. Best regards, RA1 I'm curious as to why you're curious, but I don't mind you asking. I don't fly as much as I did when younger. The older I get the more I hate being treated like sheep. Within Canada, it is usually WestJet - an incredible airline - or Air Canada. Internationally I prefer Air Canada or the national airlines, depending on destination i.e., KLM - Lufthansa. Alaskan on occasion if I'm heading south. I have no need to use US regional carriers because if I'm going to NYC it's Air Canada and if it's west coast, I'll drive as I have the time and enjoy driving. I don't do Asia so I have no experience there. I'm planning Australia for later in the year so that will be Quantas. The worst flight I ever had? Aer Lingus. Truly a flight from hell. Quote
Members RA1 Posted March 22, 2011 Members Posted March 22, 2011 Thanks for not being offended by me asking. If you are paying any attention, you will know that I am a corporate pilot. I do not like flying on the airlines period. But, that has little or nothing to do with their corporate or technological structure, just that I think the TSA is infringing upon our freedoms and that airline travel is a waste of time if one has any other options. I do, and staying home is certainly one of them; but, ordinarily, I travel on business by private aircraft and that is the way I prefer. That is not elitist but merely a part of my job. No one likes being treated like sheep or as they often say cattle class. The airlines in general have a lot of "growing up to do" and/or realizing the real state of business and consumer flying. Thanks for your reply. Best regards, RA1 Quote
