Staying Grounded

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When the treatment offered to passengers by the airlines probably violates the Geneva Conventions, the question is obvious: Why fly when you don't have to?

When the airlines raise prices and fees for their torture and and treat their customers with contempt, the question is: Why fly when you don't have to?

It is true that fuel prices have hit hard, but the real problem is a deregulated system where the greedy profiteers who run the corporations have cut staff to the point that they can't keep their miserably uncomfortable planes in the air.

Commonly, the poor sap who has to fly is forced to take up residence at the airport. So the question recurs: is Why fly when you don't have to?

Sadly, we sometimes do have to. We were suckered into a business model that often requires our presence elsewhere. The advantage of flying, of course, was the speed we could go back and forth.

No longer can we rely on that quick transport. Instead it is increasingly likely we don't make our appointments, the plans sabotaged by schedules that are fiction.

We still keep trying. There are times when our commerce requires attempting to get somewhere this way. Computer or telephone meetings are simply not adequate.

But for the rest of us, do we really need recreational air travel? How recreational is it anyway, to be stuffed in some terminal, unable to leave. If Mr. Sartre hadn't already used it, a good title for a book about the experience would be No Exit.

Should we voluntarily descend it this Hell when we don't have to?

Shouldn't we think about boycotting the airlines for all but essential travel and make them get their acts together, at least enough to provide consumer service that at least meets the standards of a John Yoo memo?

Surely there is enough to do near our homes. Whatever we give up in the pleasures of some exotic faraway place, we can more than make up by simply avoiding being dehumanized.

On maybe we need to think about RE-regulating air travel. The strongest argument for the present system is that it was supposed to offer more choices. Unfortunately, all of those choices now are bad.

Comments

[OttoMann]

If I'm going, say, from Philly to Boston, it used to be a no-brainer that it would be quicker (and more convenient) to fly. Now, not necessarily. if I have to drive down to the airport, park my car, get the shuttle to the counter two hours prior to departure; then land in Boston, wait to deplane, wait for luggage, and get the rental car -- by that point it wouldn't be much sooner than just driving straight up from my house. (Especially the way flights are so often delayed.) Plus, no restrictions on how much luggage I can take (nor the chance of my luggage being lost). And I can be in my own space, my own music, my own food....

Flying is a last resort for me.

[tommy_slothrop]

In a world where wars are fought over oil (with more to come), it is irresponsible to fly unnecessarily. Of course, we can argue over what is necessary. Removing the tax deduction for business travel might go a long way towards separating the necessary from the unnecessary.

[susiesorority]

Well, until we all figure out how to beam ourselves around it would seem we're somewhat stuck with air travel--family emergency or whatever you decide is worth the torture of keeping your fingers crossed. The hospitality industry employs a lot of people, too. Do we need more job cuts?

I agree though, it's become such a miserable experience, between the screening, the delays, and the too small, oversold planes. I flew to Europe a few weeks ago, the typical night flight, and it was torture--didn't realize I'd be stuck on some 3 seat-aisle-3 seat piece of crap that's better suited for a 2-3 hour domestic flight. The flight attendant announced that there was no more room in the overheads, so just shove your belongings under the seat as best you can. And of course I got a rip-roaring cold, and the kicker is I'd have Paid More to fly on a real plane! They've got the public by the balls and don't have to care.

[mandycat]

I can't begin to imagine flying in 2008 unless you have absolutely no alternative. We're flying from Denver CO to Syracuse NY this summer for a wedding and I've been dreading it for months.

The last time we made this trip, it took 22 hours after spending the night with no luggage in a dumpy hotel in Philadelphia as the guests of U.S. Air.

After this trip, I sincerely hope it will be a long time before we're dragooned onto an airplane again.

[Konnie]

i work for an international manufacturing company. Our marketing and engineering people fly back and forth at the last minute all the time. the waste of money and time is staggering. A conference call can usually take care of any problem and video conferencing is the answer to the face to face, hearing the tone of voice issues. what's missing you ask? ah, the expensive dinner following the meeting.
The back slaps and high fives at the golf course...........times have changed for the bottom lines all
across the world, except for the sales guys............

[dadw5boys]

This only reinforces our great need for HIGH SPEED RAIL SERVICE in the USA.

[cylindar]

I like the John Yoo comment. Also I would suggest travelers look into taking the train. With things going the way they are at the airports a train would be a lot faster.

[JBS]

If there were trains available to take. Have you looked at Amtrak's schedules lately? Service is almost non-existent anywhere outside of the Northeast Corridor.

[jhNY]

Given how little time anybody seems to have around to spare, flying is the only game in town for many travelers, and when you're the only game in town, you're a monopoly. And why should a monopoly concern itself with customer service or customer satisfaction?

[RhondaSTL]

No, recreational travel is not necessary. But if you have an interest in finding out first hand what's going on in the rest of the world, it's a little difficult to do so by car, or train, or bus, or even boat unless you have limitless time. I don't think we should encourage Americans to just stay home and limit our recreational travel (and therefore awareness) to our little part of the world.

We need to somehow find answers to correcting the hell air travel has become, not just roll over and give in.

[azphil]

HuffPost's Pick

This must be the only industry that I know of that as deliberately set out to worsen the service it offers its customers. Overbooked flights, reduced levels of service, unexplained cancellations, increased safety worries, lost baggage, holding passengers hostage in a snow storm and the list goes on. Delays in departure times can be blamed on an overloaded and outdated system. Poor customer service is purely down to the airlines management and the contempt they hold their customers. I used to think that car dealerships had taken the prize for shoddy treatment of customers, but they don't hold a candle to the airlines.

Fly the unfriendly skies anyone?

[WIpatriot]

They just used government as a role model.

[larry278]

Take the bus. There aren't as many bus stations as there were so you don't have to contend with lousy coffee, pan handlers, Jesus Freaks, etc. so often.

[shengirl]

I think the whole airlines farce is indicative of the weird mindset of the American public. Last night The Colbert Report had a guest, a guy who wants pennies eliminated because studies show a cashier handling pennies takes, on average, 2.5 seconds longer to complete the transaction than one not dealing with pennies. And he kept bringing up how he had better things to do with his time than waste those 2.5 seconds in line at the store. Yeah, like wasting 6, 10, 15 hours in an airport for a plane that will never take off? Penny wise and airplane foolish, that's us. We'd never allow such shoddy service from any other business, but with airlines, we fume and steam and do nothing.

[JScott]

Often it takes just as long to get to the airport from home (plus wait time in the airport)
and from the destination airport (plus the wait time to collect your luggagle to your ultimate destination as you would by going by some other method of transport.

And yup I've think they've adopted the 'how can we nickel and dime our customers and make as much money as possible and still not bad enough that they don't come back again, (aka that monopoly that was in another comment) type of business strategy.

[indypete]

We do the same thing with the guvmint!

[RobtBrock]

A lot of business travel is a waste.

[BARRISTER]

De regulation, privation of Public assets, outsourcing and free market ideas have destroyed the once mighty United States. Watch China grow powerful economically, politically and militarilly. Go "free market, deregulated capitalism

[totalliberal]

As a part of my job I fly too different destinations all over the world. The 'only' place I have problems is inside the USA.

[nomoredead]

Right total, Quatar, JAL, Cathay and Thai Airlines. Great service.

[RS]

How about taking the advice of the late Groucho Marx: "Ah, there's nothing like taking a train when you travel...I took a train once, but they made me put it back". :-)

[gladiatorpodolsky]

In the old days used to be able to read the comments. Now they're in light-colored type.

Haven't flown in years. I drive all over the country and love it. I can carry five pairs of boots, don't get searched, sleep and eat when I want to. Flying just isn't fun any more. I like the freedom of driving.

[elpollo]

In my browser all the comments are in black except the "official" links. Better check the preferences on your browser - not a site problem.

[drkazmd65]

I'm with you gladiatorpodolsky - a couple of years ago I was flying on business at leat monthly. Over that couple of years' span (2003-2006) it got worse, and worse AND more expensive. Now I only fly 2-3 times a year and don't miss the hassle one bit.

Was going to fly out to my brother's wedding this next summer - but (like yourself) driving is sounding like a much better, and more predictible way to make sure I 'get to the church on time', and with a modicum of human dignity and without having to pony up extra cash for a '2nd' checked bag.

[WIpatriot]

Burned up a passport in the '90s, doc, but haven't flown since '99 and don't intend to, either.

[indypete]

For all the flying I've had to do, I've been lucky on the delay/inconvenience end, i.e. everything has generally gone smoothly and my luggage has only gone astray a couple of times. However, flying has become a mega-drag even when everything goes well. Gone are the days when I could drop into the airport at the last minute, gone are the days when I could exploit a tie, a smile and a joke for an upgrade to business class, gone are the days when the temperature on the plane was comfortable instead of too hot or cold. I suppose I should consider myself lucky that one of these de-regulated flying trucks hasn't dropped out of the sky right under me!

[PioneerKing]

Dude are you really a journalist? You really are out of touch with reality.
The reason people continue to fly commercial is that they can not afford the charter flights that you take.
Commercial flights are still faster and more convenient than driving, taking the train or bus.

[LeftRight]

I will grant that commercial flights ARE faster, over longer distances than driving, taking the train, or taking a bus. However, it hasn't been more convenient for more than a decade.

Deregulation of the industry, just like every other deregulation, was supposed to make everything better, and cheaper, and with more choices. Since then it's stayed the same price, with worse service, the same or fewer choices, and NO FREAKING FOOD!!!!

[elpollo]

I don't mind the no food deal because the food use to suck anyway. Now that I know there will be **no** food, it has inspired me to go to an upscale market a few hours before I leave for the airport and load up on quality cheeses, fruits, bread. On my last flight the stewardess came around handing out these tiny bags of fake peanuts and saw what I was eating. She smile and said I could probably sell it in a heartbeat for $75.

[WIpatriot]

Pay for your flight....

[sangsue]

Jet Blue for the most part still gives perks and is lower priced. And you get cable and XM radio while you fly and seats where you can stretch your legs out.

[granamica]

The local Shuttle Express here in Seattle is now offering coffee and pastries and a ride down to Portland that will bypass the hassle of SeaTac and the slow traffic on I-5 by using the HOV lane. Makes sense.