Originally Posted by
angetenar
If you aren't seeking affirmation, what are you looking for? Are you in a solution oriented state of mind? If so, we can help with a lot of the complaints.
I want to bring attention to how much it sucks is what.
I really wonder if all of this is actually profitable. I can tell United has spent an EXORBITANT amount of money developing their points system, app system, unbundling system, and nickel-and-diming system. The lady helping me check my bag was so fast and efficient at her job, it left me wondering if these kiosks and the insanity at check-in are really worth it. Taking all the autonomy away from the pilots, the cabin crew, the check-in workers vs giving them training and autonomy to do things the best way possible. Flight attendants shouldn't be in the business of selling credit cards or anything else. This system of nickel-and-diming has given passengers the (correct) sense of entitlement "I paid for this, I demand it", at the expense of flexibility on the part of the cabin crew. They can't move passengers around to seat a family together, they can't offer extra food or beverages to someone who might be particularly hungry or thirsty, maybe because they had too tight a connection to feed themselves at the airport, because this would violate someone else's entitlement of food they have to pay for. They can't offer additional drinks service on a delayed or otherwise miserable flight because the company has already specified the
precise amount they should carry.
Pilots have no say, flight attendants have no say, there's no autonomy here, and United is world's better than American that pioneered this awful.
The TSA is useless, has always been useless, and should be abolished, replaced instead with what we had prior to 9/11. San Francisco is trying this model, so it's not an unheard of concept. Rules about taking shoes off or not taking water onboard are ridiculous, get sniffy dogs to run around the airport instead, or do a realistic threat analysis.
Ultimately I'm not convinced this business model is the right one. Additionally, the airlines
do serve in the capacity of a public utility: flying is a part of life in this country. They have contracts with the U.S. military, and the U.S. government. It might be worth getting Washington involved. The big-three enjoy legal protection from international competition, and I can say confidently, international domestic flights are way better than what we have here.
Originally Posted by
guv1976
1. If you "play the credit-card game," you should easily be able to find a card that will reimburse for TSA PreCheck. That would mean no more taking off your shoes. (And by the way, I personally would never walk onto an airplane -- or into any type of public transportation terminal -- without wearing socks. But that's just me.)
2. If you have a co-branded credit card for the airline you are flying, you should get some type of priority boarding, as well as a free checked bag (but only for domestic travel with the AA credit card).
3. If you were able to get even low-level status on a domestic airline, you would get access to better seats at ticketing, and maybe even extra-leg-room seats for free at check in. It's probably easier to earn status with AA than DL or UA these days: you now earn AA Loyalty Points from credit-card purchases, hotel stays, car rentals, AAdvantage Dining, Simply Miles, and the AA e-shopping portal -- oh, and flights too.
No, flying is not what it used to be. But you know the old saying: "When life hands you lemons ...."
I get it, but a couple things: 1. I don't fly enough to make it worth it, 2. there are legitimate reasons
not to use credit cards (I don't need every transaction monitored), 3. I'm not sure I
could get status with the two or three trips a year I fly.
Originally Posted by
WineCountryUA
I know you did not post to be fact checked, but up to 1/3 of economy seats are available to selected for free at booking and another 1/3 are available at check in. Only the very forward 1/3 is not available for free (except for elites).
But yes, much of the glamour of 40-50 years ago is long gone. Travel in regular economy is basically akin to bus travel. But look at your ticket price, in real dollars, it is (outside of COVID) still about the cheapest it has ever been and the expenses for the carriers are higher than in past. It is it is a commodity
Safe Hint -- flip flips are not the best choice of foot covering if you had to evacuate and airplane.
No you're right, there were seat selections available in the back of the plane, but the options were so bad I've found it better to simply not select any seat and then take whatever I can get at the airport. This netted me better legroom economy in row 10, and a regular window seat in row 35 on the way back. Still I find the practice undignified.
You're also right, flip-flops probably weren't the best option. I do always shower before flying, so my feet were clean, but yeah the other pax probably don't know that. Even still, I wasn't the only one standing barefoot in the security line, and it remains a legit sanitary concern. I hate the TSA so much.