Airlines

[JimG.]

This industry has been in financial chaos since 9/11; I've been waiting for the blow that will send most of the major carriers out of business.

Can you say "Katrina"?

I'd say that this hurricane will go down as the blow that ended the airline industry as we know it (pun intended). Don't see many major carriers coming back from this one.

Comments?

 

[Greg]

Not sure how you mean. What impact will Katrina have on the airline industry? Increased fuel costs? There's obviously still a large demand for air travel, but I do think there will need to be a major reorg.

 

[JimG.]

Not sure how you mean. What impact will Katrina have on the airline industry? Increased fuel costs? There's obviously still a large demand for air travel, but I do think there will need to be a major reorg.

Should have made that clearer...yes, the increased fuel costs.

 

[ctenidae]

Fuel costs certainly won't help any, but I think the old airlines are dying from a combination of outmoded business models and unions. Without getting into a debate on unions, the proof of both lies in Southwest and Jet Blue- both have much simpler models and structures, and neither has much in the way of union involvement. Fuel costs are shared by all airlines, so it's not a competitive issue. How they operate and who they do business with is.

 

[JimG.]

Fuel costs certainly won't help any, but I think the old airlines are dying from a combination of outmoded business models and unions. Without getting into a debate on unions, the proof of both lies in Southwest and Jet Blue- both have much simpler models and structures, and neither has much in the way of union involvement. Fuel costs are shared by all airlines, so it's not a competitive issue. How they operate and who they do business with is.

You forgot another key issue...the poorest customer service of any industry anywhere on Earth. Southwest and Jet Blue get it, but the others are FUBAR.

I don't like spending my hard earned money to be treated like a head of cattle by sour faced airline employees. The rudest and most uncaring employees I've ever seen.

 

[ctenidae]

That's the old model- cut costs by cutting service. Southwest and Jet Blue cut costs by avoiding unecessary corporate structures.

I remember as a kid flying from Little Rock to Houston for $30 on Southwest. No assigned seats, and the most beautiful stewardesses in the world.

 

[skijay]

I bought my airline tickets to Tampa for November travel for $49 each way for a total of $118 with taxes. That was last Friday.


When I bought my tickets in April of 05 for my August trip I paid just shy of $200 round trip.

Same airline & destination.

Can an airline slap a surcharge on flights already booked & paid for?

 

[hammer]

You forgot another key issue...the poorest customer service of any industry anywhere on Earth. Southwest and Jet Blue get it, but the others are FUBAR.

A month ago I flew from Manchester to Baltimore. On the day of departure, a big line of T-Storms went through the east coast. A number of other airlines cancelled flights that evening, but Southwest hung in there -- I got into Baltimore over 2 hours late, but I got there.

There are a few things about Southwest that are a bit strange, but I'd agree that they seem to be a pretty well run airline.

 

[SkiDog]

Southwest Airlines IMHO is by far the BEST airline I have ever flown and I have only had the pleasure of flying it twice as the nearest "hub" to me is too far to justify costs...

they do "understand" IT...

M

 

[thetrailboss]

Yes, fuel costs have already been hurting them however the smart ones pre-bought fuel a long time ago. Some companies, like United, could no longer afford to do that and gave up there pre-buy plans. Man, what a mistake now!

 

[loafer89]

I just was watching a news article on NBC that stated there are efforts to get the refineries in south western Louisiana back online tonight with limited (25&-35%) capacity until this weekend when they hope to reach 65%.

I guess that the refineries in that area of Louisiana were not as hard hit as the east part of the state?

This should help out with reducing oil prices in the next few weeks.

 

[Max]

I have yet to figure out the real purpose of flite attendants. You get on a bus for a 2 hour ride, and you don't have "bus attendants." So they are there to serve meals? I once took a flight from Worcester MA to Baltimore with a stop in Philadelphia. We weren't in the air 5 minutes and the attendants were rushing around trying to serve breakfast, and barely had time to do that plus get everything cleared away for the landing in Philly. Breakfast on a 50 minute flight? Cut the crap!! It absolutely amazes me the amount of people that can't sit in a seat for 2 hours without drinking 3 cans of Coke, eating peanuts, a full meal, watching a movie, yadda yadda. Sit still in your damn seat for crissakes, look out the window, or take a nap. This isn't the Hundred Years War you're suffering through!

 

[JimG.]

I have yet to figure out the real purpose of flite attendants. You get on a bus for a 2 hour ride, and you don't have "bus attendants." So they are there to serve meals? I once took a flight from Worcester MA to Baltimore with a stop in Philadelphia. We weren't in the air 5 minutes and the attendants were rushing around trying to serve breakfast, and barely had time to do that plus get everything cleared away for the landing in Philly. Breakfast on a 50 minute flight? Cut the crap!! It absolutely amazes me the amount of people that can't sit in a seat for 2 hours without drinking 3 cans of Coke, eating peanuts, a full meal, watching a movie, yadda yadda. Sit still in your damn seat for crissakes, look out the window, or take a nap. This isn't the Hundred Years War you're suffering through!

Max, if you and I ever wound up on a flight together I think we might get arrested :lol: . The flight barely levels off and that stupid cart is already in the aisle. I've come close to having loud words with the attendants about that on many flights.

 

[Max]

LOL Jim Heaven forbid you had to rush up the aisle in an emergency and that stupid drink cart was blocking the way!

If you're gonna get arrested, do it on American Airlines, this woman I do triathlons with is an AA pilot...maybe I can get you a reduced sentence!

 

[JimG.]

For about 2 years after I recovered from my skiing injuries my lower back was very tender from getting all ginked up on crutches for the 2 years before.

Airline travel would fry my back unless I used a lumbar support pillow and stood up frequently. Needless to say, for that time I was a constant thorn in the attendant's sides; either I was standing in a spot they wanted to keep clear for some reason or I was blocking the stupid service cart. When I told them why I was standing, they couldn't tell me to sit down for fear I'd make a fuss.

I felt a strange sense of power and control over them and that cart. I figured then that I must dislike air travel if I felt that way.

 

[riverc0il]

i just hope they big airline dogs finally go under. it seems like any business that gets big enough and has enough share holders can stay in the market indefinitely until something changes.

 

[bigbog]

I have yet to figure out the real purpose of flite attendants.....

How about... Management and Insurance companies first...? :lol: