Originally Posted by
Stranger
I think it's more that "self-congratulating profitable airline don't see a need for providing basic services" as long as cheapening the product seemingly makes customers happier. If they would find out customers take their business elsewhere they would surely improve service... But it seems no matter how badly they are treated, they keep coming back anyway. So where is the incentive for airlines to provide better service? But no, it's not that I like it. Seems just to be reality. Plus, it's clear that the FT demographics don't fit in that category.
Sure. Except there's a blatant basic error.
Using a service =/= happy with the service. Ask the telecoms with their similar marginally competitive market. AC doesn't bother improving service because it has an unnatural level of market/pricing power. More akin to a 1970s third world aviation market than anything we see in the US, UK, EU or Australia (or other first world or even third world jurisdictions today).
People need to get to where they need to get to, and the governments active role in curtailing supply and shaping traffic flow means "choice" becomes an illusion fairly quickly. AC knows that. Even you know that. Whether it conforms with whatever argument you're trying to push is an entirely different matter.