Airlines lost money in 2009, how can they be suprised?

[LuvOrlando]

So seriously, are they kidding? I read a report the other day how the losses are a surprise because prices remained static. It's as if they think the average American family doesn't notice that getting their luggage from point A to B is an added cost that often equals another seat. Either the execs are dopey or they think we are idiots.

I know the rates forced me to rethink travel quite a few times, and judging by their numbers I am not alone. My price point for airfare is $200 pp, including taxes, fees luggage and anything else they want to throw in there. Call it what they want but once the grand total reads over $800 for my family of 4 I cancel and think local. What does everyone else think about it, I'm curious?


From Beritbart
Airlines suffered record drop in traffic in 2009: IATA
Jan 27 05:19 AM US/Eastern


International airlines suffered their biggest decline in traffic since 1945 last year as passenger demand fell 3.5 percent, the International Air Transport Association said Wednesday.

Freight also fell, by 10.1 percent, as "full-year 2009 demand statistics for international scheduled air traffic that showed the industry ending 2009 with the largest ever post-war decline," IATA said in a statement.

"In terms of demand, 2009 goes into the history books as the worst year the industry has ever seen," said Giovanni Bisignani, director general of the world's biggest airlines' association.

"We have permanently lost 2.5 years of growth in passenger markets and 3.5 years of growth in the freight business," he added.

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

I also have stopped flying as often. There has been several times, we have driven long routes because it was way cheaper to drive than fly.

But the best part is , my MIL doesn't drive far...so airfare prices has kept her away more....LOL LOL

 

[TaraLee4]

this is why i only fly Southwest. no baggage fees, and reasonable rates. Thank Goodness they fly out of Albany!!

Now i suppose, when i want to fly international it'll be an issue...however, we're trying to save money to move, so i don't think i'll be seeing London anytime soon..

 

[robinb]

I don't think it's the average american family that keeps the airlines in business. It's the business traveler who is not effected by the increased fees. The problem is that business travel is down ... although I wish it would manifest itself at MY house. My DH flew to Baltimore, then to LA, back to Baltimore and then home to Wisconsin last week.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I know what you are saying.

I think I heard Southwest turned a profit - without charging extra for baggage!!!

sadly, we don't have them here.

thank goodness DH travels a great deal for work - the one advantage is the miles and hotel points add up. He is high enough in the airline points program that we don't pay for bags. Only thing that saves us!!!!

 

[TaraLee4]

I know what you are saying.

I think I heard Southwest turned a profit - without charging extra for baggage!!!

sadly, we don't have them here.

thank goodness DH travels a great deal for work - the one advantage is the miles and hotel points add up. He is high enough in the airline points program that we don't pay for bags. Only thing that saves us!!!!

You're from upstate too...like superrrrrrrrr upstate? Southwest flies out of Albany.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

You're from upstate too...like superrrrrrrrr upstate? Southwest flies out of Albany.

not out of Syracuse! If it weren't for Dh's points on another airline, I would be all for driving to Albany!!!!

 

[punkin]

You're from upstate too...like superrrrrrrrr upstate? Southwest flies out of Albany.

...and out of Buffalo..

I can't understand why they're surprised either.

 

[TaraLee4]

not out of Syracuse! If it weren't for Dh's points on another airline, I would be all for driving to Albany!!!!

...and out of Buffalo..

I can't understand why they're surprised either.

I always forget that Southwest doesn't go any further west in NY than Albany. Shame really, because i think that they could get people to drive over the border to fly them.

 

[bumbershoot]

Call it what they want but once the grand total reads over $800 for my family of 4 I cancel and think local. What does everyone else think about it, I'm curious?

I think that it took upwards of $800 to get me, just me, across the country from CA to DC in 8th grade on TWA in the early 80s.

I think that prices of airfare today are ridiculously low to what they should be.

I wonder how they pay for the fuel when they charge almost nothing. Let alone the salaries of pilots and FAs and gate agents and all that.


Not saying I would relish huge airfares. But I am always aware of how good we have it, because it could and should be much higher, to actually pay for what we are getting (gas and employees and upkeep and transportation etc).

 

[Micca]

The price of flying doesn't concern me as much as the generally unpleasant experience it usually is. If travel time was not a concern, I'd be traveling more by car.

 

[mhsjax]

I think that it took upwards of $800 to get me, just me, across the country from CA to DC in 8th grade on TWA in the early 80s.

I think that prices of airfare today are ridiculously low to what they should be.

I wonder how they pay for the fuel when they charge almost nothing. Let alone the salaries of pilots and FAs and gate agents and all that.


Not saying I would relish huge airfares. But I am always aware of how good we have it, because it could and should be much higher, to actually pay for what we are getting (gas and employees and upkeep and transportation etc).

I agree with you, flying used to be something that was special and not something that happened everyday. Most people couldn't afford it.

 

[Disnydad]

I don't think it's the average american family that keeps the airlines in business. It's the business traveler who is not effected by the increased fees. The problem is that business travel is down ... although I wish it would manifest itself at MY house. My DH flew to Baltimore, then to LA, back to Baltimore and then home to Wisconsin last week.

Our business used to fly employees a lot, but over the past couple of years almost all meetings are online now with no traveling.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I'd say I still fly as often (7-10 times a year) but never pay more than $250 for a flight and I have become the world's best packer when I fly on the airlines that charge for luggage. My carry on luggage is packed so well I always hate to unpack it when I get to the hotel! I fly Southwest sometimes but I dislike driving to Norfolk to fly out and I wish they would assign seats but I find their customer service to be the best. My bf flies about 50-60 times a year for work and they haven't cut down on the amount of places they send him and he always travels with 1-2 pieces of checked luggage.

 

[emma'smom]

Yes....and businesses are also paying attention to their bottom line. My DH flies a 4-5 times a month (at least) for work and used to fly Continental and U.S. Airways. Now he flies AirTran most of the time---and it is all billed to his work, but they don't want to pay ridiculous prices either.

Our business used to fly employees a lot, but over the past couple of years almost all meetings are online now with no traveling.

 

[ols386]

If the airlines are losing money, I think it's mostly because of the economy. Yes, charging for luggage is a sore spot with alot of customers, but if the economy is good (or better), unemployment is down, and people aren't struggling as much as they have been over the past year or two, they would be more willing to pay to fly. But alot of families have been hit hard financially.

 

[sbell111]

I always forget that Southwest doesn't go any further west in NY than Albany. Shame really, because i think that they could get people to drive over the border to fly them.

Buffalo is still west of Albany, right?

 

[DizBelle]

I also have stopped flying as often. There has been several times, we have driven long routes because it was way cheaper to drive than fly.

But the best part is , my MIL doesn't drive far...so airfare prices has kept her away more....LOL LOL

Too funny!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I don't think it's the average american family that keeps the airlines in business. It's the business traveler who is not effected by the increased fees. The problem is that business travel is down ... although I wish it would manifest itself at MY house. My DH flew to Baltimore, then to LA, back to Baltimore and then home to Wisconsin last week.

Exactly. Dh is usually in Europe at least once a month but he hasn't been in almost a year. He still flies weekly to DC/Baltimore but soon that will slow down too. Typically he flies 45 weeks a year sometimes to multiple destinations. This year he maybe flew 30, probably more like 20-22. It's killing me on free miles for Disney! LOL We can usually bank on free airfare for 2 Disney trips for the 6 of us, but not this past year.

 

[C.Ann]

Another loyal Southwest customer here.. And it's not just about the luggage.. I love everything about them - from their airfares to their seating concept to the hassle-free changes to their ability to arrive either on time or earlier to the funny attendants to the non-stop flights to......

Well - you get the idea.. I love them!!! LOL..

If I had to pay for every piece of luggage, I would be in serious trouble.. Yes - I do overpack - but if I'm going on vacation, I'm not interested in wasting my vacation time doing laundry.. It's one of the few "luxuries" I allow myself in life.. (That and I won't pump my own gas for my car..LOL)

I'll never fly overseas, so that's not an issue for me..