Does poor in-flight sevice cause you to avoid USA airlines?
Jan 15, 2013, 9:56 am
#16
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Um, not sure what your problem is, but Asian people are smaller than Western people. About 4 or 5 inches shorter on average, according to common scientific knowledge.
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman...ht-chart.shtml
That's kind of a big deal in terms of comfort on airplanes, no? I mean, if you were running an Asian airline, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that your pax would need less legroom than, say, a Dutch airline (generally regarded as the tallest people in the world)?
And I don't want to get into the "weight advantage" that Americans unfortunately have over the rest of the world.
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman...ht-chart.shtml
That's kind of a big deal in terms of comfort on airplanes, no? I mean, if you were running an Asian airline, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that your pax would need less legroom than, say, a Dutch airline (generally regarded as the tallest people in the world)?
And I don't want to get into the "weight advantage" that Americans unfortunately have over the rest of the world.
Jan 15, 2013, 10:00 am
#17
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Rather, the "paranoia" is on the ground, and it's mandated for all flights to the USA. So it doesn't really matter which carrier you choose to get from point A to B (assuming point B is in the USA, and point A is not); you're basically going to get the same security.
And, of course, this can be different overseas from the USA. Leaving China for the USA, for example, I recently saw the USA liquids rule "enforced" at the gate of a UA flight by Chinese security agents asking pax to hand over any over-sized liquids they had as they boarded. You can probably guess how many folks reached into their bags to give up their illicit water bottles and oversized toiletry items.
Jan 15, 2013, 10:52 am
#18
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For coach, has anyone recently compared legroom between the USA carriers and the foreign airlines? It didn't seem to me that Economy Plus on UA was materially better than ordinary economy on most foreign airlines -- even the Asian ones, where you'd think they might give you less room because the average pax would be a little smaller.
Jan 15, 2013, 10:57 am
#19
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I actually have never encountered much "security paranoia" among US airlines -- except perhaps what is mandated by the DOT. And it's trivial stuff, like having see-through curtains between the cabins.
Rather, the "paranoia" is on the ground, and it's mandated for all flights to the USA. So it doesn't really matter which carrier you choose to get from point A to B (assuming point B is in the USA, and point A is not); you're basically going to get the same security.
And, of course, this can be different overseas from the USA. Leaving China for the USA, for example, I recently saw the USA liquids rule "enforced" at the gate of a UA flight by Chinese security agents asking pax to hand over any over-sized liquids they had as they boarded. You can probably guess how many folks reached into their bags to give up their illicit water bottles and oversized toiletry items.
Rather, the "paranoia" is on the ground, and it's mandated for all flights to the USA. So it doesn't really matter which carrier you choose to get from point A to B (assuming point B is in the USA, and point A is not); you're basically going to get the same security.
And, of course, this can be different overseas from the USA. Leaving China for the USA, for example, I recently saw the USA liquids rule "enforced" at the gate of a UA flight by Chinese security agents asking pax to hand over any over-sized liquids they had as they boarded. You can probably guess how many folks reached into their bags to give up their illicit water bottles and oversized toiletry items.
Jan 15, 2013, 10:59 am
#20
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Um, not sure what your problem is, but Asian people are smaller than Western people. About 4 or 5 inches shorter on average, according to common scientific knowledge.
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman...ht-chart.shtml
That's kind of a big deal in terms of comfort on airplanes, no? I mean, if you were running an Asian airline, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that your pax would need less legroom than, say, a Dutch airline (generally regarded as the tallest people in the world)?
And I don't want to get into the "weight advantage" that Americans unfortunately have over the rest of the world.
http://www.disabled-world.com/artman...ht-chart.shtml
That's kind of a big deal in terms of comfort on airplanes, no? I mean, if you were running an Asian airline, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that your pax would need less legroom than, say, a Dutch airline (generally regarded as the tallest people in the world)?
And I don't want to get into the "weight advantage" that Americans unfortunately have over the rest of the world.
If you want a more serious example, my father-in-law was put on statins recently on the basis of his cholesterol alone - no ultrasound on his heart, no CT of his arteries - because statistics show that men of his age with that cholesterol level have a 25% increased risk of heart disease. Just barking mad if you ask me. You can't fit an individual into population average.
Anyway, the higher quality Far Eastern airlines have had the good sense to offer more legroom so as to attract travellers from around the world who are willing to pay more money for bigger seats, better food and FA's who give a monkey's. There's still plenty of Air China's and Malaysian Airways's who don't offer all of the above yet still seem to be a nicer experience than the majority of US legacy carriers though...
Jan 15, 2013, 11:18 am
#21
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The second sentence in your second paragraph above is incorrect, as anyone who flies European carriers from Europe to the US from airports on the continental mainland that also have service on US carriers should know if flying on both kinds of carriers from such airports to the US. More check-in "security" dog and pony show and more gate area dog and pony show too. In-flight also more "security" dog and pony show with the seatbelt sign control of passengers.
Jan 15, 2013, 11:20 am
#22
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The second sentence in your second paragraph above is incorrect, as anyone who flies European carriers from Europe to the US from airports on the continental mainland that also have service on US carriers should know if flying on both kinds of carriers from such airports to the US. More check-in "security" dog and pony show and more gate area dog and pony show too. In-flight also more "security" dog and pony show with the seatbelt sign control of passengers.
BTW, I gasped at the presence of a nude-o-mater at the BKK airport (not specific to USA flights), but it wasn't in use.
Jan 15, 2013, 12:26 pm
#24
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Jan 15, 2013, 12:54 pm
#26
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Not so much service. Connections. I usually fly ZRH-SEA, and if I have to connect in Chicago or on the East Coast, it's a deal breaker. That pretty much leaves me the option of taking the European carriers.
Jan 15, 2013, 5:38 pm
#27
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So it seems like at least half the Flyertalker community "books away" from USA carriers on int'l flights because they don't like the in-flight service.
If that's the case, wouldn't it make some sense for these carriers to try to IMPROVE that service? Not sure what you can do about inferior cabin crews -- seems like a tricky proposition to improve morale (or at least the appearance of morale). Maybe you could encourage pax to give feedback on their experience with their flight attendants, and raffle off cars and other prizes to high scoring attendants (kind of what Gordon Bethune did to improve attendance when he was CEO of CO).
Installing new entertainment systems/buying new planes is also difficult. But what about spending 5 bucks more per pax on in-flight ammenities, like better food/drink? I would think those 5 bucks might make a signficant difference in quality perception.
If that's the case, wouldn't it make some sense for these carriers to try to IMPROVE that service? Not sure what you can do about inferior cabin crews -- seems like a tricky proposition to improve morale (or at least the appearance of morale). Maybe you could encourage pax to give feedback on their experience with their flight attendants, and raffle off cars and other prizes to high scoring attendants (kind of what Gordon Bethune did to improve attendance when he was CEO of CO).
Installing new entertainment systems/buying new planes is also difficult. But what about spending 5 bucks more per pax on in-flight ammenities, like better food/drink? I would think those 5 bucks might make a signficant difference in quality perception.
Jan 15, 2013, 6:01 pm
#29
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The only international flights I've taken recently were KLM Business Class - SFO to AMS - and Alitalia coach - FCO to LAX. I was not impressed with either one, either in terms of comfort or service. If US carriers are worse, I think I'll stay home.
Jan 15, 2013, 7:25 pm
#30
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They can't spend extra $5 for the food.