How long will it be before airlines start charging you to use the restroom?

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: andy04

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: child of wonder
But the airlines have been filing for bankruptcy for the last 10 years long before fuel prices skyrocketed.

That is because of all the cutthroat competition driving fares down to unsustainable levels. The low cost airlines depressed the fares so much that the big carriers didn't have much choice but to follow. When one airline would reduce fares the others would follow, and so on and so on. The result is lack of profitability. The management has also been sorely lacking in the industry for a long time. I love how they drove down fares to levels that should bankrupt a company and then expect the government to bail them out of their stupid decisions. Don't worry, there won't be many airlines left in a few years and the fares will probably be double what they are today. Air travel was never intended for the average Joe anyway.

Ok...

1. This is US of "A" flying is for everyone... just like cars and homes
2. Automobile industry is facing same probs... and they are inovating their way out...
3. They buy oil 1 year in advance...
4. Foreign airlines with much better track records are willing to buy these airlines IF US govt allows... they think they can make profit
5. their management/CEOs are just as corrupt as Washington and both togather having fun on tax payer's expense...
Pitchfork guys :disgust:

We really need a communist minded leader like Hussein - transfer of health :beer:

I was not being a snob, I was stating the facts....and flying is for whoever can afford to pay. Do some research and come back and tell us what airfares were in the early 1970s when oil was cheap. The average family could not fly much of anywhere without saving for quite some time. You will be surprised just how expensive it really used to be.

 

[foghorn67]

You also have to remember the fees they pay. And the insane process to have gates at airports.

 

[LS21]

ive never understood the weight argument. flyers always entertain the idea of reducing plates to save weight, packing less soda to save weight, cutting boarding pass jackets to save paper, etc.

REALLY? anyone ever QUANTIFY how much savings these actually are? cutting sodas in half?? looking at a very EXTREME case where 100 passengers all decide to bring an ADDITIONAL 50lb of luggage each, that is only 6% of the unladen weight of a boeing 737. equivalent of me worrying about carrying an extra passenger in my car.

 

[andy04]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: andy04

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: child of wonder
But the airlines have been filing for bankruptcy for the last 10 years long before fuel prices skyrocketed.

That is because of all the cutthroat competition driving fares down to unsustainable levels. The low cost airlines depressed the fares so much that the big carriers didn't have much choice but to follow. When one airline would reduce fares the others would follow, and so on and so on. The result is lack of profitability. The management has also been sorely lacking in the industry for a long time. I love how they drove down fares to levels that should bankrupt a company and then expect the government to bail them out of their stupid decisions. Don't worry, there won't be many airlines left in a few years and the fares will probably be double what they are today. Air travel was never intended for the average Joe anyway.

Ok...

1. This is US of "A" flying is for everyone... just like cars and homes
2. Automobile industry is facing same probs... and they are inovating their way out...
3. They buy oil 1 year in advance...
4. Foreign airlines with much better track records are willing to buy these airlines IF US govt allows... they think they can make profit
5. their management/CEOs are just as corrupt as Washington and both togather having fun on tax payer's expense...
Pitchfork guys :disgust:

We really need a communist minded leader like Hussein - transfer of health :beer:

I was not being a snob, I was stating the facts....and flying is for whoever can afford to pay. Do some research and come back and tell us what airfares were in the early 1970s when oil was cheap. The average family could not fly much of anywhere without saving for quite some time. You will be surprised just how expensive it really used to be.

With time everything becomes cheap, air planes are cheaper now and consume less than 1/2 the fuel as in 70s. Also in 70s only 1 person (male) used to earn and ppl had the habit of saving. Americans now also make much more money as compared to the rest of the world

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
you can bring your own pillow and coke, but the portapotty won't fit under the seat in front of you

I'll just crap in the barf bag and stink up the whole passenger compartment then.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: child of wonder
But the airlines have been filing for bankruptcy for the last 10 years long before fuel prices skyrocketed.

That is because of all the cutthroat competition driving fares down to unsustainable levels. The low cost airlines depressed the fares so much that the big carriers didn't have much choice but to follow. When one airline would reduce fares the others would follow, and so on and so on. The result is lack of profitability. The management has also been sorely lacking in the industry for a long time. I love how they drove down fares to levels that should bankrupt a company and then expect the government to bail them out of their stupid decisions. Don't worry, there won't be many airlines left in a few years and the fares will probably be double what they are today. Air travel was never intended for the average Joe anyway.

I disagree with "driving fares down to unsustainable levels". Southwest drove fares down yet still turned a profit, even after 9/11.
I do agree with the MGT issue as some airlines were/are able to make a profit yet others were not. The larger airlines are like GM in the late 70's and 80's. They were the biggest and they thought they did not have to compete. Now a lot of companies ask southwest what they do to cut cost and keep emoloyees happy.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: child of wonder
I still find it hard to believe that with all the millions of people flying every day at several hundred dollars a person that the airlines are all losing their asses like they say.

It's $7.50/gallon for JetA at my home airport (SEA). An airplane typically achieves about 50 passenger miles per gallon of fuel. So, in my 2,600 mile flight, I personally use about 52 gallons of fuel. That's $390. My ticket cost $383.

Now, it's true that I fly on the lowest fare possible, but it seems likely that the airline is probably getting a bulk discount on the fuel. Even if we assume that the fuel is only costing the airline $6.00/gallon, that's still $312 in fuel costs alone per passenger. Leaving only $71 above that per passenger to cover the cost of aircraft maintenance, airport fees, flight crew salary, pilot salary, administrative costs for FAA filings... That can't leave much room for a profit.

ZV

I'd say maybe 50-60% of the people get that low rate. A lot of business travelers pay a premium price for the same seats since their companies are the ones paying.

And how about charging extra for "premium" seats?

I am a business traveler. To the tune of about 5,200 miles per week. If you think for one moment that the company just ignores the cost of an airline seat, you're obviously not a business traveler; my expense reports are definitely scrutinized (to the point of demanding a receipt for a $0.60 toll from the Maine turnpike). In my example, I used the rate I get when booking no more than 2 weeks in advance. A family booking months in advance should be able to get a better rate than I do.

The simple fact is that airlines are already operating on very thin margins. People just don't understand how much overhead is involved in operating an airline.

ZV

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
why do people go overboard and bring up this ridiculous notion/joke? its getting old...

seriously, think, if they start charging people to go to the bathroom, there will be the inevitable scenario of people pissing and shitting somewhere in defiance - its practically considered a right (at least in america) along with free tap water - which is still free on planes for obvious reasons, of course people only bring up the bathroom issue because it can actually be funny...

People once thought the idea of the government listening to your phone calls and reading your emails was ridiculous.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: andy04

Originally posted by: Ronstang
I was not being a snob, I was stating the facts....and flying is for whoever can afford to pay. Do some research and come back and tell us what airfares were in the early 1970s when oil was cheap. The average family could not fly much of anywhere without saving for quite some time. You will be surprised just how expensive it really used to be.

With time everything becomes cheap, air planes are cheaper now and consume less than 1/2 the fuel as in 70s. Also in 70s only 1 person (male) used to earn and ppl had the habit of saving. Americans now also make much more money as compared to the rest of the world

Care to back that up? Any of that?

Airplanes being cheaper today is false (in fact, the newest models are about 5 times more expensive):

Boeing 787: $146,000,000 to $200,000,000
Boeing 707: $4,300,000 ($32,820,000 in current dollars)
Boeing 737: $50,000,000 to $80,000,000 (737 NG, current price for a new plane)

I've seen no data anywhere to support a claim of doubling fuel efficiency since the 1970's.

The fact that there was only one income for many families in the 1970's has nothing whatsoever to do with the cost of airline tickets. The simple fact is that tickets were in the $300 range even in the 1970's, which is the $950-$1,600 range in today's dollars.

Raw dollar figures for income are meaningless. Purchasing power is what matters, not dollar amounts. You'd need to show that Americans have more buying power compared to the rest of the world, not just a higher dollar figure.

ZV

 

[Baked]

Pee and poop before you board the plane.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Delta jsut announced that they will have WiFi on ALL flights next year.

$10 for under 3 hrs - $12 for over 32 hrs of flight time.