United737522
06-16-2008, 03:15 AM
As a pilot, I am tired of the media and 'travel experts' blasting the airlines for doing what it takes to stay afloat. These articles do nothing but worry/enrage/anger Joe Traveler, make him less likely to fly and hurt the bottom line. People are going to lose their jobs because airlines are bleeding money. I could very well be included in those job losses. So I hope you can see why I take this personally. Especially when the articles are flame bait.
Your article is inaccurate and exaggerates the facts. This is not the first time you have done this either.
Let's start from the most recent article posted today. I quote,American even admitted as much in a recent announcement, saying customer service was its lowest priority that would be taken care of later. (http://www.tripso.com/today/american-scrambles-to-collect-baggage-fees-plans-customer-service-later/)
Following the link brings us to a previous article, by you. I quote from the bottom of that article, the portion you were referring to, Finally, Dupont, quoted in an MSNBC.com article (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24989894/) puts everything into perspective and clearly illuminates how American Airlines feels about the importance of customer service and their passengers’ needs,
“If this is the wave of the future, you’re going to have to ensure that the compartments meet the needs of our customers,” He said. “That will probably be on our to-do list.”
Ok. So tracing back further to the original article, we see how out-of-context you took that quote.
From the NBC article,
DuPont said American might ask airplane manufacturers to put bigger bins in future planes.
"If this is the wave of the future, you're going to have to ensure that the compartments meet the needs of our customers," He said. "That will probably be on our to-do list."
Hmmmm... don't see a thing about customer service in there. It appears he is talking about bigger overhead bins 'being on the to-do list.' So please, tell me, where did American even admit as much in a recent announcement, saying customer service was its lowest priority that would be taken care of later.[/URL]
Seems to me they said NOT A THING about customer service being its lowest priority and it would be taken care of later. That is a flat out lie on your part. Talk about taking something completely out of context to make your biased article.... :mad:
Moving on... From the recent article: These actions will have immediate repercussions for summer travelers. They include:
• Slowing down check-in at kiosks.
• Slowing down check-in at curbside.
• Slowing down check-in at counters.
• Slowing down boarding at the gates.
• Slowing down TSA security inspections.
• Creating battles between passengers for overhead space.
• Creating ill will between passengers and flight attendants.
Ok, 1... 2... 3... ok we get it. It will slow down check in.
4. Keep in mind I commute at least 2 flights a week. I have had plenty of observation. I see maybe 20 people a flight who don't have roll-a-boards. Carry-on limits are the same. These 20 or so people will always exist because they are the light travelers who don't check and carry a backpack or something. Boarding is not going to change.
5. 90% of people have maxed out their carry-on limits before all of this. Again, not going to change much.
6 and 7... see 4 and 5.
The Transportation Department needs to take a stand now. It needs to put a series of emergency regulations into place to force airlines to reveal the full cost of a flight in their online listings and all advertisements.
Hmmm... gee, let us apply that logic to everything. I go on a cruise. Once I am the ship, I end up buying alcohol, some extra food, casinos, etc. I hate all that nickel and diming. I guess the cruise company should have advertised that in their ad. Right? Or maybe they should raise their fares and make that stuff free? But wait... why should I have to pay for that stuff if I am not going to use it? Get my point?
Now, with luggage charged separately, we will probably need a separate contract to deal with luggage after the first series of lawsuits over lost luggage. FAA rules apply to the contract of carriage. The Interstate Commerce Commission deals with air freight, I believe. This is far more than only a new fee. The legal ramifications will be developing as we move forward, or backwards depending on your point of view.
I could not have said it better than the comment at the bottom of that article:
you might learn that the Interstate Commerce Commission was dissolved in 1995, and never had jurisdiction over air freight. Further, the fact that an airline charges for something doesn’t take it out of the contract of carriage - ever hear of fees for overweight bags, which have always been around, or for unusual items, like surfboards?
Moving on...
Meanwhile, United Airlines, with a straight face, announced that it is[URL="http://consumerist.com/tag/united-airlines/?i=5015849&t=united-airlines-to-charge-15-for--first-checked-bag"] simply giving customers what they desire most (http://www.tripso.com/today/american-scrambles-to-collect-baggage-fees-plans-customer-service-later/). I realize that many of us are appalled at this $15 first-checked-luggage charge. However, United must have strong (and secret) customer service surveys that tell them this is what their customers are demanding.
Oh, once again, it seems we are taking quotes and making things up. Let's go back to the original article...
"With record-breaking fuel prices, we must pursue new revenue opportunities, while continuing to offer competitive fares, by tailoring our products and services around what our customers value most and are willing to pay for," John Tague, UAL's chief operating officer, said in a statement.
If you actually thoughtfully read it, you would see what he was saying. They are pursuing new revenue opportunities. They are starting with what people are most willing to pay for, bags. Passengers' values are a factor on what to charge on.
That is no where near your interpretation that he said that their customers are demanding baggage fees. That's just you trying to flame bait the public.
I could go on.
I know you are angry, or just like throwing fuel on the fire. That is no reason to write such biased material that contains false info on such a reputable site.
Your article is inaccurate and exaggerates the facts. This is not the first time you have done this either.
Let's start from the most recent article posted today. I quote,American even admitted as much in a recent announcement, saying customer service was its lowest priority that would be taken care of later. (http://www.tripso.com/today/american-scrambles-to-collect-baggage-fees-plans-customer-service-later/)
Following the link brings us to a previous article, by you. I quote from the bottom of that article, the portion you were referring to, Finally, Dupont, quoted in an MSNBC.com article (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24989894/) puts everything into perspective and clearly illuminates how American Airlines feels about the importance of customer service and their passengers’ needs,
“If this is the wave of the future, you’re going to have to ensure that the compartments meet the needs of our customers,” He said. “That will probably be on our to-do list.”
Ok. So tracing back further to the original article, we see how out-of-context you took that quote.
From the NBC article,
DuPont said American might ask airplane manufacturers to put bigger bins in future planes.
"If this is the wave of the future, you're going to have to ensure that the compartments meet the needs of our customers," He said. "That will probably be on our to-do list."
Hmmmm... don't see a thing about customer service in there. It appears he is talking about bigger overhead bins 'being on the to-do list.' So please, tell me, where did American even admit as much in a recent announcement, saying customer service was its lowest priority that would be taken care of later.[/URL]
Seems to me they said NOT A THING about customer service being its lowest priority and it would be taken care of later. That is a flat out lie on your part. Talk about taking something completely out of context to make your biased article.... :mad:
Moving on... From the recent article: These actions will have immediate repercussions for summer travelers. They include:
• Slowing down check-in at kiosks.
• Slowing down check-in at curbside.
• Slowing down check-in at counters.
• Slowing down boarding at the gates.
• Slowing down TSA security inspections.
• Creating battles between passengers for overhead space.
• Creating ill will between passengers and flight attendants.
Ok, 1... 2... 3... ok we get it. It will slow down check in.
4. Keep in mind I commute at least 2 flights a week. I have had plenty of observation. I see maybe 20 people a flight who don't have roll-a-boards. Carry-on limits are the same. These 20 or so people will always exist because they are the light travelers who don't check and carry a backpack or something. Boarding is not going to change.
5. 90% of people have maxed out their carry-on limits before all of this. Again, not going to change much.
6 and 7... see 4 and 5.
The Transportation Department needs to take a stand now. It needs to put a series of emergency regulations into place to force airlines to reveal the full cost of a flight in their online listings and all advertisements.
Hmmm... gee, let us apply that logic to everything. I go on a cruise. Once I am the ship, I end up buying alcohol, some extra food, casinos, etc. I hate all that nickel and diming. I guess the cruise company should have advertised that in their ad. Right? Or maybe they should raise their fares and make that stuff free? But wait... why should I have to pay for that stuff if I am not going to use it? Get my point?
Now, with luggage charged separately, we will probably need a separate contract to deal with luggage after the first series of lawsuits over lost luggage. FAA rules apply to the contract of carriage. The Interstate Commerce Commission deals with air freight, I believe. This is far more than only a new fee. The legal ramifications will be developing as we move forward, or backwards depending on your point of view.
I could not have said it better than the comment at the bottom of that article:
you might learn that the Interstate Commerce Commission was dissolved in 1995, and never had jurisdiction over air freight. Further, the fact that an airline charges for something doesn’t take it out of the contract of carriage - ever hear of fees for overweight bags, which have always been around, or for unusual items, like surfboards?
Moving on...
Meanwhile, United Airlines, with a straight face, announced that it is[URL="http://consumerist.com/tag/united-airlines/?i=5015849&t=united-airlines-to-charge-15-for--first-checked-bag"] simply giving customers what they desire most (http://www.tripso.com/today/american-scrambles-to-collect-baggage-fees-plans-customer-service-later/). I realize that many of us are appalled at this $15 first-checked-luggage charge. However, United must have strong (and secret) customer service surveys that tell them this is what their customers are demanding.
Oh, once again, it seems we are taking quotes and making things up. Let's go back to the original article...
"With record-breaking fuel prices, we must pursue new revenue opportunities, while continuing to offer competitive fares, by tailoring our products and services around what our customers value most and are willing to pay for," John Tague, UAL's chief operating officer, said in a statement.
If you actually thoughtfully read it, you would see what he was saying. They are pursuing new revenue opportunities. They are starting with what people are most willing to pay for, bags. Passengers' values are a factor on what to charge on.
That is no where near your interpretation that he said that their customers are demanding baggage fees. That's just you trying to flame bait the public.
I could go on.
I know you are angry, or just like throwing fuel on the fire. That is no reason to write such biased material that contains false info on such a reputable site.