US air rip offs

[crashbb]

This hasn't been my experience at all. I've been seeing higher prices every year for the past several years. In 1982 I flew roundtrip Ohio to Europe for $198. I can't even get from Reno to San Francisco for that, now. Maybe dollarwise, flying is lower when adjusted for inflation, but it sure isn't the same value for your money. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Tickets are paid for. We're going. Have a good trip.

You cannot claim that airfares have gone up based on ONE fare you paid in 1982, which was probably due to some major seat sale and/or on a charter airline.

 

[RMulieri]

I guess I don't see the big deal...I know flights are expensive and baggage costs, and buying seats cost money .So either I .... a) pony up the dough and budget accordingly and include baggage and seat fees in my budget or 2) find some other way to get there. 3) not go
There is no way around it. This trip I budgeted in the baggage fees and seating fees on Airtran BEFORE I booked anything.I read all the fine print .It is actually over $300 cheaper this year compared to last for me.That is with the fees inlcuded.

 

[DebbieB]

It's not just vacationers refusing to pay the higher fares, but companies sending their employees on business refuse to pay the higher fares too.

It's not just the cost of air travel but the general cost of travel - air, hotel, meals, etc. I work as a trainer for an insurance company and used to do all my training onsite. Now, almost everything is online training. I have not had a business trip since May.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

You're kidding, right, and trying to make an argument? Again, I cannot believe that anyone truly believes this when we continue to see airfares under $200 to fly cross country.

Time to get out the inflation calculator. In 1994 a route that I flew regularly was $198 in 1994 dollars. That is $284.08 in 2008 dollars.

In 2008, in 2008 dollars, that same route cost me $218. That is $151.95 in 1994 dollars.

Thus the fare dropped more than $46, or more than 23%, over a 25 year span (and that is starting with a fare AFTER deregulation in America). That is just one route that I commonly fly, but it has continued to happen on a regular basis on the average routes across America. See my earlier statement about my ticket next month over the holiday season being 30% lower than what I pay in offpeak season.



(seeking kaytieeldr to check my maths for me..... )

I'm not disagreeing with you; just saying...
1994 was actually 15 yrs ago.
Also the year dh and I were engaged.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And let's not forget pilot paycuts so airlines can stay in business. I'm sure people are going to start chiming in that there are pilots out there make tons 'o money,

Well, tons 'o money is relative . Pilots make more than I do - and they should, given their experience, training, and responsibility. But yeah, while airfares have continued to drop (and one ultra-low-cost experience almost 30 years ago is anomolous compared to repeated/constant airfare experience now), SO HAS PAYROLL!!! So these flight crews - the pilots, the flight attendants, etc - have as much responsibility for the passenger's safety now as they did ten years ago, but they're doing it for less money.

Hey, thank your husband for me!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm not disagreeing with you; just saying...
1994 was actually 15 yrs ago.
Also the year dh and I were engaged.

Well, it's almost 2010

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

And let's not forget pilot paycuts so airlines can stay in business. I'm sure people are going to start chiming in that there are pilots out there make tons 'o money, but let me tell you, my DH has taken many pay cuts over the past 7 years and done without his scheduled CONTRACT raises so he and others can just stay employed. But I'm sure people will just say he and other pilots should suck it up cause at least he has a job, right

Wasn't it USAirways' pilots that lost their pension too? Now that's a kick in the n**s.

 

[Lewisc]

Do you know ANY other product whose price hasn't increased?

Almost every electronic product has dropped in price over the last several years. DVD players, computers, large screen TV sets, Blu-ray players and DVRs all cost a fraction of what they did a few years ago.

Cost of the internet has gone down, at least to those who remember paying per minute. It has gone down if you put any type of value on speed. The cost of clothing has gone down, but the quality has taken a hit.

 

[pilotwife_02]

Wasn't it USAirways' pilots that lost their pension too? Now that's a kick in the n**s.

Yep!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The reason legroom and services keep getting cut back is b/c that's what much of the flying public wants to pay for. Didn't a while back someone post pictures of airports and planes from back in the early 70s. I wish I saved them. On the plane was a huge piano bar with lots of people standing around it all dressed up, men smoking cigars. Looked like a party in a large open area with not a seat in sight. The airline provided a carryon bag. Pictures of women carrying a TWA bag, courtesy of the airline.

The day I saw these pictures, I was telling a patient of mine, (work in mammography) and she told me she's been a FA for over 25 yrs.
Way 'back in the day' on Pan Am she used to serve 1st class passengers filet mignon, wine, etc. on fine china and crystal on the upstairs level of the plane. It would take over 3 hrs just to serve the meal.
What would this cost in today's $ and who would pay it?
People are basically, with their wallets, saying to airlines, "Just get me from A to B the cheapest way possible." Well, that's what they're doing.
If you really want more space and legroom, pay for a 1st class seat. I wonder what % of occupied 1st class seats actually paid the standard price for it (not using miles for upgrade, elite perks, etc.)

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Almost every electronic product has dropped in price over the last several years. DVD players, computers, large screen TV sets, Blu-ray players and DVRs all cost a fraction of what they did a few years ago.

Cost of the internet has gone down, at least to those who remember paying per minute. It has gone down if you put any type of value on speed. The cost of clothing has gone down, but the quality has taken a hit.

I guess there's always an exception. When it comes to technology, gadgets are almost disposable; anything more than 3 years old is a dinosaur.

Any industry that provides a service (via human) hasn't seen a drop in prices.

 

[GEB@okw]

Just for the heck of it, I went and checked how much a 45 lb package from Hershey, PA to Lake Buena Vista, FL was.. it's $30.15 and will take 2 business days to arrive.. sooooooo.. It's not cheaper..

And did you not read to see what fees the airline has? Sounds like someone didnt do research and is mad about it..

It's not like this hasnt been on the news and stuff for about the last year or so.

Is your $30.15 for UPS air service? How about same day delivery? The plain truth is the airlines can not make money transporting passengers around because of the declining airfares, so they start cutting services and charging for things that used to be "FREE". I like the baggage fees myself because only the ones who use the service pays.
I can ship an item to my son in Japan with US Mail for $150 or I can buy a ticket for $700 and take 2 50# bags for no extra charge. The airlines are providing a low cost service for what you get. I can buy r/t airfare Detroit/Orlando for $125 on NWA where as it costs about $1000 to drive roundtrip. (2000 miles times 50 cents a mile equals $1000)

 

[bavaria]

I'm not disagreeing with you; just saying...
1994 was actually 15 yrs ago.
Also the year dh and I were engaged.

See, that is why I needed someone to check my maths for me! I realised that long after I posted but didn't bother to correct it - so I'll go with 16 years instead of 25 years.

 

[DebbieB]

And let's not forget pilot paycuts so airlines can stay in business. I'm sure people are going to start chiming in that there are pilots out there make tons 'o money, but let me tell you, my DH has taken many pay cuts over the past 7 years and done without his scheduled CONTRACT raises so he and others can just stay employed. But I'm sure people will just say he and other pilots should suck it up cause at least he has a job, right

I read the Sulley book recently (USAir 1549, Miracle on the Hudson). He went through the first days of the 4 day trip they were on and talked about some of the things on his mind. One of the things he mentioned is he was concerned he was going to lose the family house because of the pay cuts he had to take. Not comforting to know that your pilot has money problems on his mind because of cutbacks they had to take.