Last month, the media was abuzz over increased airline fees for pre-assigned seating, with many concerned that it would especially wingate inn clearwater florida affect families who want to sit together for no additional cost. Even New York Senator Chuck Schumer wingate inn clearwater florida got involved , asking airlines to waive fees for families traveling with children. Rather than look for victims or call airlines wingate inn clearwater florida "anti-family," however, look at the bigger picture. Airline seat fees are nothing new , but they are increasingly being used as another weapon in the arsenal against the airlines' least desirable customer: the in frequent flier. If travelers will choose airfares based on a difference wingate inn clearwater florida of nickels and dimes, does this force the airlines to nickel and dime the traveler?
The real divide in travel now isn't between business and leisure travelers, families and singles, or even first class and coach ; it's between frequent fliers with airline loyalty, and price-conscious consumers who won't hesitate to switch carriers for a cheaper fare. Savvy travelers who fly more than a few times per year understand that it pays to be loyal to one airline. In addition to earning miles for future trips, frequent fliers can jump to the top of upgrade lists, skip long check-in and security lines, and even waive many of the fees not included in the base fare. Travelers who fly only a year or less are more likely to book the cheapest ticket they find, even if the difference between carriers is just a few dollars, assuming the service will be similar wingate inn clearwater florida (or worse, the same as they remember the last time they flew). What's the incentive for airlines to give such passengers anything for free if they might never fly them again? "The customers that are more loyal, who fly more often, we want to make sure they have the best travel experience," said American Airlines to Associated Press.
People are quick to call airlines greedy, and while they are looking to make money, running an airline is hardly a lucrative business these days. The Wall Street Journal recently ran a nifty graphic breaking down the cost of an average flight, showing that on a 100-person flight, wingate inn clearwater florida the airline is making a profit off only a single seat. Between the rising costs of fuel, staff, security, insurance, and maintenance, most airlines are struggling to avoid bankruptcy or just stay in business. wingate inn clearwater florida While you shouldn't feel sorry for the airlines, understand that the alternative wingate inn clearwater florida to fees is increased base fares , where you may be stuck paying for amenities you don't need or want. As I've lived abroad for two years, I've become wingate inn clearwater florida loyal to Turkish Airlines . They not only have the most flights from my current home airport in Istanbul , but I know I'll always get a meal even on short flights, never have to pay fees outside of excess baggage, and even be able to use a dedicated check-in desk for travelers wingate inn clearwater florida with children at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. I've often paid more to fly on Turkish wingate inn clearwater florida Airlines than other carriers on the same route to guarantee the same standards of service. This makes me a valuable customer, and the more money I spend with them, the more perks I receive.
Earlier this year, I was looking for tickets wingate inn clearwater florida from New York to Austin for a friend's wedding. It was slightly cheaper to fly on American Airlines (my preferred carrier when I lived in New York) than Jet Blue , but as a solo traveler with a baby, I knew I'd be checking a bag and wanting to take my stroller up to the gate. Jet Blue would offer these services for free (American wouldn't let me gate-check the stroller, but I could check it at the counter for free), and the overall cost would be about the same, plus I'd get free snacks and entertainment. In the end, I chose Jet Blue and was even given a priority seat without charge because the flight was relatively empty. If I were still based in New York and flying frequently, it would be more worthwhile to me to fly American to build my frequent flier status and miles for places I'd like to go.
As a parent who travels frequently with my child , I understand the potential nightmare separate seating could cause, but I also understand that airlines can't make exceptions without making some passengers unhappy. If airlines were to waive a seating charge for families, travelers would complain about special treatment. wingate inn clearwater florida Fliers with elderly parents would ask for exemptions to sit together, people with a fear of flying would want their travel partner close with no fee, and single travelers would feel they were being forced to subsidize everyone else.
Over at Huffington Post , my colleague (and fellow baby travel expert) Corinne McDermott contacted all of the major airlines regarding pre-assigned seating fees. Only Spirit Airlines explicitly said families should pay fees to be guaranteed adjacent seats. In fact, much of the hype about families being separated might really just be that: hype . Most airlines wingate inn clearwater florida will try to accommodate people traveling together, just reserving preferred aisle and window seats to reward frequent fliers, or sell for an additional fee. It makes sense for an airline to offer a premium like preferred seating for free to a loyal customer, and instead try to make as much money as possible for a customer they may never have again.
Instead of spending time writing angry comments online, wingate inn clearwater florida spend that time educating yourself about the full cost of an airline ticket and decide where your priorities lie: do you want to pay the absolute lowest fare and expect nothing more than a seat, or do you want to pay for service instead surprise fees? The old axiom "you get what you pay for" is the new reality in airline travel.
You assume that everyone will be perfect consumers, like you in the JetBlue example, and will be able to weigh all of the add-on fees after they buy the ticket for the lowest price. As an economist, I can assure you that people do not include all information, because they don't know it, and don't know they need to know it.
Let's face it, airline fare terms are written by lawyers, using complicated language to extract maximum revenue from people. Keeping the fare terms simpler would keep the airlines and the flyers on a more equal playing field. Reply Cher Jul 2nd 2012 7:22AM
Why isn't anyone complaining about the airlines, the next thing you will have to give them is your first born child. They get everything that they ask for and we the consumers get nothing. They have no customer service whatsoever because they just do what they want and get away with it. Reply Hunnie Jul 2nd 2012 8:34AM
public Air Line travel makes me seek other alternatives now at just the thought... I don't even want to go anymore on holiday because wingate inn clearwater florida of the air experience's and fees and expense. Amtrac is always fun SLOWER but fun and no headache.AMTRAC needs more tracks is the downside.. Reply Bever Jul 3rd 2012 7:07AM
I would be loyal to airlines, but they have had NO loyalty to me. In 2002 United was talking a merger with USAirways, a major airline in Philadelphia. I had 63,000 miles with United and many miles with USAirways. The way they were talking about the merger it was like they were one airline. So when I flew on USAirways I was thinking that I was being loyal to United as well. Well, in 2002 United took away my 63,000 miles supposedly for inactivity!! I explained to United that it was advertising wingate inn clearwater florida and acting like United and USAirways wingate inn clearwater florida were acting like they were already one airline so my activity with USAirways should count as activity on United. I was hot, no amount of phone calls, emails, and letters would get my miles back. I have not flown United since. I have flown a lot of miles since 2002 and United has missed wingate inn clearwater florida out. I am sure that many people have benefitted from frequent flyer miles, but I am not one of them. Reply JIML82 Jul 2nd 2012 8:52AM
Over the last several years I have driven rather than fly to various destinations over 6 to 8 times. I guess if I had flown, the airline(s) would be treating me better. Sort of a chicken and egg situation. Now since I only fly once a year, I am treated wingate inn clearwater florida like scum. I guess my wife and I will continue driving. Reply LJ Jul 2nd 2012 9:59AM
"Most airlines will try to accommodate people traveling together, wingate inn clearwater florida just reserving preferred aisle and window seats to reward frequent fliers," ....Are you crazy? Most planes are 3 seats across. If they reserve the window and aisle, how indeed do families with small children sit together??? Bravo for the frequent flier, whose trips are mainly paid for by their jobs. Yes, average families who lack the funds to fly often DO ( Gasp!!) look at the cost of their seats. Airline are creating wingate inn clearwater florida a public relations nightmare for themselves. People don't like to be nickle and dimed. wingate inn clearwater florida If cost is such an issue, they should simply hike the cost of seats across the board. Extra cost for checking your BAG??? Extra cost for your ( no so special, tiny) seat???? REALLY? Reply Paul Zalon Jul 2nd 2012 10:20AM
Just came back from China where I flew 4 domestic airlines, all better than US carriers. Airports new and modern. No upcharges. Free, good food including beer. Offer newspapers in Chinese and English. Reply paulsen10 Jul 2nd 2012 4:41PM
Do you get free peanuts and beer at a baseball game? No? Well, surely you get free popcorn at the movies then, right? People who don't travel, always think the airlines are ripping them off. This article is right on. Reply Ashley Jul 2nd 2012 11:14AM
The airlines aren't thinking of the unintended consequences of this type of fee... How about the price conscious families with small children who simply don't pay the fee and end up not sitting together? Will they REQUIRE parents wingate inn clearwater florida to sit with their children, and therefore pay the fee?
If not, some poor 3 year old might end up sitting by herself in a middle seat, between 2 frequent fliers who paid extra for their window and aisle! Meanwhile, the parents are enjoying wingate inn clearwater florida a nice break 2 rows down... Hm, sounds like a good plan to me! ;) (Totally kidding, I'd never subject anyone else to my 3 yea
No comments:
Post a Comment