I have previously authored columns and blog entries criticizing the airline industry for its nosedive in customer services and accommodations. (here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here). The includes the planned switch to “bench seating” where passengers are expected to start bringing their own cushions. Despite the rising criticism of airlines making record profits while continuing to strip away every comfort, there is a new report that Southwest is now turning its back on passengers. The airline and Airbus are going to stuff another seat into coach class with new A380 superjumbo carriers.
The Airbus A380 currently seats 10 passengers in an economy row with a 3-4-3 configuration. The new layout would add an extra seat to the middle row, squeezing people into a 3-5-3 configuration. While the seats are expected to remain in the same width of 18 inches, those seats are already too small and the move will pump up the number of passengers from 525 passengers to 544 passengers. Once critic posted this picture:
This is truly becoming absurd when you look at such pictures. What is clear is that the airlines have succeeded in changing the expectations of passengers where any comfort is extra as well as adding charges for basic elements of travel. I am in San Francisco this week and paid extra to get a couple inches more of legroom in coach so that my knees were not pressed against the seat in front of me and I could actually open my computer on an over five hour flight. I also sat through a United Airlines commercial on the flight that advertised how its credit card will save you money . . . by waiving the outrageous baggage charges that the airline has tacked on to your ticket. So, just to keep up, United imposes a huge baggage fee due to fuel costs. Yet, after fuel costs fell, they kept the charge and now use the threat of the charge to get you to use their credit card.
A recent report shows airlines plunging in passenger satisfaction and accommodations. However, it does not matter. There is clear coordination among the airlines in a rush to the bottom to reduce the expectations of passengers. Yet, while these companies get a host of legislative benefits and support, it remains a one way street. Industry lobbyists remain extremely powerful in Congress and have been adept at cutting off any serious effort to address the abusive treatment of passengers. I am not a fan of adding regulations but it would be good to see more aggressive investigation into coordination behavior and inflated price allegations.
Clearly, there will remain a growth in the cattle-car model of low-cost flying. However, there has to be more coverage and support for those airlines acting responsibly as we did recently on the difference in space and charges.
i dont bilive this
Paul
You should definitely rent instead of owning. Especially until you know if you like RV travel at all. Owning is expensive just in the cost of some of the new models. $$$$$$ Plus there is insurance, storage, maintenance, winterizing, sanitizing the water system….. etc etc etc. If you are renting a motor home type that is nice. If you are renting/or owning a trailer or 5th wheel, then you also need to have a good towing vehicle….and some decent driving and backing up skills too.
The upside to owning is that you can stock your RV with all of your own items, towels, sheets, blankets, extra clothing, cookware, chairs, tables, awnings,staple items, satellite dish, books, stereo etc and when you are ready to go, all you have to do is put in the perishable items.
We went intermediate and have a nice 25 foot mid 1970’s camp trailer that is fully contained, Propane OR electric compatible for the refrigerator and water heater. Propane stove with an oven. Microwave. For just the two of us it is good for camping and some extended travel trips (which we don’t get to take as often as we would like because work intrudes). It wasn’t expensive to buy and we have fixed it up inside quite nicely. Getting rid of the horrible 1970’s orange tones ….yeeech.
The cool thing about RV life is that if/when you get to a location where there are other travelers, everyone is friendly and often it can even become like family when you recognize the same people from different previous stops. A mobile block party!!!!
Not sure what all the whining is aboot–like anyone cares about another’s perspective to begin with. Anyhow, it appears at a glance that the airlines are trying to do away with the overweight peoples like a buffet house. Perhaps they think the days of the fattest, most horse-thievingest peoples are over, and that a slimmer, more intelligent people will start to pass the flag on. In that case, let me be the first to commend the airlines in this wonderful line of wishful thought.
What bam bam said.
PatriciaA
Unfortunately, there are those on here that will seek to attack your credibility and experiences, for no other reason other than the fact that your impressions and opinions don’t jive with theirs. Instead of trying to appreciate another’s point of view, which, in your case, involves more than thirty years as a flight attendant, your veracity and professional identity are both questioned and ridiculed. Know that most of those, who contribute, do not share the same narcissistic and negative attributes, especially when contributors go out of their way to share life experiences on this blog. If you hang around here long enough, the same predictable characters are the source of this very predictable behavior. For what it’s worth, ignore it. They appear to feed on the responses to this imbecilic behavior.
Attacking my personal integrity with no proof would be consistent with your uninformed comments. I have dealt with all types of people in all types of situations. I feel I know you very well.
Public transportation? Yikes. My luck I’d be seated next to a homo, woman, or some clown face. That would be the worst–I don’t know how they sell tickets to begin with. Stay off my acreage.
DBQ, FYI I didn’t make any complaint, nor did I even see the deleted comment, LOL! I suggest you go directly to the deletion authority for this one. As for “PatriciaA” , well I could reappear on this thread as PatriciaB and pretend I’m a child psychologist and back up my own observations as well.
I was a flight attendant for 35 years. The person here saying you cannot assess quickly the family dynamics regarding a screaming child is quite incorrect. We flight attendants deal with these situations on a daily basis. We are professionals. We assist the mother trying her best, as well as the incompetent, uncaring parents who should not have children. It seems whomever is incapable of believing a quick assessment of a family dynamic is easily done, may be someone with issues in this regard.
Go on vacation in a R.V., then getting there is half the fun.
Bruce – I have considered renting an RV. How did you like it?
DBQ…oh, my…where did your post with the links to “Anne” go? If deleted by admin, that is just so wrong.
@ Ari
Well, some people can dish it out but they can’t take it. Certain people, who shall remain unnamed, go whining to the powers that be at the first hint that they are being “bullied”, “cyberstalked” etc etc (trigger words in quotes). Yet they seem to be the first ones to pile on and call others names. Ironic.
Wahhh waaaah waaaah. Someone is being mean to me!. Someone used my sacred NAME!. Ooooh please oooooh please Mr. Man help po widdle me and censor everyone who disagrees with me!!! OMG….where is my fainting couch? I am woman I am…whatever.
🙂
Read quick because the whining is about to happen.
DBQ…oh, my…where did your post with the links to “Anne” go? If deleted by admin, that is just so wrong. I thought it was endearing, hardly personal and said so. Anne is a dear friend and any citation of her and/or my comments there is fine with me. She really is a great lady with diligence in research I only wish I could acquire.
I wonder…are we nearing denouement here?
I have one question for those here who criticize those who object to out of control kids on aircraft: How often do you fly?
No judgments about parental talent, or any of that nonsense, just a simple question…do you fly a lot? How often is that? Mine used to be weekly or more. If not, what is your argument?
BTW…even with snot nosed brats running amok, if I saw a mother or father in distress because of it I tried to help by detaining the kidlet and entertaining him or her to slow down the hyper activity. Usually worked. When I saw a mother or father caring less I was not impressed and gave less of of a damn, but if necessary still tried to help the kid. Screw the idiot parents.
MY way is not a mandatory method…only a survival method.
Kid named Suzie fell asleep on the plane? Here are some lyrics to a song which jives with this situation and planes:
Wake up little Susie, wake up
Wake up little Susie, wake up
We both fell sound asleep
Wake up little Susie and weep
The movie’s over, it’s four O’clock
And we’re in trouble deep
Wake up little Susie, wake up little Susie
Well, what are we gonna tell your mama?
What are we gonna tell your pa?
What are we gonna tell our friends
When they say “Ooh la la”?
Wake up little Susie, wake up little Susie
Well I told your mama that you’d be in by ten
Well Susie baby looks like we goofed again
Wake up little Susie, wake up little Susie
We gotta go home
Wake up little Susie, wake up
Wake up little Susie, wake up
The movie wasn’t so hot
It didn’t have much of a plot
We fell asleep, our goose is cooked
Our reputation is shot
Wake up little Susie, wake up little Susie
Well, what are we gonna tell your mama?
What are we gonna tell your pa?
What are we gonna tell our friends
When they say “Ooh la la”?
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
Wake up little Susie
Songwriters
B BRYANT, F BRYANT
Read more: Everly Brothers – Wake Up Little Susie Lyrics | MetroLyrics
BitchinDog – Wake Up Little Susie is one of those things that is soooooo much better sung than read. 😉
DBQ…are you a reader of “Anne’s Opinions” (anneinpt) or was that just a coincidence? Anne is a dear friend of long standing. Looking for my tinfoil hat now…er, are you stalking me? 😀 😀
Yep, beat the tar out of yer kids with a rod.
@PaulCS
Oh, I am glad you enjoyed it! Here it is combined in one post, because it just kind of grew as I drank more margaritas. . .
Flushed, With Success???
An Irish Poem In Four Parts by Squeeky Fromm
Grandma could not spank Little Sue,
Who threw tantrums to go to the loo!
But she locked Grandma out,
And fell in, no doubt. . .
Eight miles high, and sucked out with the poo!
Little Susie, she waved as she flew,
Past her grandmother there, on row two!
Who had luckily gotten
To sit at that spot in
A window seat, with a good view!
Oh, poor Little Sue didn’t stop,
Until she hit the plane’s turbo prop!
Which destroyed the engine. . .
The crew started cringin’
And the plane hit a high mountain top!
Hopefully, you may have reflected. . .
God intended that kids be corrected.
And, if you spare the rod,
You might get to meet God,
A lot sooner than you had expected!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
@PaulCS
Wherein, the tale continueth, and the moral is revealed!:
Flushed, With Success – Part Trois et Quatre???
An Irish Poem by Squeeky Fromm
Oh, poor Little Sue didn’t stop,
Until she hit the plane’s turbo prop!
Which destroyed the engine. . .
The crew started cringin’
And the plane hit a high mountain top!
Now hopefully, you may have reflected
God intended that kids be corrected.
And, if you spare the rod,
You might get to meet God,
A lot sooner than you had expected!
🙂
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Squeeky – you get a smiley. 🙂