07.04.08
Travel Friendly
By now, everyone knows that the higher cost of fuel is causing airlines to tack on fees and restrictions, as well as to cut back on flights to smaller cities. The airlines do need to raise prices and reduce some costs in order to stay (or more accurately, become) profitable. However, the fees are like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound.
Airlines, like most other businesses, need to operate in such a way that their customers do not mind paying a profitable rate to obtain the company's product or service. Given all the unpleasantness of airports (thanks to security hysteria and airline routes & scheduling that turn a short trip into an all-day ordeal), airlines really should be thinking about making planes a more pleasant place to be.
Personally, I love the flight from point A to point B. I might feel differently if it was a longer flight, but for the few hours I am aloft, I really enjoy it. Yet, I would gladly drive across the nation if it meant I could avoid airports.
I flew from California to Newark, New Jersey last year. It was quite an experience, because I found myself waiting for a few hours at Dallas-Fort Worth airport. The year before that, flying to Albany, New York, I spent a few hours at Atlanta airport. A couple of weeks ago, I spent hours at Minneapolis airport. These may all be pleasant cities, but I really do not desire to go through their airports any more.
And that, to me, suggests a way out for the airlines. You see, the airlines' business model is based upon charging very high prices to those who are most desperate to buy your product, while discounting to attract those who are price-sensitive. Because business fliers are usually absolutely desperate, they pay the highest rates, moderated by frequent flier miles and bulk discount plans. Because many business fliers' flights are paid by their companies, they take the lowest priced from point A to point B, even if that means going through points C and D before arriving.
One thing the airlines might want to look at is going back to direct flights to most destinations, coupled with fixed-price tickets that cover the costs and bring a decent profit. I think this would be the best way to restore the profitability of airlines while giving a more pleasing experience to their customers. One thing is sure: the current model of treating paying customers like cattle to be herded and prodded is failing under the strain of our current economy.
