What's Your Take on Airline Etiquette

[crashbb]

That's kind of the definition of screwing. "We realize we need to charge $25 more per seat for this flight, but we can't make it obvious, so we'll slap on a 'baggage convenience fee.'" Just be transparent and people will appreciate it. Try to be sneaky about extra fees and you don't build up much loyalty.

I would argue that unbundling (charging for "add ons") is more transparent that simply upping the fares. You can see where the extra charge is going. You something for transport from A to B, something for a specific seat, something for luggage, etc. Rather than a lump fee for everything.

 

[goofy4tink]

Americans have gotten used to (and basically spoiled by) really low airfare in the last ten years or so. It used to be that anything around $300 from BOS to MCO was a pretty decent price. Then, fares went down to around $250...even better. Well...they got to about $200 and people were thrilled. Tons of people started flying, several times a year. Then, fares went to $79 each way, with JB and SW!!! Everyone went crazy. But..that has all changed. You just don't see those fares anymore. The airlines can't keep planes in the air charging those kind of fares. Now, we still see people asking when we will see JB or SW come out with those low fares again!!! In this economy?? Probably never. And if we do, it will most likely be for 5 seats per plane, with at least one connection!!!

Do I like the bag fees? No, not really. But, I don't usually check more than two bags, usually only one. So, it's not a big deal for me. Do I think the airlines are 'screwing' me? Not hardly. I don't have to fly. I can fly with an airline that either charges less or perhaps nothing for checked bags...my choice. Flying is not a God given right It's not as if the airline decided to start charging for bags and made it applicable across the board...no concern with when you booked. Most airlines give plenty of notice before adding charges. It's up to the consumer to be knowledgable when buying airfare. They need to understand what they are paying for and what the rules are. If you don't care for the way an airline does business, you don't have to fly with them.

And the whole argument about weight?? Please. Don't go there. Can you see it now??? There you are at checkin, at the counter. The person behind the counter says...'Could you please step up on the scale Mrs. Smith. Oh my...you are just a bit over the 150 lb limit. Looks like an addtl $50 for you.' Yeah, that's going to happen. Really quite absurd to tell you the truth.

 

[My_3_Mi_Princesses]

That's not the way most people read the word. To most people, it implies that someone is doing something wrong. Presenting your product or service, and its pricing, in the best possible light, is a basic rule of consumer marketing. It is not, in any way, nefarious. Casting such a gross, negative light on these reasonable practices defiles those who are adversely affected by what are actually nefarious business practices, such as fraud. There is a very clear line draw by our society, and it is drawn that clearly so there need be no mistaken "screwing" customer versus responsibly operating a business.

Incorrect. The American consumer is notorious for being attracted to a low price like a moth to a bug zapper. The current situation, where customer service is a shadow of what it once was, in practically every aspect of our society, comes at least in part from the consumers' maniacal preference for low prices over high quality, thereby rewarding companies that cut costs while systematically failing to incentive higher quality.

Consumers used to be loyal to suppliers. They used to concern themselves with quality and with the reliable relationship they had, and didn't react as directly when a competitor came into town offering almost the same thing for lower price. Those days are gone. Consumers think that agreeing to buy something at a deep discount is "loyalty", when the reality is that consumers who shop around, cherry-picking the loss-leaders from each supplier, are the epitome of disloyalty as defined by business.

I do know why but when I am reading your posts in this thread (which are awsome btw, and I will quote you many times esp. the common sense post) but I read it in the voice of 'The Architect' from the Matrix movies..

 

[bumbershoot]

Who would stick gum in a magazine for the next person to find?

The person who read the magazine before me on our last flight. Bleah.

There needs to be special dispensation (not necessarily free) for unusual baggage items and unusual circums5tances.

There usually is. I've seen "musical instrument" information on many airline websites I've seen.



I don't mind people bringing appropriately, within the rules, sized carryon and personal item bags. Not at all! I like having my stuff with me, I hate checking things, so I don't mind correctly-sized items going into the overheads. People would do themselves a favor if they'd used soft-sided bags to carryon...not so heavy to put up above their heads!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Sadly it seems common courtesy is no longer common sense

I am one who is not thrilled with baggae fees, but I do think it is more "fair" to reward loyal fliers with free bags and have the rest of us pay for what we use. I honestly am not sure how people manage to need so much space to pace. Kast month our family of four flew to the USA and spent one week at WDW (needing "warmer" clothes becuase it can be chilly there that time of year) and one week on the cruise (summer clothes). We took nice clothing and shoes for formal night (including tuxes for the guys), a set of snorkle gear with fins, tons of German chocolate to share with our friends and five bottles of good wine (really, really well wrapped, encased in about 12 plastic baggs totaly and sourrounded by our pwn very absorbent cotton clothes and then the whole thing put inthree plastic bags and then a suitcase also lined in plastic: I really wanted to be certain if any bottles broke they would only damage our things) and still only needed one normal sized suitcase each and one garment bag. We could have easily done it in jsut one bag each and possibly three bags totaly and that was with doing one laod of laundry only on the trip. For carry ons we only had a small laptop bag and tow small backpacks for in flight entertainment. I truly, truly do not know what people pack--I always take a ton of stuff and I still haev less luggage than most

 

[bicker]

I do know why but when I am reading your posts in this thread (which are awsome btw, and I will quote you many times esp. the common sense post) but I read it in the voice of 'The Architect' from the Matrix movies..

I do a great Agent Smith impression.

 

[Flight]

I've never understood why the person sitting in row 26 has to put his carryon in the overhead above row 7.

This is a huge gripe of mine.

Passengers boarding later with seats in the front find there is no overhead space. The aisles are jammed and they cannot move to the very back to stow the bag. Even if they could, when arriving at the destination, they would have to wait until everyone behind them go off the plane before making their way to the back to retrieve the bag.

Please exercise common courtesy when traveling. Your bags go in the overhead above or near your assigned seat.

The airlines also should have the flight attendants be vigilant for violators.

 

[seashoreCM]

The aisles are jammed and they cannot move to the very back to stow the bag.

Sure they can. Wait a little while and more than the weather will change.

Even if they could, when arriving at the destination, they would have to wait until everyone behind them go off the plane before making their way to the back to retrieve the bag. .

Sad to say, but somebody has to be last off of the plane.

(copied from a novel)

"David, you're in 10-B" Steve said as he gently nudged the nine year old into the appropriate row of seats while he himself followed and stood between David and the aisle. He bent down, "Scoot over to the window for a moment," he whispered.

Steve set David's suitcase in David's seat in the middle of the row and reached up to the luggage bin overhead. There was nobody seated anywhere nearby yet there was a large black wheeled suitcase in the luggage bin. Someone sitting further back in the plane must have decided to put his suitcase in one of the bins much further to the front. Furthermore the black suitcase was larger than the size allowed for the bin so it took up space that two other passengers could have used for their suitcases. Fiendishly, Steve reached into the bin, took that suitcase out, and set it on the floor behind David's seat. He put David's suitcase up in the bin, motioned David to his proper seat in the middle, and turned to face the aisle and find his own seat.

"Twenty six 'E' is mine," Steve said out loud to himself as he reached that row. Two boys about his other son's age, seven, were sitting in that seat group. Steve looked at the other boarding pass. It read "28E". "George, sit here." Steve pointed to the seat between the two seated boys. The boy sitting nearest the aisle got up and stood on his seat cushion while George squeezed past. Steve took the "miniature" roll-aboard suitcase George was dragging and put it in the bin overhead.

Steve continued two more rows back to where George's seat was. He saw a man, good sized, but not quite his size, wearing a short sleeved button down shirt with necktie, sitting in the window seat. For the moment he sat down in the aisle seat rather than his assigned seat next to it.

People continued to file past and were pushing and shoving suitcases in the bins overhead trying to make things fit. As the gate agent had announced, the plane filled up.

"Ding!" The PA system sounded off. "Passenger Daly please come forward." A flight attendant standing near David's seat some fifteen rows away started waving her hand side to side just above her head

"That's me." The man in the window seat next to Steve got up. Steve and the man assigned to the aisle seat squeezed out and stepped aside to the rear of the plane and the man from the window seat made his way forward.

"This must be your suitcase?" the flight attendant further up in the aisle said as the well dressed man approached.

"Who took it out?" Mr. Daly said quite loudly as he pointed to the now full luggage bin above David.

The flight attendant cut off Mr Daly. "You should have it back with you, not way up front."

"Could you put it in the closet behind the lav?"

Another flight attendant, a man, hearing the commotion, came up and stood behind the lady flight attendant talking to Mr. Daly.

"Sorry, that's full. You can take it back to your seat or I'll be happy to check it."

 

[CarolMN]

...........(copied from a novel)........w and reached up to the luggage bin overhead. There was nobody seated anywhere nearby yet there was a large black wheeled suitcase in the luggage bin. Someone sitting further back in the plane must have decided to put his suitcase in one of the bins much further to the front. Furthermore the black suitcase was larger than the size allowed for the bin so it took up space that two other passengers could have used for their suitcases. Fiendishly, Steve reached into the bin, took that suitcase out, and set it on the floor behind ....................
"Ding!" The PA system sounded off. "Passenger Daly please come forward." A flight attendant........."This must be your suitcase?" the flight attendant further up in the aisle said as the well dressed man approached.

"Who took it out?" Mr. Daly said quite loudly as he pointed to the now full luggage bin above David.

The flight attendant cut off Mr Daly. "You should have it back with you, not way up front."

"Could you put it in the closet behind the lav?"

Another flight attendant, a man, hearing the commotion, came up and stood behind the lady flight attendant talking to Mr. Daly.

"Sorry, that's full. You can take it back to your seat or I'll be happy to check it."

Nice story. It only happens in novels and my imagination, LOL.

 

[crashbb]

Isn't it against DIS rules to copy published work without giving the author due credit? Saying "from a novel" does not count.

 

[eliza61]

That's kind of the definition of screwing. "We realize we need to charge $25 more per seat for this flight, but we can't make it obvious, so we'll slap on a 'baggage convenience fee.'" Just be transparent and people will appreciate it. Try to be sneaky about extra fees and you don't build up much loyalty. I agree that the airlines are in major financial trouble, and far from rolling in cash. But much like the automakers, their problems are of their own making. Hefty contracts negotiated with the unions and aging fleets make it very difficult to make money in the best of times.

That won't work. Us, Americans are not hard wired for the truth (sorry, compatriats. ) We revolt heavily when prices are raised. Look at our groceries. Manufacturers know we don't like higher prices so instead of raising the price they make the packaging smaller. Retailers know we have the Walmart mentality so instead of flatly raising the price, they give us a "sale" mark the item up then give us 20% off.
Sorry Doctor, to quote Jack Nicolas, "We can't handle the truth"

 

[eliza61]

Well, if I weigh 165 lbs, and someone next to me weighs 300lbs, should they pay more? Or should I be allowed to bring bags weighing 145 lbs for free?

Slippery slope...

In a way that has already happen. Airlines are requiring some overweight passagers to pay for 2 seats.

I think it's a combination of issues. You're absolutely right in that when you get some thing for free for so long, it can seem greedy when you now have to pay for it. I'm a dvc member and for so long we got valet parking as a perk, there was a huge outcry when it was taken away.

Bavaria is absolutely right though, I haven't gotten the knack of living out of a 1 bag just yet so I know this summers vacation is going to be $100 bucks more. Do I like it? No, who does.

Also I am of a certain age when I clearly remember flying being for the wealthy, so I much prefer to deal with the baggage charge then even contemplate not travelling. I want to see the airlines stay profitable.

It may also be that I'll pay for convenience. whenever I see some one loaded down with bags going through security I just feel bad for them, so the extra charge is what I accept for just having my makeup and a laptop with me on board.

 

[bavaria]

It may also be that I'll pay for convenience. whenever I see some one loaded down with bags going through security I just feel bad for them, so the extra charge is what I accept for just having my makeup and a laptop with me on board.

Maybe we are just getting old.

I remember travelling in my early 20's (and even in my teens alone) and sharing a room was fine, even with strangers. Anything to save a few pennies.

Now I willingly tip for someone to take my luggage. Porters on Amtrak are my friends. I am willing to pay for a convenience, or a service, if it saves me some physical effort when I am in pain. People complain about the cost of water at a WDW resort, but they are paying for the convenience of not having to go to a shop offsite to get it. They fail to factor in the convenience fee.

Similiar to the 'who would pay mini bar prices' thread. If those people flew 20 hours and landed at 2am, the $4 bottle of water is a bargain.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Well, there's an idea (borrowed from many of the suggestions here).

The flyer, and the flyers luggage (ALL of it) are placed on a scale. If the scale tips over a certain limit, extra is paid. Regardless of where the items go, the fees are paid.

Hey, don't laugh. It just might happen.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> ... overweight ... to pay for two seats ...

Wasn't there a roller coaster at Universal Studios (FL) with a mockup seat out front where you have to fit in the seat to be allowed on the roller coaster?

Put that next to the Size Wise (tm, Delta Airlines I think) box at the airport and we can have a more precise way of figuring out who should pay more.

Something I would liked to have seen on airplanes: seat dividers. To conserve space and weight on board they (pillows, blankets too?) would have to be checked out by a passenger prior to boarding and surrendered after disembarking.

 

[crashbb]

Well, there's an idea (borrowed from many of the suggestions here).

The flyer, and the flyers luggage (ALL of it) are placed on a scale. If the scale tips over a certain limit, extra is paid. Regardless of where the items go, the fees are paid.

Hey, don't laugh. It just might happen.

I have been weighed before flights. Not so they could charge people more (or less), but because these were very wee planes and seat assignment was done based on weight, for balance purposes. We were not weighed with our luggage (though our luggage weight was strictly limited).

 

[safetymom]

I don't think you will see them weighing passengers for quite some time. The business travel community would create an uproar. I don't think the airlines would want to upset those flyers.

Also what happens if you are overweight and only bring one bag. Less baggage handling than someone is skinny and brings several bags?

 

[Zeebs]

Not all bags half way down the isle are stowed by people being rude. We flew once and had the very last seats in the plane. The over head locker for us was filled with stuff for the plane so we had to use another overhead locker. (no assistance from staff) The nearest one to us that we could find was half way down the plane. The flight attendants also (for some reason) wouldn't let me put my normal sized handbag underneth the seat in front of me so that was also half way down the plane. We did wait until the plane was just about full before stowing so that we tried not to take up someone elses space. Getting off took us ages (we could have departed from the back door and been first off but as luck would have it we had to wait until the plane had emptyed so we could get our bags )

Luckily we fly a bit and realise we are flying in a big tin can, it is going to be cramped, uncomfortable, noisy so we just go with the flow.

Kirsten

 

[maxiesmom]

>>> ... overweight ... to pay for two seats ...

Wasn't there a roller coaster at Universal Studios (FL) with a mockup seat out front where you have to fit in the seat to be allowed on the roller coaster?

Put that next to the Size Wise (tm, Delta Airlines I think) box at the airport and we can have a more precise way of figuring out who should pay more.

Something I would liked to have seen on airplanes: seat dividers. To conserve space and weight on board they (pillows, blankets too?) would have to be checked out by a passenger prior to boarding and surrendered after disembarking.

I remember a few years back being weighed as a group for a some sort of sled ride at Dollywood. It was rather strange.

 

[Disneyadore]

Sadly it seems common courtesy is no longer common sense

I am one who is not thrilled with baggae fees, but I do think it is more "fair" to reward loyal fliers with free bags and have the rest of us pay for what we use. I honestly am not sure how people manage to need so much space to pace. Kast month our family of four flew to the USA and spent one week at WDW (needing "warmer" clothes becuase it can be chilly there that time of year) and one week on the cruise (summer clothes). We took nice clothing and shoes for formal night (including tuxes for the guys), a set of snorkle gear with fins, tons of German chocolate to share with our friends and five bottles of good wine (really, really well wrapped, encased in about 12 plastic baggs totaly and sourrounded by our pwn very absorbent cotton clothes and then the whole thing put inthree plastic bags and then a suitcase also lined in plastic: I really wanted to be certain if any bottles broke they would only damage our things) and still only needed one normal sized suitcase each and one garment bag. We could have easily done it in jsut one bag each and possibly three bags totaly and that was with doing one laod of laundry only on the trip. For carry ons we only had a small laptop bag and tow small backpacks for in flight entertainment. I truly, truly do not know what people pack--I always take a ton of stuff and I still haev less luggage than most

Next May my husband and I are traveling for a month to the US with only ONE suitcase. I pack a tux for hubby and a nice dress for myself because Victoria and Albert's have a dress code. I pack so much clothes my husband is always complaining (you may guess how many undies I pack )
Still I manage to fly home with everything clean and washed. I'm always stunned seeing others packed like mules on the airport. For carry on I have one special little suitcase for my lap top, ten mobile phones and my medicine.
I really wish the airlines would refuse the big carry ons some people try to jam into the luggage bin overhead.