Single, simple airline fares: Good idea?
An Associated Press story in today’s Post-Dispatch talks about a plan by American Airlines to initiate the idea of paying a single, simple fare to fly on an airliner.
In the story, American Airlines to add more fees, we learn that beginning next year, the airline that began the practice of charging to check even a single suitcase, will eventually charge a lower basic fare, but then charge for the use of blankets, water and other soft drinks, or snacks.
The story points out that phone and cable companies have been using this pricing practice for years - such as charging for pay-for-view or premium channels.
But will this be good for the airlines? And will it actually lead to much lower fares for those of use that simply want to get from Point A to Point B with a minimum of amenities?
The airlines are taking the “bus” in “Airbus” a touch too seriously.
I’ll pay extra for these things if it truly results in lower prices, or at least not any higher pricing. I won’t use the dirty pillows or blankets and could care less about the peanuts/pretzels. The drink situation is a bit annoying as I can’t bring mine from home and am forced to pay exorbitant prices in the airport and now possibly on the planes now?!?!
To think I might have to pay a fee for booking online really annoys me however. It hasn’t been all that many years ago that there was an incentive to book online over an agent or the phone. Now I might “get” to pay for this “privilege” to spend MY time looking for and booking the best fare?!?!
Flying has gotten to be a real pain but unfortunately, when one needs to get to a location some distance from home and only has a few vacation days to do so, it’s still the best bet around. Meaning: they’ve got us by the short hairs…
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES is the BEST!!
Who cares, the Cubs are out of the playoffs, so I am floating on cloud 9 right now anyway…I don’t need American for that.
Gimmicks are not what is needed. I want airlines to charge a fair price to take me to my destination without tearing through my pockets to get me there.
I don’t mind a basic price and an additional fee for options. But that still won’t make my fly AA. They are the worst. I’m a Southwest man.
Here’s an idea:
Create a simple and easy to understand fare structure. Something like this:
Rule 1: everybody on the airplane pays the same fare.
Rule 2: the fare has some relationship to the number of air miles being traveled.
Rule 3: A reasonable amount of luggage is permitted for each passenger as part of their fare. (Say one suitcase of 45 lbs or less, and one carry on)
Rule 2 would work like this: The airline would publish a table that lists the passenger miles between every stop they make. They would also publish their per passenger/mile operating cost. So, if it costs 30 cents per passenger mile, and you want to fly 900 miles, your fare is $270. Easy, right? Logical, right?
If an airline figures they can save a few cents per mile by not providing blankets, pillows, or peanuts…no problem.
I have no problem with American “unbundling” their fees. I don’t want a blanket or pillow, nor do I care about having a snack or a drink. It is nice know that I don’t have to pay extra in the price of my ticket for things I don’t want or need. If I change my mind, then I can pay for it. It is nice to have that option.
Let me get this straight: This is America. Homeland Security and TSA won’t let you take a soda, or a bottle of water on board because it might be a security risk, and now the airlines want to charge you for a drink of water? (They already charge for alcohol– that’s fine.) Hey, on Amtrak (that rattling crawling excuse for passenger rail) there is a free water fountain in every car, and I’ve seen people board with picnic baskets. No problem.
This isn’t an issue for a hop to Chicago, but a 4 hour flight to coast or longer over the seas? No bread or water? They’ve made carry ons so small you are able to take only a few personal items, but now they want to charge for a pillow and blankie? (I’ve never had either on a plane; they are passed out in coach on Amtrak all the time, then collected in the morning. You can also usually get to your big luggage from coach.)
The last time I flew was in 2006. Someday I hope to go to Hawaii (which doesn’t have rail service and is a long flight from the Midwest.) I can see charging for true amenities, but if they go to charging for water, and not allowing people to bring their own, they’ve got a fight on their hands.
Actually, Teresa, that’s not quite accurate. You can’t take a bottle of water through the security gate. You CAN buy one on the ’safe’ side of the barricade and take it on board.
You can carry a sandwich through security.
However, one of the unintended consequences of the ‘per bag’ charges, more and more people are trying to push the limits on carry ons (obviously), so they’re now talking about really getting strict on carry on luggage for the (obvious) space reasons.