Bummer. . .Too bad for the Customers.

[mpenguin1]

Originally Posted by tonyw

But all things are not equal. There are a host of different things that are not the same.

I pay more to fly when I want to so that I can do things instead of just letting the airline tell me what to do.

If I'm traveling for business, it's not my money, and I've got to be there when I have to and I need to have flexibility to extend my stay if needed.

If I'm traveling on my own, then I want to spend more time enjoying the place I've flown instead of sitting at the airport.

I realize I am not typical but there are a lot of people like me. And I think it'd be smart for airlines to go after folks like me who aren't willing to waste my vacation time sitting in an airport so we can save $10 each way.

Yeah, no kidding. Not all passengers go for the cheapest ticket, for me, the most important thing is the seat, so, I make an effort to do most of my traveling on United & book the seat in the premier section for the extra legroom. 2nd most important thing is the mileage points, so, booking on United kills 2 birds.....

If United is not available on all fronts, I normally go for Jetblue, there are certain sections that have extra legroom

Finally, I look at the price.

If I can't get a comfortable seat, I will re-arrange my travel plans...

The company travel agents know how I am by now & work with me, or, book me & let me get a better seat......

[BigPoppa]

I have to admit that I'm on the other side of this issue. I spent most of my 20's and 30's flat broke and raising a kid on my own. So when I flew somewhere, it likely took me months to save up the money; and a significantly more expensive flight meant I didn't fly.


Price was, by far, the single biggest factor in deciding which ticket to buy. In fact, it often decided when and where I flew at all. I took my son to Denmark on vacation one year because Icelandair had a hella cheap fare from BWI. Flew to BWI in the morning, spent the day sightseeing in DC, took the redeye to Reykjavik for a two day stopover (no extra charge), then onto Copenhagen. We had an unforgettable vacation at a bargain basement price (staying in hostels, btw). If the airfare hadn't been so cheap, that's a vacation we couldn't have taken at all.


I agree, however, that a $10-$30 across the board price hike would almost never hurt ticket sales (especially with gas prices so high). I'm flying MCO-BNA next month for my niece's graduation, and the ticket cost me about what I'd spend in gas to drive (not to mention the wear on the car or my time).

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by tonyw

I realize I am not typical but there are a lot of people like me. And I think it'd be smart for airlines to go after folks like me who aren't willing to waste my vacation time sitting in an airport so we can save $10 each way.

They did. It's called the RJ.

Just playing around with the numbers, AA would've had to generate another $50 round trip in revenue per available seat mile. With a load factor of 79% that's $63 round trip per person carried. Doesn't sound like much.

Keep in mind that's assuming the same exact amount of people would've chosen AA at that new price point. Knowing how elastic ticket prices are, that doesn't seem safe to assume, but we will.

In addition, it's also a lot when you consider the round trip average ticket cost on AA during the quarter was $339, so to break even last quarter they would've had to increase ticket prices by 18.5% ($63/$339). That was with fuel at $2.73/gallon. It's now at $3.60ish.

[ChrisH]

How much has the charging for a 2nd bag helped the airlines that are already doing it?

Continental will start charging $25 to check a second bag, starting on May 5, a day I dread, as I know I will be arguing with customers ALL DAY long, with that one. It will be another source of revenue, for those who check a 2nd bag, and will also cut down on weight, thus fuel, as people start checking only one bag. BUT, wouldn't it just be easier to charge a $20 fuel charge, and add that into the taxes, and fees? Almost every other company out there, is charging "fuel charges", in addition to their normal billing. Many might say that it is deceitful to add it to the taxes, and fees, and not the fare, because passengers won't see it, until they go to purchase it, but that is the same practice other companies/industries are using. The airlines are the only industry I know of, that doesn't pass the cost of producing a product, or service, onto the customer.

Also, have the airlines looked at their flight schedules, and how much money they are losing by operating certain flights, on a daily basis. At the station I work at, for example, CAL has some flights that leave less than an hour apart, on a daily basis, all going to the same destination, IAH. There are plenty of times that both flights are booked to less than 30, and we move all, or nearly all of the passengers from the one leaving :30min later, to the earlier one. Why not combine those two flights, and instead of having one leave at 6:15, and one at 6:45, both half full, or less, have just one leave at 6:30, which will more than likely go out full, and make the same exact connections. I am sure there are countless examples just like the above, throughout the system, for all airlines, that are just costing them money.

I know it seems simple, and it probably isn't quite at as simple as it seems, or they would have done it, but there is so much I've noticed, that could save TONS of money.

[surreal1221]

If they show up to go on a flight, and want to check a second bag. . .but they didn't know about the additional fee, they'll still pay it.

Are they going to take their #### and walk back to their car and call it a day?

Nope.

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

If they show up to go on a flight, and want to check a second bag. . .but they didn't know about the additional fee, they'll still pay it.

Are they going to take their #### and walk back to their car and call it a day?

Nope.

I know that they are still going to pay it. I was questioning whether or not the airlines that are doing it already, have seen an increase in revenue from it, or if enough people are catching on, and checking just one bag, thus saving on fuel, due to less weight.

People will pay it, but that doesn't mean they will not put up a fight to not pay it. You should see some people when they are told they have to pay for their bag being overweight.

[surreal1221]

Doubt it. . .$116bbl oil today, I don't think any of these guys can really keep up.