I agree with both of the above posts. I am not saying AA should match the LCCs cost. In many ways they have a better product. But clearly they need to get out of the box a bit. Maybe talk to customers flyging LCCs. One of the things those customers like is the simplicity of it. I think the huge mistake that the majors might make is to blame their current problems COMPLETELY on Sept. 11 and the general economic downturn and expect that all will return to what it was a few years ago. I dont see that happening ever. JetBlue is expanding, videoconferening is getting really good and so forth. They need to adapt, not hide and hope it goes away.


GadgetFreak your 100% right on this one issue, I only hope the AA People in Power review this thread and listen to what some flyers are saying:

Remember when Standby was normal for all the carriers and you could take a chance on getting on if the seats were empty. Some people would hang out at the airport waiting for the seats and lower airfare. All I would like to see is resonable prices for seven days or less advance purchase. Case in Point:

I could right now fly JFK-NRT Round Trip for $409, but because I am out of SFO I have 11 days to purchase Tckt SFO-JFK, the fare goes for $1000-$1200 for Coach SFO to JFK. BUT if I drive 2 1/2 hours down to San Jose I can get the SFO-JFK fare for $351 RT. I work and unable to get time off to make the drive to connect in San Jose. So AA misses out in revenue for $409 + 351 on this trip, the seats are there but thanks to Yield Management - $1000-$1200 my butt not going on this trip. Who Wins on this trip, surely not AA. More lost money, I want to fly but wont pay 3-4 times more than the Low Cost Carriers. Does anyone in the Big Six understand, planes flying with empty seats are not making money - rent out more seats.

If you own a piece of land and put trailers on them you rent out 20 spaces for rent you make more money. If you decide to not put any trailers and look at the lot, you make zero revenue. If you rent one space with a view for $1000 or put up 15 and charge $300 each, now you have $4500 extra. Now if a friend comes along and needs a space for two months the airlines think its ok to charge $3000 per month because you didnt plan this out far enough and quite frankly your not really a Friend but a revenue Seat Per Mile Figure on someones Computer Program.