OK, hate is a really strong word which I was taught should really be very rarely used. But I figured using 'hate cheap fares' was likely to get some attention. So let's agree I really just strongly dislike cheap fares.

The reason I say this is that having flown for over 5 decades now it has become apparent to me that while fare prices have in reality dropped over the decades(in real dollars) so has comfort and service. When I first started flying, there were only 2 classes. First Class and Economy. But even if all you could afford was Economy, you had enough leg room, the food was near edible, drinks, pillows, blankets, headphones, etc. were all included as were 2 checked bags. Compare that to today. Now they are talking about research into how decreased seat space is causing health issues and they may need to introduce regulations to stop airlines from continuing to decrease legroom and seat width.

I want to pay as little as possible when I fly, just like anyone else. However, I also want to be able to be comfortable and not have to put my hand in my pocket if I ask for a pillow. In other words I want there to be a minimum standard I can live with. I also accept and understand that if I want that, the airline is entitled to say there is a minimum price they need to be paid to provide it. I always believe that the people get what the people deserve. It is the people who drive what we get, not the airlines. The airlines have to conform to what the people ask for and when people put price ahead of everything else, the airlines comply.

So here's my current beef with the people. I want to fly from Canada to Europe on vacation. I will not fly on a LCC like Air Transat as their comfort and service are poor. So OK, fly Air Canada I hear someone saying. Works for me, sometimes. It's the 'sometimes' that is the issue. If I fly, as I sometimes do, Toronto to Zurich non-stop, I can get a convenient mainline AC flight with decent seat space even in Economy or I can upgrade to Premium Economy or Business if my pocket allows it.

But if as I currently am, look for a flight to Scotland, I can only get direct non-stop on Air Transat or Air Canada Rouge which is as lousy as Air Transat. I won't fly Rouge. What I'm left with is flying Air Canada mainline via London, Dublin, Munich, Amsterdam and then a flight change to get to Scotland. Up until this year, there were non-stop flights on AC mainline planes to Scotland. They're gone and replaced by Rouge this year. I see this as part of the continuing lowering of standards to meet the demand of the people for low prices.

I don't blame Air Canada for this. They look at supply and demand just like any other business. If the demand from the people is 'cheap seats', they supply them. If those who are willing to pay a bit more like me, do not represent enough 'demand' to justify them supplying a product (mainline non-stop flight), then they don't supply it. So who should I blame? Answer, the people demanding 'cheap seats' over all other factors. And where will it end, will non-stop direct flights on mainline AC planes to Zurich or London etc. be the next to be replaced with only Rouge flights? Are they heading for the lowest common denominator because of demand for 'cheap seats' and having to compete with the likes of Air Transat and other LCCs to wherever?

If Air Canada had 2 choices to offer me (as they did up until now), one being cheap on Rouge and the other being more expensive on a mainline flight, I'd be OK with that. Let those who want 'cheap seats' fly Rouge and I'll pay a bit more to fly mainline. Everyone is happy. But it looks to me like I'm really in the minority. It appears that the market for 'reasonably priced' seats for what you get is shrinking. The demand just isn't there from the people.

By 'reasonable' what i mean is instead of say an average economy 'cheap' price from Canada to Europe being around $1000 and you then add for seat selection, extra legroom in an exit row because a 28-29" seat pitch is just ridiculous, pay for drinks, rent headphones, etc. you pay $1500 and you get a 32-34" seat pitch, seat selection, 2 checked bags if you want, free drinks and free headphones, etc. all included, as you always did in the past (even if that past was before your time, take my word for it, it was normal). In other words flights that were as they were before but at a realistic price that the airline needs to charge today.

Maybe I should have titled the post, 'I hate people who buy cheap seats on Air Canada because they are making comfortable flying at a reasonable price unavailable.' But of course, hate is really a strong word which we should rarely use as I said in the beginning. I don't know though if I really just strongly dislike what people are doing to flying or if I actually am starting to 'hate' what they're doing. It's a tough call.

So what do you think of where air fares and comfort etc. are headed with Air Canada?