 A colleague's husband claims the best foie gras he's ever had (and he's had his fair share) is the torchon that's served as an amuse bouche on Air France. I'm happy for him. Mazeltov. I was just asked if I'd like to buy some pretzels on my 4+ hour flight from Denver to New York. I seriously considered it. It's not that I ever distinctly crave pretzels - in fact I eat them almost exclusively on airplanes. It's just that despite my plummeting blood sugar, I'd actively avoided the grab-n-go baby carrot dip packs and Saran-swaddled cold cut bombs available for lots and lots of money at the grim little comissary near my departure gate. Or I could have brought food - tasty, awesome food - from home, or eaten elsewhere before, but I didn't. On purpose. Stupidly perverse and foot-shooting, I know, but I somehow can’t shake the notion that there should be meals on planes, because, darn it, there used to be. They were, almost inevitably, comically - hackneyed 1980s comically - awful. But with that came a certain esprit de corps with fellow travelers, collectively grimacing at slices of spongy chickenbeef that'd been doomed to a watery, grey gravy tomb. There may have been corn or possibly leathery green beans. There were always potatoes in some semi-identifiable incarnation. But they came on a tray! With actual metal utensils! Brought to you by a friendly, smiling lady whose feet were probably killing her, and who was having to endure sloppy, Dewars-soaked come-ons from the suit in 6A. Okay, I'm glad she's now spared that indignity, but I have a twinge of nostalgia for those glimmers of mid-air civility. If nothing else, a meal - even just a packet of peanuts - offered normalcy and distraction in an otherwise potentially dire situation. "We're hurtling through the air in a massive, metallic cannister that by no means ought to loft one centimeter off the ground and...ooh! Chicken Kiev...sort of. Let's focus on that." And of course any reasonable adult human should be perfectly able to slog through four food-free hours. But especially as of late, airport and airline conditions seem carefully calibrated to reduce even the most sanguine, steadfast among us into a whimpering, self-sorry, pretzel-hungry mess of a semi-human, grateful for any small, nasty morsel of kindness tossed our way. And a four hour flight is hardly just four hours. There's the shlep there, the slog through Security (don't forget to toss that water bottle!), the haul to the gate, the inevitable runway delay, the wait to reach cruising altitude, the... Hey look! The water cart is coming my way! Gimmie. |
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I'm glad to see the flip flop thing adressed. these things are ugly
Fatties, stinkers, screamers, seat kickers and toe nail lumberjacks must travel in baggage.
No exceptions.
@Lynne: Wow, now that I'm sure no one has no idea about: airlines having to compete for routes? I just thought they flew them, and did so to avoid hitting others! ^_^;
Come on Vicki, don't lump us all into one group. There are a variety of people in any profession, just as there are a variety of passengers. I don't expect people to dress up, but it would be real nice if they would at least shower, wear clean clothes and not clip their toenails while on the plane. (Happens all the time).
Jule, you've seen people actually clip their toenails on an airplane??? Good Lord. Proves my observation that manners and civility have all but disappeared in American society over the last several decades. My generation was taught manners (table manners, manners on behaving in public, with elders, etc.). Most parents don't seem to teach their children manners any more. It's sad. Road rage is just one example of how civility is disappearing, airline passengers wearing flip flops, wrinkled shorts or sweat pants and not even bothering to comb their hair before getting on a plane where they're crammed next to a stranger (or God forbid clipping their toenails) is another. If someone next to me did that I would have to say something.
Every flight I have been on including recent American Airlines flights give complimentary beverages (not alcohol). What happened to stewards in nice clothes, jackets for men and suits or dresses with high heels for woman? This made it feel classy. Now, the attendants look like they were brought in from McDonalds.
VT
Most of my flying these days is from Toronto to Washington DC or to Boston MA – both flights a little more than an hour
and usually on Air Canada. A/C rates pretty high with me because I am handicapped and require some help within the terminals. They offer beverage service with a pack of tostito crumbs, so my ritual on the plane is to order a Bloody Mary and I bring my own snacks – Pringle Sticks – which I usually share with my seatmate. They now require that you pay by credit card for a $6 drink and I don't like to use my card for such small amounts. I always had the $6 cash ready, but now they don't take it. Card only. And the return flight for Washington is always late because the flight goes from NYC to Toronto and the turn around leg is from Toronto to Washington, so drinks are usually free in apology for late arrival.
there will always be griping passengeers, but what can you do? You can't get off in midair I think people who want to provide their o wn food are certainly entitled to do so, but on a recent flight, someone near me must have had a garlic and onion sandwich – how awful it smelled as it wafted thru the plane! If you have a short fuse, tell yourself it's a short flight and read a magazine! You can deplane soon! anabel
I used to commute between Chicago and NY, flying into LaGuardia and spending a night in NYC to be there for early morning meetings that lasted most of the day. Suddenly I remembered the old train service between Chiacgo and Manhattan (Penn Station), leave at night and arrive at 6:00 AM, even a sleeping car or berth as I remembered from my childhood. The dining car was open for dinner, and seems to me open for early breakfast, but I could be wrong. Called the "Overnight Limited" or seomething like that.
I called to ask about it and finally gor someone who remembered it very well, said if the train was late, they gave every passenger $1 for every minute of delay. It was never late, he said. He said Amtrak was the only train between the two cities then, and "on time" wasn't in their vocabulary though "accidents" were, thanks to little or no track maintenance.
So I continued airline commuting which deposited me an hour away from my destination in town. Add the time from LaGuardia to Manhattan and then back to LaGuardia on the return to already killer long days and several hours of hassle were eaten up.
When good rail service for both shipping and passenger travel ended, that was the end of decent road travel without enduring miles and miles of trucks and the end of alternative commuter service.
Amtrak still scares me. Too many stories about major accidents.
Almost forgot. There was only one airline that flew into Phoenix and the plane was only half full.
Flip flops are for the beach and pool. They are not meant for regular wear. Wear attractive sandals or comfy shoes. I've seen my share of broken ankles with people triping on these things
Personally, I don't care about their snacks; I bring my own snacks and drink.
i suspect that in real dollars, flying was more expensive in the golden days. Now it is just about getting from point A to point B. The sad news is that this is even a story. The real story is that there seems to be too much idle media.
I don't fly often, but when I do, a cup of coffee and a glass of water is really all I need for a four-hour flight. Maybe if a flight is delayed on the runway, a complimentary granola bar would be nice but anything more just doesn't seem necessary. International flights are a different story and should definitely have food that's edible.
And to those of you complaining about "sloppy" dress on flights–get over it. I wear jeans and flip-flops because I don't want to be fussing with wrinkles when I get off the plane or holding up a security line while I relace my shoes. I'm clean, isn't that what matters?
I rather take offense to being lumped in with "fell out of bed and onto the airplane" seated in coach set. Yes, I fly coach but only because its all employer will pay for. I always dress nicely and no matter how bad of a day I'm having I'm always polite and respectful to the flight crews. I can only wish that the crews would reciprocate. Instead I'm only coach-class riff-raff on the U.S. carriers. However, when I fly Singapore Airlines, I get treated decently and get superior service (real meals, frequent drink and snack service and a smile from the flight attendants). I hope there'll never be an "airline bailout". Let them all fail and let the vastly superior foreign carriers take over their routes.
From an Economic standpoint – a long time ago, only the wealthy could afford air travel and comparing prices was a lot of work. Now air travel is used more by the general public and websites compare prices of flights. This forces airlines to price competitively so price is more of a determinant than ever before – hence the aggressive cost cutting. If price is the most important factor to you, then your purchasing behavior is exactly the reason that food is being cut.
Simple solution. Go to Walmart (or your favorite alternate retailer), and buy some trail mix. Or some cookie packs. Or peanuts. Or crackers with peanut butter. Or those cute little cracker packets with the cheese and the little spreading stick!
If you don't want to buy the small packages, buy a bigger one, and (get this, it's a fairly complicated idea), make smaller packages yourself, using sandwich zip-lock bags!!
Or shell out $10 for a sandwich and a soda at the airport. Your choice!
And airport security will allow you to get through security with these brought-from-home sandwiches or snacks in zip-lock bags??? I'll bet they would be confiscated along with your water bottle and over-3 ounce tiny lotion bottle because geez, we all look like terrorists and are surely trying to blow up the plane.
No, you can take them through security not problem. I brought a cold cut on my last flight.
When flying on Air France we've always had meals. And those trips were from the US to UK, France and Africa. So they were not short trips. I believe they should have the meals on the planes for the long trips, over 1/2 hour and provide the snacks for less than that. You have paid your fee to get on the flight, paid for your luggage and you are not supposed to bring any snacks (to my knowledge) liquid or otherwise on the plane with you, because of security reasons these days being what they are, so yeah they airline should provide it.
I've been in the customer service field for many years and I'll say that without the consumer there would be no business, so those working on the flights and complaining about "some" of the consumers also need to suck it up because its also a part of the game. Not everyone is the same. Not all customers are rude and obnoxious asking you to "rub their feet" and same goes for flight personnel. RixLax – relax and please don't put all of us in the same category.
Why all the fuss about the airlines? Just drive to your destination.
The simple fact of the matter is that the whiney, moronic, American public wants to fly as cheaply as possible, without sacrificing anything. If you want your airline tickets to be as cheap as bus fare, you're going to get bus-fare service. It isn't hard to figure out people. If you want better service- you have to pay for it. You're not going to get a first-class seat with a meal, a drink and a movie for $100, just like I don't expect to get a Villa Suite at Ceasar's Palace for the same rate as a room at the Red Roof Inn.
The airlines are doing everything they can to keep prices down for all of you that complain about actually having to pay a reasonable price for your ticket. Fuel is getting more expensive, so costs are going up, and all of the airline employees are paying for it. So the next time you board a small regional airline, take a good look at the pilot sitting in the right seat, because chances are that he or she is making less per year than a full-time fast-food employee. Not because they aren't highly trained or qualified, but because you don't want to pay a fair price for your ticket.
The only reason that pilot isn't getting paid commensurate with his training and qualitifications and responsibikity is beacuse his union was either dissolved or rendered powerless because that is the way his company wants it.
According to the Air Line Pilots Association, their average major* airline member Captain is 50 years old, with 18 years seniority and makes $182,000 a year. Cheap at twice the price for a safe price. BUT do not blame passengers for expecting some service from a SERVICE industry. We do not decide directly your co-pilots salaries so to lead people to believe that ALL pilots make that little is deceitful. Many major airline captains in fact make well in excess of $200k and a first officer for a MAJOR, note MAJOR airline is in excess of $118k so they are certainly not poorly compensated. What the hell happened to the customer is always right?
First of all, it's not a service industry anymore, it's a travel industry. They exist to get you from point A to point B. The service you get between those points directly reflects the fare you pay.
And yes, captains with high seniority in majors get paid well...even FO's with majors are paid well. The majority of pilots, however, fly for regional airlines which pay significantly less. SIGNIFICANTLY. They do not work there because they love the pay, they work there because it is extremely difficult to get a job with the legacy airlines. So while they sit there and "wait their turn," they live with terrible scheduling and terrible pay because they love flying and they are willing to "pay their dues" until they get picked up by a legacy. Half of them go years on the reserve list and never hold a line, which means not only are they not getting paid, they aren't acquiring the hours necessary to get a job with the larger airlines. Aviation is one of the most expensive careers to be trained in, and I'm sure most pilots would be happy to make enough to even begin to pay off their loans. The flight attendants make less than the average part-time employee. I understand that people want a better flying experience, but for the sake of human decency, remember that the flight crew has nothing to do with these policies you hate. If anything, they are feeling the effects MUCH more than you, the flying customer, EVER will.
Welcome to the free market, American style, cut-throat disaster capitalism.
This is what companies want and this is what they are going to get in a political system where elected officials are answerable to their corporate sponsors not their electors:
No unionized workforce. Union workers can't be fired as easily and require higher salaries and perks like health insurance, pensions, time off.
No regulation. Health and safety reguatlions cost money. If it is cheaper to dump your toxis waste in the local ground water and 20 years later you have thousands of cases of cancer in the neighbourhood – well, they can just go and buy from your competetors instead. If it works out cheaper to let a few thousand people die in your faulty cars or improperly maintained planes than it is to fix them then so be it. Dissolve the EPA and FDA and all clean water and air reguations. If people die from eating posioned food well too bad, their survivors can exercise their free market rights and buy something else.
"Tort Reform" See above. So what if you poisoned thousands of people or they die from your faulty products? You are immune from those money grabbing trial lawyers.
Monopoly. Collude with all the other corporations in industry so that you all have the same poor service so that the public doesn't have a choice. Get together and squach any upstarts in your industry that might dare to provide better service.
Immigration/Illegal Immigrants. More workers equals more competition for each job equals lower wages. High unemployment is good. If ever worker knows he is lucky just to have a job then he isn't going to be demanding things like a living wage or health care or a pension.
No such thing as overtime. Do away with the 40 hour work week. The employees will work when you tell them to work and if they don't like it they can leave because there will be plenty more to take their place.
Etc. Etc. Etc. Basically look at the work situation in Dickensian England. That is what corporations want – a nation of slaves.
Look at the Conservative or Libertarian agenda. This is exactly what they want and more. No more public schools. Privatize everything – police force, fire department, water, sewage, armed forces.
This is what Americans say they want when they vote Republican because this is what that party stands for. Ask them. They'll come right out and say it. What do you think "small government" means???
Did we read the same article?
No, my above screed is based on a lifetime of observation.
Amen. Couldn't have said it better myself.
gone are the days of quality service and value. i would not eat the airline food of today anyway. i'm not sure about the fare from other countries but the US companies seem to be in a lot of hot water over the edible quality and safety of their product. poor regulation of the industry results in unsafe food which results in many food borne illnesses. no thanks! i'll grab my own on the way. and, as for blankets or pillows? yeah right! a little saliva or bacterial germs. that's on the light side. G*d only knows who used those articles before.
I'm a mgmt consultant who travels 40 out of 50 weeks a year and spent 10 years working for Delta in the 70's and 80's. Things have changed quite a bit. the key to the difference between US carriers and the rest of the world is that our carriers are not nationalized. All major carriers in Europe are owned primarily by the government, thus their fares are controlled (as ours used to be before dereg). Here the carriers are either profitable or not based on their costs vs revenues. Now you must remember that nearly every country in the world is ina huge deficit situation and are trying to decide what to cut to stay whole. The UK, France, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Italy, etc are all in deep trouble. It may be that subsidization of the airlines may be coming to an end.
As for travelling in the U.S. today, it is a nightmare. As a road warrior, I never leave home, even for a short flight, without a bagel and some granola bars and maybe an apple to keep my alive. The unexpected happens regularly so be prepared! And when they make you throw away your water bottle, just dump out the water and save the bottle so you can refill it at a fountain after security.
And, Walter, use care when you use analogies. Dachau, Bergen Belsen, Aushwitz, Maidenek, Ravensbruck, and many others were all extermination camps to which people were transported standing in jammed pack cattle cars for days at a time. Really not a good analogy.
You just made my point. Buy why is it gone and why should we ACCEPT that it is gone. DO something about it.
Several friends and family members of the previous generation I know were part of that generation of flight attendent food servers. We have a funny story where one of them actually hit a bumby air bubble and dumped a whole plat of egs and coffee on a poor Chinese man during the flight,k soaking his suit from head to toe. The fact is, like any industry, whether is cars, trains, plains....there is a hey-day and then a slow demise into oblivion. The best days olf the airline and service are gone and gone forever. They are a distant memory. Same for any great industry. Look at the IT Industry in the United States before offshoring. We made six figures regularly and wore micro-fiber shirst and played ping pong in the commisary for 4 hours everyday in 2000. Now, you are lucky to find a job that been replaced by a small army of third world schmucks in Pakistan. The best days are behind us, so drink your ginger ale while you can because it will likely be gone too.
That would be served on the plane later.
Why don't they make the option of available to buy food when purchasing the ticket? They should have a nice menu to choose from.
Look at the obesity epidemic. Its good they don't serve that way the people can save some calorie intake
woodarteuniverse dot com
Winthin the past three years I have flown American Airlines and Air France to Heathrow and Charles De Gaule Airports respectively. If I could have afforded to fly British Airways on both occasions, I would have preferred to do so. BA provides excellent food and service. However, I can not justify paying exhorbitant air fares to cross the Atlantic when I can get it cheaper on another airline.
So pleasantly surprised that Mexicana Airlines provides "free" food and alcohol, even on their short flights!
I think many of you are mistaking complaining about not being served food to the straw that broke the camels back.
Many of us remember the days when handshakes mattered, when a smile and a polite greeting were expected from waiters, hotel staff and stewards and towards each other. We remember a time when going to a fast food restaurant meant fast AND courteous service. We remember when people vying for our dollar wooed us with consideration.
What we see now with the airlines is just a microcosm of the change in society that we do not like. Airlines began by providing a very expensive very lavish service that few could afford but as it became cheaper it became open to more and more people. Gone are the days of dressing up for a flight, something I have mixed feelings about, and arriving are the days when its so common place that no one finds it interesting anymore. We aren't angry just about the food. We are angry because it seems no one cares anymore. Apathy has stopped a proud people from speaking out when they should.
If the food was just the one thing that has changed with flying then few of us would complain, however, it isn't just the food. It is all the changes that have seemingly struck all at once ruining fond memories of those who remembered better times. Times when we had more leg room and even curtains over the port holes, times when Airline stewards and stewardesses were the pinnacle of class, and politeness. Times when you got more than you paid for in the smiles from all airlines staff because they understood back then that their paychecks and their companies livelihood rested on us being satisfied.
An America, which was founded from dissatisfaction, should be concerned that the growing attitude of "There's nothing we can do about it so why bother?" will one day reduce us to a shadow of our past glory.
So you see, it isn't just about the food.
agree. i love flying and airplanes. i don't dress up in a suit and tie but i'm not there in a tank top and old shorts either crappy flip flops. people want to be comfortable and i understand that. but have some care about your appearance. i've gone on a plane with nice shorts, shirt, sneakers. were all confined in a small space and its a better experience when everyone takes some time in how they look. this also goes for flight attendants. i've been on a flight were one was wearing a washed out tee shirt with the airline logo on it. i'd rather sit next to a suit and tie person than a person showing their arm pit hairs for a few hours. never know if that person next to you will be the next big interest in your life.
This author has summed up my feelings perfectly (and hilariously)! Thank you...this cracked me up. ;)
Thank you! Author here. You totally made my night.
"And of course any reasonable adult human should be perfectly able to slog through four food-free hours." Any? What about adults with type 1 diabetes? I hope that the flight attendants would fork over some food, on credit or for free, if someone declared a legitimate medical emergency.
People whine and complain that the airline industry "ain't what it used to be." There are cries of "But they USED to serve me champagne and hand me boudoir slippers!" and "The stewardesses were so attractive and young!" We moan and complain that people show up to the airport wearing "anything they can throw on" and it's practically like a flying Greyhound service.
Guess what? Almost anyone can afford to fly now, and therefore almost anyone WILL fly. The men and women who serve as flight attendants are highly trained in emergency procedures, they are no longer just eye candy for the wealthy business men flying. They work longer trips, so yes – after the 8th hour of people trying to flirt their way to first class, crying babies, and inconsiderate louts that refuse to turn off their PDAs and even PRETEND to listen to the safety announcements, they may be a bit cranky and feel under appreciated.
Can people honestly not make it an hour without a snack? An airplane is not preschool, if your blood sugar cannot take an hour of not being fed, then bring something.
I'm not saying I don't love a great flight experience – I do. That's why I patronize the companies who treat their employees AND guests with decency (like Southwest and Continental) and don't bother with the companies I don't care for. Rather than the passive aggressive approach of flying airlines you hate and then complaining, give your money to a company you believe in and become a loyal customer so that they can continue serving people to the same standards. By now, we all know who gives out food, drink, safety, and courtesy – so why don't we give THEM our business? And while we're at it, let's give them the same courtesy we demand of their employees – turn off your iPod, cell, phone, laptop, whatever – and LISTEN to to the safety announcements. If you hate your flight experience, let the airline know, don't just complain to CNN and your friends; more importantly, if you loved your travel experience, let the airline know too. I promise – there are still amazing flight experiences to be had, and if you approach it proactively, you will have plenty of your own great flights.
I traveled on Asiana last year from LAX to Beijing. I paid 700USD round trip, two full meals, drinks, coffee or tea at all times on economy class. No wonder why this airlines was voted the best one in the world... again.
As my darling sister, who's a veteran FA, she has seen it/witnessed it/survived it, she will wisely tell you smug, overindulged, arrogant, me me me, jerks who think it's their right to belly-ache when you don't get your peanuts or plastic cup of waterever for free anymore (or it's been eliminated completely), "Flight attendants are here to save your fat a$$, not kiss it!"
I've always taken a non-american airline flight when possible. i'd love to support the USofA but just like our cars it really isn't worth it.
I think people comparing it to a bus are sorely mistaken. On a bus you have the OPTION to bring homemade food and beverages or, more importantly, get off the bus if you need to. You are stuck on a plane. There is literally no way off and if you didn't happen to bring a bill smaller than $20 you aren't getting any pretzels or anything else unless a seat mate has mercy on you.
I just think it is very different when you have the ability to leave a situation you dislike, you don't have that choice on an airplane. As someone who has literally been forced to throw away my home made snacks at security I have to say it's a prettybad situation.
I returned last summer from Europe flying Lufthansa first class.
Connecting in Frankfurt, if your arrival plane is on the tarmac, they send a private Mercedes and transport you to their First Class Terminal, where they pour $75-$100 dollar bottles of champagne while a chef cooks to order anything you want. The first class terminal is silent, and peaceful. They offer private rooms with spa's or beds if you have time to spare. When its time to go, they once again chauffeur you privately to the next aircraft. The chauffeur escorts you up an elevator to the departing plane, where the next long journey begins which is nothing short of a six course feast.
Yes, in some parts of the world, they still do service like the old days. They just don't do it with US based airlines though.
Google Lufthansa's FCT terminal for pictures. It is quite amazing.
When I was a kid in the early 80s, I used to fly on my own to visit my dad for the summer. I remember getting those little foil wrapped cheeses and stuff on the planes. You know, the kind you can now get from Hickory Farms and such. And peanuts, lots of peanuts. The first time I ever tried honey roasted peanuts was on a plane. And it was all provided for free. Never had an actual meal, but then my flights weren't very long. I haven't been on a plane now in over 20 years. Can't believe with the high cost of air fare, plus the fact that many now charge extra for a certain amount of luggage, they don't even give you something to drink of a pack of peanuts. Sad.
welcome to the police state: we're all criminals, we don't deserve sustenance, our lives are meaningless. it will never get better so be prepared to wait, starve and be humiliated. oh, happy 4th of july!
BTW, Taca flies to Central and South America. They include good food.
What a bunch of whiners! People used to use similar arguments for why smoking should be allowed in restaurants and grocery stores, i.e. I can't do without a cigarette for an hour. Well, if you can't do without a meal for 4-6 hours then something is seriously wrong (and not with the airlines). You want big planes with lots of room, free baggage storage and handling, free snacks and meals, and all for a ticket price that in actual $$ as well as $$ adjusted for inflation, are less than what tickets cost 40 years ago! But you also want a flight crew that is well trained, experienced and professional which means they certainly can't be paid minimum wage. Something has to give, whiners. It's either have the luxuries and PAY for them or give up the luxuries for the convenience of being able to get from Point A to Point B safely and a lot faster than any other mode of transportation can. Take your pick – spend $232 and take 34.5 hours to get from Chicago to Los Angeles on Greyhound or spend $244 and take 4.5 hours on Southwest. Either way you still don't get a meal.
I can understand being angry if you paid top dollar for your tickets, but I got a relatively good deal on Priceline, so I had no right to complain and paid $8 for a pasta salad on Delta. It was actually quite good and filling.
Do yourselves a favor and bring food with you if your not sure if food is included.
Mexicana still provides excellent food and drink at no cost. My last flight with them in May brought the BEST and MOST TENDER chicken dish I've ever had.
Katie..isn't it disgusting. I love to dress up and miss those days. The flip flop thing is terrible
I'm old enough (49) to remember flying on Braniff, Pan Am and TWA, when flight attendants were called stewardesses and had weight and height restrictions and all looked like models. When real, hot food was served on almost every flight and passengers dressed up to fly. Heck, when I was young I wanted to be a stewardess on international flights, but my eyesight was too bad so I wasn't eligible (something about having to be able to see from the front to the back of the jet without glasses or contacts in case of an emergency). I've seen flying go from a fun, exciting experience to what it is today - a horrible experience to be dreaded and avoided if possible. After several horrible flying experiences in the last few years, culminating in an American Airlines flight from Fayetteville, Arkansas to DFW being canceled and having to sit in that tiny airport for 7 hours until the next flight, I absolutely refused to fly for almost 3 years. Finally agreed to take a vacation recently with my husband to Oregon but insisted on booking connections in DFW that were longer than the airline's minimum (which is about 45 minutes), which my husband argued against. Came in handy on the return from Portland when our flight was an hour late taking off and we would have missed our connection at DFW had I not booked us a 2 hour layover there (and if we'd missed the connection like many on our plane did, we almost certainly would not have been able to get a seat on the remaining one or two flights out of DFW that evening as most flights are packed to the gills now since airlines have cut every non-profitable route). So, now when flying I have to (a) figure in extra time at connecting airports because flights are routinely late taking off, (b) stuff food in my purse after going through security because we're not even given a free bag of peanuts anymore (except on Southwest, which I will ALWAYS fly if I have a choice as they have flight attendants who actually like their jobs and they don't charge for checked bags), and (c) face the real possibility that one or more of my flights will be canceled or delayed to the point that I miss connecting flights or that I'll be trapped on the tarmac for hours with no water, food or working lavatory. Not to mention the dreaded airport security line (which is often ridiculously long, making me fear I'll miss my flight) for which I must remember to pack a pair of socks since I will have to remove my shoes and don't want to walk barefoot on that filthy floor. And finally, my husband will be pulled aside every time for a head to toe wand security search since he has an artificial knee and sets off the security alarm every time.
I've flown to Europe and Russia six times, and most of those flights were a pleasure in spite of the long haul. On British Air, it was amazing - the best hot tea I've ever had, served in porcelain cups, and scones with clotted cream and jam and several really delicious meals which we were able to select from a printed menu. And flight attendants who didn't seem to hate their jobs. If more people refused to fly instead of putting up with the horrible experience that flying has become, perhaps the airlines would re-instate some basic level of service and train their staff to at least be pleasant.
P.S. I work for an attorney who travels constantly and flies to Europe 4 to 6 times per year. He only flies first class, which now on international Air France and British Air flights costs $18,000. You read that right.
One problem is that everyone is in a rush. The airplines are at the mercy of the weather which accounts for the majority of delays. Theres nothing you can do about that. Have a drink and calm down.
I remember I took my first airline flight when I was 3 years old back 1967. We all dressed up up in our best clothes, and my father wore a suit and a tie. We flew on Bran-eff Airways, and we had a full meal all the time. My father was a pilot for Pan Am, and those sure were the days. Now people wear flips-flops, tee shirts, and jeans.
Cheap, sure who would not want that. I have to be honest. I have flown ten times in the past 2 years, and only one was really off schedule (more than 30 minutes in my book). That one was four hours late.
You people are idiots. Anyone notice all those "priceline", etc. commercials lately? Those discounts don't come out of some imaginary fatcat's neverending stack of excess profits, and anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar. You get what you pay for. Flying is DIRT cheap these days. Want that high-tone service? Pay for first class.
come on. you would be lucky if they were on time
sorry for the misspellings..no spell check
Do you want a cheap ticket or not?!?! People expect everything and want to pay nothing.
My Mom worked for the sirlines in the 1950s and she told me that the reason food was ever served to start with was becuase of the long flights. Tourist airlines, especially tose that fly overseas have to provide food as a necessity..there are even some oountries that require it. Now, so many flights are short with multiple stops so food can be easily purchase in the airports, and I feel of better quality and more choice. better yet..do what I do. bring the best from home and just buy your drik. Actually, you don't even have to do that since every airline I know had complimetarty SOFT beverages. All i ask from the airlins is that they get me from point A to B safly and on time, don't leave me on the terminal or worse the tarmac. Smile and be nice and accomodting to me, and I will return the favor two fold. yes, I do agree that Americans have beciome slobs in dress. I was always told growing up dress for sucess And FOR HOW YOU WANT TO BE TREATED. iF YOU LOOK THE PART, THEN YOU'LL GET THE PART. if you look good tou'll get good. Those were her lessons. It is so true. On a recent trip my husband and I put it to the test. On the first leg, we dressed very down, and somewhat slobbish. We put on wrinkled shorts, flip flops (how awful and a bad trend) and tee shirts. We didn't comb our hair. We got less than ideal service, and even stares. On the next leg, my husband changed into a nice button down (but still casual) shirt, khakis, blue blazer, and I into my summer dress and high heeled sandals. the difference in service was amazing. I was called maam, and my husband sir, the smiles were there and the service markely better. Give it a try!!
They can keep their food and smiles and whatever else. Just keep that plane from crashing, that's all I care about.
Funny isn't it? No more food so the flight attendants have little to do but chat with one another. Yet the prices of tickets has risen.
I've already eliminated US Air from my list of airlines I will or won't fly on, grouchy flight attendants and you pay for everything. I'm surprised they don't put a change machine or credit card reader on the toilet. On a recent flight from Rochester, NY to San Francisco,CA I was fondly remembering a hot meal I once had on a long flight to Germany on Lufthansa(it was really great) when they asked me about four hours in if I wanted to pay for a snack sandwich ($7). I think not having food is BS, I'd gladly pay the extra $20 for it in ticket price, also I don't care what kind of service you provide, profit margin is no excuse for having lousy service, BS I say to that, no matter how much (or little)they charge I will avoid airlines that continually suck at customer service. You have to love the comments about how airline passangers are just a bunch of selfish, greedy vermin who expect everything for nothing, really endears me to the airline industry and staff with a crudy attitude towards service, if you don't like the service industry work elsewhere. As a customer I will vote with my money or my company's money.
I have been flying since I was in diapers. My dad worked for American Airlines after WWII and ultimately with BOAC (now British Airways). Morning flight= Breakfast, Afternoon flight= Lunch, Evening flight= Supper. No additional charge for real meals with real plates, utensils, etc. Prop Planes then Jets. In my opinion, the food was fine and the "Flight Attendants" were excellent and usually young and attractive. Ever since "Deregulation", the whole airline industry has gone down the crapper. Even domestic first class is now anything but "first class". I really miss the old days of flying. Most people will never experience how wonderful the airlines were...
Deregulation was passed under Carter in 1978 (Not Reagan)
Flying has never been cheaper, it has not even kept pace with inflation
You pay for what you get, not what you used to pay for what you get.
The 76 souls in Buffalo on the Continental Express flight that crashed due to poor pilot training suffered as the passengers pay for it. You don't just get less food or not a free bag, at the commutter level (50% of all flights) eventually it affects the pay and thus the quality of the training offered as its all the passengers pay and thus all the airlines can afford. If you only fly "big jets" how many little jets fly into that same airport, use the same airspace?
With Southwest and JetBlue having newer planes, less cities and things like interlining bags or putting you on another airline if your flight is canceled thus having lower cost structures, airlines like United/Continental have to compete with them on more and more routes.
Passengers don't care who has a meal, they care who is cheapest and the food in the airport is generally better (or from home).
Europe has really cheap airlines (Easyjet/RyanAir) and higher end ones like British, Air France, Lufthansa, that for the most part don't fight over the same customer that flies Ryanair or EasyJet. Because of this they are able to charge more, and as a result offer more. The difference is there at Air France etc the passenger is paying for the "extras" like a meal, bag, flight to city center airport but it is built into the fare.
The airlines aren't a cartel, they don't work together (thats illigal).
I have no problem paying for a sandwich or a snack pack. But the smell of that horrible hot food they serve on longer flights makes me want to throw up. Who eats that stuff? On my last flight to Dublin I could barely stand the smell. Give me a cold sandwich and a pop- not some reheated beef dish. Yuck.
ahh sorry Jake. That smell was me. lol.
THIS ONLY HAPPENS HERE IN US. FLY ANY EUROPEAN AIRLINE OR EVEN A LATIN AMERICAN AIRLINE!! AND YOU WILL NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE. IN EUROPE YOU GET MEALS + SMILES IN A 45 MIN FLIGHT. WHY NOT HERE?? ARENT WE THE TOP OF THE LINE???!
Here everyone is complaining that you don't get anything for what you are paying for airlines...how about how much you pay in taxes to the government and get even less. Complain that a private industry is charging you for a seat, but don't complain that your taxes are going to illegal immigrants to subsidize their housing and food...typical Left...
this story had nothing to do about immigrants or taxes.
Don't be a moron this is an article about Airlines. You honestly think if it were about taxes or illegal immigration there wouldn't be complaints? Troll.
I remember fondly dressing to the nines in anticipation of flying! The experience! The food! Then I put on my boots and went to the Flight Kitchen and for $1.50, purchased a box lunch which consisted of two slices of white bread, one slice of turkey, one slice of cheese, a packet of mayo, a packet of mustard, an apple and a carton of milk. I boarded a C-141 and along with the other passengers (Nobody was fat! And buddy, let me tell you, they had GREAT stories to tell!), sat in one of the cargo nets lining the walls of the plane until I reached my glorious destination.
Get real, people.
Sounds like you were on the flight wtih me to Iraq!
Yeah yeah we get it no one has it harder than the military...and Yes I spent 3yrs in a hell hole called Iraq, 03-05 07-09 so I know a thing or two about it. You are missing the point... YOU DIDN'T PAY FOR YOUR PLANE TICKET! If you flew space "A" it cost you little to nothing. Spend hundreds of dollars THEN see how happy you are to sit in the net!
From about 1992 until 9/11 I flew frequently, rising to double-diamond-backflip-whoopee status with United. My experience with the Star Alliance partners, and many other airlines during that time, was completely different from watery chickenbeef – even in coach. Business class was uniformly good, better than what I could get in most upscale delis or many 3-star-and-above restaurants. (And for what it's worth, I never lost a bag, or had a guitar broken by United). Absent airline food, diminishing seat space and random annoying fees are the result of depression-era business plans, not any evil designs by airlines to keep passengers wretched. I don't see us returning to the "good old days", when flying was actually enjoyable, but I don't attribute to malice what is clearly an economic issue.
The U.S. carriers had all rendered their domestics flights interchangeable with a equally low value proposition to those provided by their competitors, thus we are now down to the big 3.
With Virgin America and Jet Blue joining the market in the past decade there is a return service and high quality in-flight meals.
I travel to Europe and Asia and its incredible the low cost and good service you obtain. If you want to upgrade just pay at the counter and its done. To this day I cannot understand why flying in the US is so expensive, quality of service is so low and the hardship to make changes is ridiculous. Someone needs to look at the Asian and European models and see how to implement here in the US. By the way Europe has Union workers also.
As noted by others, you want cheap, you get cheap. It's not about corporate greed – they aren't making much money, except of course for the CEO's and Senior VP's, but they don't live in reality anyway. I occasionally buy the on-board food – it's edible, but getting expensive. If I have time, I'd rather eat in the airports – the fast food places are not grotesquely overpriced yet.
I remember those days where food was given on planes and I'm 30yrs old. For me it wasn't that long ago. I also remember when airlines started to do away with food and the news stories about it. It was a cost thing etc etc etc. I understand protecting your bottom line. I really do and have worked in culinary where your bottom line is your life. Food product is expensive and I can see the logic of a flight lasting less than an hour to offer snacks only. The time it takes to pass it out, collect the trash, and everything else an attendant does can be rough if there are 150+ people on the plane. I've been on flights where they were already approaching to land and attendants hadn't finished passing out a soda. It can pose a safety risk for them to rush through a service like this.
On the other hand, if i can stop by a gas station and pick up an already made sandwich for 2 bucks in the cooler, airlines can pass out something a bit more substance like. Most have taken out the ovens in airplanes to lessen the weight of the aircraft. A logical step to get that extra fuel distance. But airports have kitchens. I've worked in one. We would make to-go bags for passengers. We were the ones packing bags of ice for beverages on the planes. I'm not saying they should be making meals for airlines but just a point here. That 2 dollar sand which from the gas station, well sara lee can package that same sandwich and sell them to the airlines. Major airports have separate companies that supply food to the planes. Storage space is around to store boxes of prepackaged sandwiches with both unused kitchen space and companies that make a living off this.
Back to the point, they took out the ovens on planes. I have packed electric food warmers that are like 7' tall with boxes of food that just need to be warmed up. They can take those boxes from a cooler (not freezer), toss them in a warmer for an hour or two, and do what delta tried in the 90's. At the gate of the plane, they had a roll out cooler/box/warmer with a bags in them. There was your sandwich if you wanted one. Each passenger grabbed one on the way into the plane. If you didn't you missed out. It saved the attendants having to pass them out and they don't need the space on the planes to store it. Extra's could be used for the next flight.
So if a gas station is selling those sandwiches for 2bucks, its obviously not that expensive to produce them for companies. An airline placing larger orders could probably get a better deal. Lets just assume a price for the airline. A flight with 140 people more than 1hr long. 2 dollars for the sandwich, 10cents for a mall baggie, 5-10cents for a utensil packet with mayo etc, and were at less than $2.50. Man hours to just toss this stuff in a bag, say a dollar per bag, $3.50 is where we are at. $1 dollar is generous with 2 people working on one flight, $70 per person for an hour of work on that flight. Profit time, charge 7bucks which is what some airlines are now charging for stuff, and that's a $3.50 profit. Or add an extra dollar for bulk storage and warming at the airport and its $8 dollars.
Oh my they are charging $7 dollars extra on a ticket, what am i going to do? For real, if the flight is more than an hour chances are your already spending 200+ for round trip. Adding $7 dollars so that you can get a sandwich is like adding pennies to the cost. Its such a large sum of money already and if your going to buy food at the airport or on the plane, your already spending more than what you paid on the ticket. A bottle of soda or water, $2.50 from an airport shop. McDonald's in airports are more expensive than they are out on the streets.
You miss the point in that I can choose to spend that extra money. What if I prefer to buy something on my own, should I have to pay for both?
HA HA HA You hit it on the nail. Like my neice said, "I don't care it we have to get nekked , if it keeps me save then I will do what i have to. What can I say she's a Texas girl.
The airline industry is struggling with the same problem that has killed the auto industry, Unions who go beyond ensuring safe work environments and amp up "fair" treatment into rediculous demands and bogus reasoning. nothing kills progress like corrupt and far liberal unions...
Remember when they tried to install pay toilets! If you didn't have the correct change, you couldn't go to the bathroom. People were breaking the locks and also climbing underneath! Flying is an option; going to the bathroom isn't.
Silly! Airlines are there to make a profit and get you from point A to point B! What are you, a baby? Wear a diaper if you can't plan your flights around your bladder/bowels/uterus! /sarcasm
2 Snickers bars in your pockets.
For God's sake, it's so simple.
The second Snickers is to offer to your neighbor who will be staring in involuntary primate begging behavior mode. They'll politely refuse, of course, so you can have it yourself later.
I'd just be happy to find a beautiful, elegent looking woman to marry like the brunette in the picture, left or right side. What happened to our society? Now we look like slobs that just left the bedroom. Shop at any store in the U.S. and you'll find a fat middle-age woman wearing pajama's as though that is a fashion statement. I'll marry class, not trash.
What happened? Atari happened.
Why must you reference a fat middle-aged "woman"...are you suggesting that it is only women who look and dress like slobs?? and who says because you are fat and middle-aged that you are a slob....or as you stated "trash"??? How rude!!!!
"I'll marry class, not trash."
Right back atcha, jack@ss.
Well, Scott, what happened to the men here? Last time I was at Dulles, there was a guy waiting next to me wearing green and blue plaid flannel PJ bottoms.
It seems to me that the airlines seem to believe that either they have to serve "gourmet" meals or nothing. The meals were alway an attempt to make some fancy dish, which always tasted bland. Give me a simple ham and cheese sandwich and an orange and I would have no complaints.
I agree that meals should be provided for free inside airplanes. My elderly mother had to fly from Washington DC to San Francisco without any food. She is a diabetic and when she arrived she was feeling sick. As it turns out United Airlines does not accept cash and since she did not have a credit card she could not eat anything on the flight. Shame on them.
A final post ... another way airplanes were fun. Anyone remember in the '60s the jelly bean airline (Braniff)? Or the completely new image Continental brought about with its flight attendants' "uniforms"?
Anyway, everything everyone's posted here ... so it all goes when (dare I say it?) corporate greed becomes more important than product and service quality.
Tom, I remember the same travel era as you described. The airline clubs, cocktails served when you first took your sea, often as many as 2 or 3 if there was a delay, meal choices served on china and carry off bags of assorted miniatures including liquers. International flights provided non stop service throught out the night. Alas I'm afraid this is over. The last flight I took was to London. I was in business class and recieved no alcohol a cold turkey sandwich, no coffee or breakfast. They claimed the caterer showed up late.
You got cheated!
I recently flew on Continental Airlines from Neward, NJ to Misawa (by way of Tokyo), Japan for $864/roundtrip/coach! That is a great price nowadays; normally that ticket would have cost me $2500 for the same coach seat, but I purchased 6 weeks in advance. We had breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks served for free in couch. Each seat had its own personal touchscreen TV with tons of movies, music, and interactive games to play with other passengers; we even were issued blankets and pillows without charge. I was impressed, since I fly a lot and haven't seen service like this is a very long time. I couldn't understand why I still have to pay for a snack when traveling in the U.S. though...
There is no justification for the way airlines treat domestic passengers - from the stewards/stewardesses to the plane itself. I am old enough to remember when flying was pleasurable. Stewardesses offered you a newspaper or magazine; a passenger had a choice when it came to the food to be served; and passengers dressed as though they were going to the office instead of dressing as they do now - going to a beach. What appalls me the most is the way the stewards treat the passengers if they are asked a question. Flying is no longer a pleasure but an ordeal instead.
Yup, some of our flight attendants have become as charming as a prison ward in the former Soviet Union ;-)
For everyone saying suck it up and bring your own snacks, don't you remember that you can hardly bring any kind of food through security anymore. These days apparently peanut butter, water, fudge, heck, even rice cakes can apparently be used in some weird combination to create a bomb or something. I wouldn't complain if I could actually bring food from home that security would not take from me rather than spend 15 dollars on a veggie sub from the sandwich shop located near my terminal, and then 3 dollars to replace the .5 liter of water that security made my dump out!
I recently flew on Continental Airlines from Neward, NJ to Misawa (by way of Tokyo), Japan for $864/roundtrip/coach! That is a great price nowadays; normally that ticket would have cost me $2500 for the same coach seat, but I purchased 6 weeks in advance. We had breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks served for free in couch. Each seat had its own personal touchscreen TV with tons of movies, music, and interactive games to play with other passengers; we even were issued blankets and pillows without charge. I was impressed, since I fly a lot and haven't seen service like this is a very long time. I couldn't understand why I still have to pay for a snack when traveling in the U.S. though...
Oh, we had real metal utensils also... Guess they only do that in First Class in the states...
FUEL is much more expensive than it was in the 80's. My kids think I am crazy when I tell them that I could fill up my car for under $10. Then you have competition for flyers, higher wages and expensive advertising campaigns. Any Airline that
has been running on the last bit on Air will have some down sides. The ticket prices do not really compare to the cost increases.
But if you have to be somewhere faster than a car or bus will take you then you have to fly. Not sure if it will get any better!
I would rather shell out the bucks to fly non-stop from Washington, DC to California in 5-6 hours than drive or catch a bus or train, all the way across!
Ahhh. the memories. I actully remember a good omlet on a flight from Columbus, OH to Dallas about 16 years ago. And the same for a couple of good sandwiches. I really think the point now is the airlines are taking advantage of the situation. The food is not this issue as much as now they want to charge for everything. "Would you like a papertowel to dry your hands in the restroom?" It is getting out of hand. I also remember the days when missing a flight was unpleasant but not a catastrophe! Now, there are so few flights available that you could be stuck for a couple of days!
Forget the meal how is that they keep jacking up the fares and nort provide an adequate service and the needed courtesy, especially UAL crewsrudest and mean. I fly the european carriers whenever i fly to europe they treat you with big smile and courtesy everytime.
I think it says something that when I fly out of Denver (a United hub), I always fly American.
You guys keep discussing the airlines profits as justification for this demand of increased service and ammenities. What profits? The airline industry has lost tens of Billions of dollars in the past decade... anything and everything that can be cut has been cut and will not return until the cost of air travel keeps pace with inflation. It is cheaper to fly today (adjusted for inflation) than ever before in the history of the airline industry. And food, full-bar, service and friendly staff still do exist.. but you've got to pay for it... and if you compare your old airfare in the 1970s adjusted for inflation and then compare that to today's first class fare or pro-rated cost of flying on a private jet with the rest of your staff then I imagine it is a fairly close comparison.
Pssst don't mistake hidden profits for tax reasons with no profits. Larger companies will often buy a failing company not to make money but to LOSE money so they can write it off on taxes. Simple hint that they aren't going under...are the bonus checks still coming? Some airlines ARE in trouble but don't you fret Obama will bail them out.
Take Amtrak. Sure, it may take you a couple of days to cross the country, but you gamble with that anyway when you fly. Plus, rail travel has very little security checks, and you get breakfast, lunch and dinner complimentary when you book a private room. Dining cars are open for all passengers, and a snack car is also usually available. Never a worry about finding food and water onboard a train. There are also very few delays, because since trains compete for rail time, they are almost always on-time to their destinations. Forget flying... trains use less fuel than planes and are a much more comfortable ride, at a much more convenient price.
You are obviously not on the Northeast corridor. The trains are ALWAYS, ALWAYS late by 1-3 hours! You have to pay for all food unless you get a private car. Security is non-existent at most stations...
People also used to dress up to fly on planes. Times change. Do you expect a meal when you get on a greyhound bus? free food at a ball game? No. You are paying for your seat, from point A to point B. Anything else should not be expected. Yes, they USED to provide food, back when flying was a luxury. Costs have risen, and we need to be realistic about service. The price of fuel is 4 or 5 times what it was even 5 years ago, get real. or take the bus.
People also used to get dressed up to go to a movie and the price has gone up incredibly...
In other words you want us all to just roll over.
Yeah, just because they're all too happy to be complacent with the bare basics, they think the rest of us should follow suit. Pfft. I demand more for my hard-earned money, thank you very much. Can't provide a paying customer with an incentive to keep patronizing your business? Oh well! Then that paying customer is going someplace else.
This is all because our income per capita has not increased with inflation. Blame it on all the cheap goods that have allowed this to happen without our noticing.
Amen MJ! And now Americans are hooked on those imported prices and there is no turning back!
If the discount airlines (Airtran, Southwest, etc.) can beat the fares of the biggies- it used to be by cutting service, but now all that's left is non-union wages and productivity efficiencies on the ground), then SOMEBODY should be able to come along and MATCH the fares of the biggies and offer food service- maybe not champagne, but decent hot meals on transcon flights. That 'premium service for the same price as United, American & Delta' should attract a LOT of people if well-advertised.
In Europe, your Air Brussels, Ryanair and Air Baltic (flown all of them in the last year) offer no meals and lucky-if-you-get-a-snack service, but quite cheap fares. It's only the subsidized biggies (Lufthansa, etc) that still serve meals on inside-Europe flights.
Transatlantic- EVERYBODY serves meals, but the winners in my book (recent flights) are Finnair (repeat business for me) and Air New Zealand. I really liked Finnair. All U.S. flight attendants should be sent to Finnair's flight attendant school.
By the way, there are brats and rude passengers, but MOST American coach-class passengers are polite and respectful, so that's no excuse for flight attendants. If I owned a U.S. airline, I'd fire flight attendants with an attitude. That is, if I could clean house in spite of the stupid unions.
As a passenger I wouldn't even mind a rude Marie Antoinette as my flight attendant if she'd 'let them eat cake!'
US carriers aren't the only ones that fail to make the grade. Try Air Canada. Seems to be a problem with large North American airlines, because European and Asian companies still serve decent food with a smile. On a bright note, you can still get good food and free wine on small carriers in northern Canada, and if you are flying from one northern community to another you don't even have to go through security!
Loved the photograph...when there was still some class in the U.S., we were collectively proud and knew how to dress. We also loved flying and going to the theater in a suit.... The airlines and walmart, I think, reflect now how times have changed. Mass production of cr-p, no value for a service, an life is too stressful to wear anything except jeans and a tshirt. Not a pretty photo op today in my humble and arrogant view.
Being served a meal on a flight was great, even if the food wasn't. However, now I just pack my own food (less the drink) and continue to have a great flight experience. It's good to be me.
I recently flew a long haul flight from JFK to Dubai on Emirates Air – I was shocked at how good the food was. They even gave me real silverware to eat with (although I thought that might have posed a risk, since it *was* real). I was actually served three meals on this flight. Now granted, this is a 12-14 hour flight, but the food and the choices were just impeccable, better than food I've had in a restaurant.
I had a recent good experience this past May 2010 on Continental Airlines.
I recently flew on Continental Airlines from Newark, NJ to Misawa (by way of Tokyo), Japan for $864/roundtrip/coach! That is a great price nowadays; normally that ticket would have cost me $2500 for the same coach seat, but I purchased 6 weeks in advance. We had breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks served for free in couch. Each meal provided 2-3 choices. Each seat had its own personal touchscreen TV with tons of movies, music, and interactive games to play with other passengers; we even were issued blankets and pillows without charge. I was impressed, since I fly a lot and haven't seen service like this is a very long time. I couldn't understand why I still have to pay for a snack when traveling in the U.S. though...
There was a comment about our improved education. Here's a grammar lesson. If you can count them, use fewer. If you can't count them, use less. You have fewer passengers, not less passengers. For that matter, Miller Lite has fewer calories, not less calories.
Now I feel better.
And just to kill any thoughts that I'm totally nostalgic or partial to Pan Am, the very best flights I ever took as a passenger were on KLM jets bck and forth from the US to Europe in the '70s. Two small children; without even asking me, they always gave me the builhead seats if they were open and they usually were = room for them to get out of their seats without disturbing anyone else and play whatever games they'd brought and lie down on a blanket and pillow they provided when the kids were tired. Food was superb, cabin crew thoughtful, alert and efficient, and the plane itself (including the lavs) spotless.
... make that bulkhead seats!
I recently flew on Continental from Louisville to Houston then from Houston to Cozumel. Both fight times were around 2 hours. Louisville to Houston was actually on Continental Express. We got a choice between a ham or turkey sandwich and chips!!! The Houston to Cozumel flight offered a hot chicken sandwich with a small fruit bowl!!! I hadn't flown in 8 yrs and was prepared for the worst so I was actually quite surprised by the food service. Both also gave us a pack of pretzels for free and I flew coach the whole way. The food was not that bad but at least they offered something!!
I recently flew on Continental Airlines from Newark, NJ to Misawa (by way of Tokyo), Japan for $864/roundtrip/coach! That is a great price nowadays; normally that ticket would have cost me $2500 for the same coach seat, but I purchased 6 weeks in advance. We had breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks served for free in couch. Each meal provided 2-3 choices. Each seat had its own personal touchscreen TV with tons of movies, music, and interactive games to play with other passengers; we even were issued blankets and pillows without charge. I was impressed, since I fly a lot and haven't seen service like this is a very long time. I couldn't understand why I still have to pay for a snack when traveling in the U.S. though...
I flew coach on Air France in '73 and the meal was a three course event that started with well a chilled Maine lobster claw on a bed of lettuce and the dressing was spooned over the salad by the "stewardess." That was heaven to a 17 year old.
I remember being served breakfast on flights under two hours. Eggs and bacon with metal utensils. I also remember international flights with unlimited free booze and smoking in the back. This was before cigarette smoke was found to be as lethal as weapons grade plutonium to some people.
ok, forget about the food or service. Bring your own sandwiches.
Do you who travel by air further than from Detroil to Nashville like sitting in seats meant to hold only 100# women? I happen to be 5'6" and weigh 105# and limber so I can easily sit yoga-style when I want to, without disturbing the 200# men on either side who are getting swollen ankles and leg cramps from 5 hours in the same position.
I too remember travelling on a train from Chicago to LA as a child in the '40s (Santa Fe Limited) and loving the dining car. I particularly remember one roast beef dinner, for some reason, it was that good.
Some of you might not know the DC 6s and 7s (at least for international flights and that's all Pan Am had then) had pull down berths in lieu of luggage overheads in 1st class for long night flights. Of course you paid for it, and very few used them, but those who did were adamant that they not be taken out. And there was a midships galley with a banquette across from it for those who couldn't sleep. Many terrific through the night conversations there. I actually met a passenger who had known my father when they were both stationed in Burtonwood during WWII.
Long and short of it, flying used to be something people looked forward to. Not anymore. And as for the person who wrote about costs - the cheapest ticket from New York to San Juan or vice versa, midnight departure, dawn arrival was $45 - with, yes, complementary juice, coffee and a pastry served pre arrival.
The last thing I want to have to do is take a smash inside those tiny little bathrooms. No thanks. I will just have a dry bagel or maybe some animal crackers. If not, I can survive a few hours without food until I land.
I could easily live w/o the food if it meant that increasing their profits transliated in better service elsewhere, such as reducing delays and canceled flights. The real situation, however, is quite the opposite, so I personally view the inability to give me a 25-cent bag of pretzels nothing more than adding insult to injury with a thumb in the eye.
RixLax- for the price we pay to fly you people SHOULD be rubbing our feet!!
Airlines will only turn a profit when they realize they are selling a luxury product. All vacation and business travel is optional and family visits can be limited to longer stays once per year. It makes absolutely no sense to CUT services. On the contrary they should be offering caviar and massages to lure travelers into taking trips they can not easily afford and booking them directly through an airlines with unique amenities rather than rock bottom, unprofitable prices on Travelocity.
Has anyone flown Continental? Food is commonplace on flights longer than 2 hours at mealtimes, and always in First Class. Unfortunately, the Coach food will end next year.
Flew from San Francisco to Frankfurt on United, returned on Lufthansa. Same airplane, both 747's. Same scrunched seat. Bathrooms appeared to be the same. Other than that, the Lufthansa flight was a massively superior experience. So how do they do it? Is jet fuel cheaper in Frankfurt? Doubt it. Let's blame United's unions? But Germans are highly unionized, that can't be it. United flies lots of places and it's expensive to run a large airline? Lufthansa flies to just about everywhere except Antarctica and the moon. And no, it's not subsidized by the German government. Too bad they are not allowed to fly within the USA (I believe nearly all countries protect their domestic air routes from foreign competition). So how does Lufthansa, and apparently a lot of other foreign air lines, do it?
Their CEO's don't get 8 and 9 figure bonuses and salaries.
The airlines in US are the most insulting customer service company in the ENTIRE WORLD!!! Flying is becoming the most disgusting experience in life!! They add insult to injury with every decision they make towards passengers and clients!! Sometimes, I wonder what else they will charge for or strip us from.
Given a choice between a cheaper fare and a more expensive fare with lousy food, most consumers pick the former and that is what has happened in the airline industry. Delta offered food, blankets, pillows and more service at a higher price than Airtran which offered none of these, but they did offer a lower fare and passengers flocked to Airtran. In order to stay competitive, Delta matched Airtran. The airlines have cut out all their services because in the end people do not want to pay for them. They have unbundled the remaining services, such as baggage checking, because then they can lower the fares for those who do not check baggage, etc. Basically you wanted cheap flights and you got them. Bring your own food, it is better and cheaper than what you would have gotten anyway. If you want all the frills, you can still have them, it is called first class and it is expensive.
Notice how far apart the plane seats are! Look at all the shoulder room and elbow room! On planes today, we are all packed in like sardines. You read about concerns that obese travellers don't fit into the seats, but more complaints are registered about men's shoulders than about anyone's hips.
Thanks for the excuse to not go to the gym. I knew my shoulders were getting too big, and I, not the fat fat *ss of the person sitting in the middle seat and taking up part of my aisle seat and the window seat, was the actual problem.
I know airlines want to offer rock-bottom ticket prices, but why not give me the option of adding a meal to my airfare when I book my ticket?
Because you wouldn't choose it at the price they would have to charge. Think about the logistics involved in getting your meal to you and you can see why it is expensive.
Few bucks extra on your plane ticket on everyone's ticket and problem solved...oh wait isn't that what they USED to do? Ever heard of if it ain't broke don't fix it? Buying and having A single meal delivered to a plane is prohibitively expensive but buying and having ALL meals delivered to the plane isn't when the passengers are paying for the service. $4500 dollars to a catering company for a flight of 150 that's $30 each which amounts to 5$ worth of food and $25 for the company to prepare it and deliver it yeah expensive but to me, worth it for the rare occasions we have to fly. come on is it really that hard to fathom? I mean come on...An individual FRUIT BASKET for goodness sakes, whats that 50cents for an apple? another 50cents for a pear and again for maybe a banana? 1.50 worth of food NO ONE has to prepare and STILL it would be worth the extra money on the ticket.
When I flew from Atlanta to Paris via Air France, they gave us free wine in Coach! I was blown away. Needless to say I had a happy flight.
I'm old enough to remember when even we cattle in the back were given a choice of hot meals and given real silverware with it. Then came the microwave and plastic sporks, then snacks in bags, but they were still part of the service. Now they charge for pretzels. Ain't progress grand.
Air travel has hit the very bottom. It has become just a way of getting from here to there.
I must travel frequently but find absolutely no joy in doing so. Not only is there no food, but most of the asttendants are rude and apparently hate what their once glamorous job has been made into. For most they may as well be working at a fast food chain that only cells water,and small packets of p-nuts etc.
I really don't understand what the excuse is. I travel often from South Africa on a less than 1 hour flight. It is magical how the airline is able to serve each coach passenger a complete hot meal. Sanwich, fruit, juice chips/cookie. all absolutely free. Hoorayyyy!! are they richer than the US based airlines??? or is it that they care more. Let us pray that this and other airlines do not adopt the bad habits of US based airline companies.
I agree that people are slobs and they're mean and picky – and it is a bus. But I'd bring my snacks if I were allowed to – not when people take it all away from me and throw it away when it can be a "harm to others." I'd be happy to bring my PB&J, if it weren't thought of as some sort of bomb ingredient bag. So, I guess it can go both ways, former flight attendants. I like the fact that some can still smile, but I accept that some of you can't – and I don't envy you your jobs!
Isn't it ultimately our responsibility to feed ourselves? Airlines haven't been serving full meals for at least 10 years now, it's not like it's any secret that you'll only be getting a soda and a bag of pretzels. If you really can't go the 3-6 hours for a domestic flight without eating, then pack your own lunch, it's not very challenging.
LOL! Who cares? Eat before the flight, what is the big deal really? Even if it is a LOOOONG flight, NO one ever starved to death in 12 hours! Seriously!
Do we want cheap fares or meals on planes? We can't get both. I'd rather have the bare bones option (just the ticket, no food or luggage or anything included) and have the option to upgrade – be it through a different ticket or buying things a la carte. In the old days, meals weren't free – you just didn't have the option to not buy them.
HELLO you people....the things you all write are quite true and often highly unpleasant/annoying in my experience as well. But you do forget one cardinal point: I have flown for decades; the first flight I took to this country from Central Europe in 1958 – one way, mind you – cost me more than my then monthly salary which was no chicken feed either. Now, the same flight costs only a fraction of a monthly salary – and, please note: round-trip! So, putting all these negative developments into perspective, I believe it is fair to say that – at least on the financial side – we are getting an excellent deal. The price of this is necessarily the severe corner-cutting and we should not be so incensed about it.. Food problems we can solve for ourselves it we want to. The other physical downsides we have to live with when affordability/possibilities spread to the masses. So you all – please get some reality check....
There is a limit and many of us have reached it. While I do not disagree that the cost of flying has dramatically been reduced and/or kept in check, in the striving for the absolute lowest possible rock bottom fares they have gone BELOW what we feel a flight is worth to our comfort. Many, not all of us would gladly pay a bit extra for that bit extra.
Déjà vu! This comes from having lived a good while longer than most, but I remember hearing of my grandfather's opinion that the best restaurants in America were to be found aboard the dining cars of trains. (Gramps was born in 1855, a safe remove from possible refutation by any of us.) Indeed, even into the 1950s, some of our trains sported dress-up, polite white-glove experiences we see only in movies today. So I guess we've seen this shift in business model before.
I sympathize with you who must fly. As for us, we've given up traveling to places accessible only by air in exchange for the pleasure, when exploring the front- and back-roads of this continent, of finding, time and time again, that there is no geyser, no majestic mountain, no picturesque forest that is quite the equal of a slice of apple pie topped with a smile. Yes, food is important. I hope the airlines bring it back for you, at whatever price.
No food b/c people behave so bad . . . They would just make garbage, complain about the food, bug the stewards, stink up the rest rooms . . . when they used the plastic utensils to kill passengers that did it! . . . . security on planes became more important than food.
How the heck can you bug someone who is PAYED to serve you? That is like a psychologist complaining about listening to other peoples problems.
Didn't you read the article? Here is just one example the article gives of a paying customer who is bugging the stewardess . . "Dewars-soaked come-ons from the suit in 6A" . . . duh
Forget food and snacks. What are you five years old? You need mommy to pack you a lunch and snack or you'll starve to death?
Here's what I ask for from an airline: get me where I'm supposed to be on time. That's it. Point A to point B within 20 minutes of when you say you'll get me there and I'm happy.
Do you really want to pay the extra $30 per ticket that a terrible microwaved piece of mystery meat is probably going to cost you after all the mark ups? I'll take a cheaper ticket and eat a real meal after the flight.
The two are tied together, any airline that does not care about your comfort does not care about your time as well, overbooking helps their profit by assuring no empty seats, as does scheduling planes with too little turn around time, both lead to delays, but it's just your time , your comfort, and your patience being lost, not theirs, I have never met an airline exec on any flight i have taken, WHY, because their in their private jet.
Yes I would as a matter of fact. Just because some people are cheap doesn't mean we all are. If you can't afford the extra few dollars you probably don't have enough to afford the trip anyway delay the trip save that extra few dollars THEN fly.
Hey, you enjoy keeping your mouth shut and living frugally, fine. But there are those of us who expect better from the corporations to whom we are giving our money, and we're going to speak up about it.
What's next, hotels just giving us a room with a mattress and bucket in the corner?
I'd be happy to bring a quart of water and my own food for a 5-6 hour flight. It's just that they don't let me keep my stuff at security and why would I have to pay the ridiculous prices for water & snacks after security? I recently landed in SFO coming from Europe with an apple and guess what– customs made me toss it.
They say they have removed complimentary meals from flights because people want cheaper tickets. I for one think the true reason is they don't want to bother with the meals. They just want to cram as many people in the plane as tightly as possible and charge extra for any thing the airline doesn't want to deal with. I mean if everyone packs light, doesn't eat, and is crammed in tightly they can make as much profit as possible with the least amount of trouble. If you haven't noticed a lot of the planes are old and dirty now adays too. They are doing all this because so far they have gotten away with it. The most profit for the least amount of overhead. The only way people will get them to change is to refuse to fly until they fix it.
Hey "me": So companies should suck every last dime they can? Typical greed. That's what got this country in the mess that it's in. Greed. They should take a page from Mr. James Cash Penney (the founder of the J.C. Penney department stores) when he said: "We expect a fair renumeration for our service and not all the profit the traffic will bear".
Yes, the food on planes has gone from bad to worse, but it's still not as bad as this snarky, snotty article.
Not that I travel a lot by air, and as nice as it would be to have food on longer flights, I'd rather select something from the many availble food concessions at the airport. My gripe is if I am not allowed to go through security with 'x' amount of liquids, then the price I pay for say a bottle of water should be the same price on the 'secure' side of security as it is outside of the airport. Once you're through the check points, paying $2.50 – $3.00 for a bottle of water is wrong!
It's funny that Southwest, which used to be considered one of the least special airlines, now has the most generous baggage allowances and seems to have increased the amount of snacks they manage to give, yes give, to customers on their relatively short hops. Jet Blue have better snacks and entertainment but relatively tight baggage allowances. The airlines that used to give proper service now charge for everything and don't really compete with the budget airlines they used to disdain.
I recently flew on Continental Airlines from Newark to Porland, OR. The flight was around dinner time and I was seated in coach. We were served a meal during the flight and it was completely free. We had a chicken burrito, salad, carrots, and a brownie. And on top of that, it didn't even taste that bad.
Also the fear and lack of knowledge that general public has about aviation, highlighted by the authors comments ""We're hurtling through the air in a massive, metallic cannister that by no means ought to loft one centimeter off the ground and...ooh! Chicken Kiev...sort of. Let's focus on that," is truly rediculous. Cearly you skipped class on the day that Bernoulli's principle ws taught.
I flew Continental last week from Cincinnati to Houston. We were given choice of tuna/turkey sandwich, chips, small Hershey Bar. And it was free. Not the best I've ever had, but very good. Will definitely fly Continental again for this reason.
If you liked that free meal on Continental, you had better enjoy it while it lasts. Continental will following United's food policies after the merger, Maybe if enough people email Continental's CEO, who will be running the merged airline, they will re-think this.
Its called having a sense of humor.
This whole situation is really sad. I used to really enjoy air travel, back when one would actually get something called "service" (even in coach class) instead of being treated as a cow on a cattle train. As some others have mentioned, flights to Hawaii from the East Coast in coach class are an experience as close to hell as one can find this side of fiction...and you're paying close to $800 for the darn ticket! The service on the flight should be based upon flight duration, not "domestic" or "international", especially if one is paying more for the flight to Hawaii than a typical international flight. On the other side of the argument, perhaps airlines should start implementing a dress code for flights as well....somehow flight attendants aren't as motivated to provide stellar service to people dressed in their pajamas/sweat pants who haven't even combed their hair before arriving at the airport. Chicken or the egg situation here?
Good point. To me, flying was always a preferred alternative to a cross-country bus ride, which at the time I used to travel the most, had no services on board (aside from the one toilet at the back), took at least twice as long as driving solo, and sometimes had to make "service stops" at stations at about 2 in the morning in the part of town where you don't go after dark and everything is closed... and then, frankly, there were some scary people on that bus... and by the time I got to where I was going, I was cramped up in a ball from the tight seating and sick from the diesel fumes and sleep deprivation.
Flying was different. It was cleaner, a BIT more comfortable, and there were snacks, regardless of the duration. Expensive, though, even flying Coach, and maybe people had the mentality that maybe if they're paying so much, they aught to look the part of someone who can afford that kind of fare.
I do not care how you dress, providing its legal. How you dress should in NO WAY affect the service that YOU paid for. If you want to fly comfortable in a T shirt and sweat pants GO for it! How the hell should that make the steward or stewardess, YES that is what you are, treat you any differently unless they are a stuck up opinionated snob?
They still do, but it's in 1st class. and you can't afford it because you decided to pick an easy major and join a frat instead. so now you get to fly coach.
A 4 hour train ride in India got me breakfast, newspaper, fruit juice, cookies, candies and 2 cups of tea or coffee – all included in the fare for a very comfortable air-conditioned couch, which was about $12. An inland flight on Indian airlines had some good food as well. And here all I get is pretzels and this is supposed to be the richest country and India, a poor country. I don't get it!
When I was in my early 20s I used to fly the Eastern shuttle between NYC and Boston. It was a 30 minute flight, and they served breakfast.
On my last flight I was told I could use a blanket FOR A FEE. Now we can't enjoy a pillow or blanket to make the flight a little more comfortable without paying for it?
Flying has become one miserable experiences. Last year I make the mistake of boarding a flight from Chicago to Honolulu without getting any food only to get on the plane and find that there was no food being served. Well that is free food. We were offered .5oz bag pretzels for the 12+ hour flight. They had meals to purchase but they conveniently before reaching the back of the plane. So more than 12 hours later I arrived in Honolulu jet lagged and starving after flying more than 5,000 with no food. I would like to thank United Airlines for a wonderful experience and I will never fly your airline again.
The low average wage of an Air Hostess in the UK is 1200 pounds per month translating to approx 21,600 dollars per year. The low average wage of a flight attendant in the U.S. is $23,000 per year plus benefits. The main difference is HEALTH CARE which is public in the UK meaning the company does not have to directly pay for it. Which means the average U.S. airline company has to pay 50%-100% more for each flight attendant than the average U.K. Company. Lets not forget about the power Unions wield here in the United States, lobbying for additional benefits and higher wages.
Furthermore, the American public cares most about is the cheapest ticket. If you offered all the amenities with the costs associated, your company would go under.
Aside from the wage comparisons the rest I feel is untrue. People DO and would pay for amenities. Just as I choose to stay at a Marriott instead of a Motel-6 paying quadruple the price. If Airline A.) Sold a $300 ticket but provided no food, no smile and no comfort and Airline B.) Sold a $350 ticket but served a hot meal, a FULL can of Coke and a warm greeting I think BOTH would do extremely well. Cheaper for those who don't care about being treated like cattle and slightly more expensive for those who want to feel like we get what we pay for. Once the airlines in the US figure this out we will all be better off. Did they ever think that unruly passengers with chips on their shoulders could be a product of their own making? Improve service, improves customer satisfaction, improves crew moral, increases smiles all around.
Zane, trust me, the Unions are much more powerful in Europe as they are here. And public health care does not mean they get it for free. The money has to come from somewhere ;-) In European countries, the employer is usually legally required to sign employees up for health care and the cost is shared 50/50 between employer and employee. The health care is just so much cheaper over there, because most health insurances are run like non-profits, whereas in the US they have shareholders who need to make big bucks.
Wife and I got a sandwich on mid-day flight on Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Marseilles. It was simple but it was real. Real pumpernickel. A thick slice of real cheese - not "cheese food" - real cheese. Real butter. It was good.
Airfare is what...about twice what it was in the 50s?
However average home prices are about 6-7 times higher than they were 50 years ago. Average salary is probably about 10 times more than it was in the 50s.
I've never worked for an airline, but give them some credit for keeping some costs down.
Airfares are not at issue here I think many of us would say that considering the costs involved they are very reasonable, what people seem to be pointing out is if many airlines CAN and DO provide services like food and a smile without raising costs then ALL airlines can if they try hard enough.
I flew round trip from Chicago to LAX in the 70's and 80s for $198 round-trip. It still costs that or less in today's dollars. If you factor in inflation, that fare should be 4 or 5 times higher. Those folks in first or business class are obviously subsidizing the folks in coach. All I expect from an airline is a clean flight from point A to point B, with courteous service. If I know in advance I need to bring food or water, I can do that. Planes today ARE the buses of the past. It's just transportation now, as it should be. Those low fares allow me to visit friends and family. So folks, stop b*tching.
Also, friends of mine who were flight attendants could afford condos on Chicago's Gold Coast and Louis Vuitton luggage, so I think they were making well over $14K a year...for 80 hours of work. I would take $14K for 80 hours of work, even now, plus my flight privileges.
EVER HEAR THE OLD SAYING "YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW".THE AIRLINES ARE SLITTING THEIR OWN COLLECTIVE THROATS.WHEN WE ARE ALL FED UP AND STOP FLYING IT WILL SERVE THEM RIGHT.THEY HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT THIS SAYING "CUSTOMER SERVICE"!
Couldn't agree more.
I think this obsession with food on airplanes is just an oral fixation. I brought a vuvuzela on board to keep myself occupied, and I've never been happier!
Priceless, Oodoodanoo! With a sense of humor like that, you can be my seatmate anytime.
I few from Beijing to Shanghai in 2005 on Air China. A little over 2 hours. We had a snack, lunch (which was a box deal for westerners, so of course I took the Chinese meal which was great chicken and broccoli with steamed rice and pork-bun) then another snack and drink service. All provided by beautiful stewardess in traditional dress, wearing silk gloves, who actually _bowed_ to us after the safety presentation.
Now, I hate flying with the fire of a thousand white-hot suns, but It was the best experience I have ever had on a plane. And if every flight was like that one, I would get on a flight anytime.
When I got back to "home sweet home" on the leg from SF to DC, a very angry woman who obviously hated her job and reeked of cigarettes, got angry at me for walking up the isle to stretch my legs. Great to be back in America.
I agree! When I traveled to Oz in '08, Qantas gave a great meal and drinks, either on the flight from LAX to Brisbane, or from Brisbane back to Sidney. After flying back to LAX and catching a flight back east, I felt like being on a cargo plane, as there wasn't much food to be served. I learned on the domestic flights to bring those snack bars or whatever else to eat on the domestic side of the flight.
Obviously the corporate oinks that make the rules on cutting out food on flights don't fly with us 'small people', they have their own corporate planes. What if they had to cut those jets to save money? Or even cut food out on their corporate flights? They would complain to congress and have them make some type of sweeping changes in the airline laws, always in the corporate favor. Hope this changes in my lifetime!
This is unreal. C'mon. Even the flight from Paris to Conakry (West Africa) offers one meal and one light snack during their flight. If an Africa-bound flight can afford a meal, I am sure we can afford that here in the States as well.
just flew from Dulles to DFW on American and they didn't even pass out a miserable packet of pretzels or peanuts!! i know it's just a 2.5 hour flight but every flight I have taken on Southwest, even the short 1 hour flight from BWI to Providence they hand out peanuts! needless to say I was really hungry upon arrival to DFW cuz I hadn't had breakfast, thinking that the packet of peanuts or pretzels would hold me over...
From reading the comments left here, and my own experiences, you're better off taking a Grey Hound if you're traveling domestic. They're even taking out 5 rows of seats in their buses to give more leg room and seat reclining. For a whole lot less then you'd pay for a flight, you just have to plan your trip better to get you there at a reasonable amount of time. Overseas flights are still the way to go if you want to get there in a hurry, but if you have time and can be a little flexable (especially if you're traveling in the early spring to late fall) you can book a cruise for a ship repositioning and get fed and treated like a king/queen for the same price as you would for a overseas flight. Tons of leg room on those cruise ships
Thanks of the info on Greyhound. I am fed up with the airlines. If there is improved service on Greyhound I will be checking it out. Amtrak is a great way to go but much improvement in service is needed.
Let's face it, the U.S. is on the decline. The erosion of the middle class and widening gulf between the uber-rich and the rest of us has destroyed the ability of the average citizen to afford such niceties as real food on a plane. Just take a look at the passengers in the photo posted above. Sure it's staged, but do you see any resemblance between those folks and the motley menagerie of passengers on a modern airline? Today's jet travel in the U.S. is more akin to bus travel in rural South America than to airline travel 30 years ago.
While I tend to agree, don't forget that 100 years or so ago, in the gilded age of the robber barons, things were not so different. But the government managed to shake off the massive corruption that inflicted it after the Civil War and actually corrected the social ills. So, technically, there's still a chance things will get better. But I remain pessimistic.
The photo may be staged, but the serving cart was real, the pillows in the overheads were real, the two seats on either side of one aisle says to me it's a DC6 or 7 (max 77 passengers vs 15-20 seats across and at least triple that number of passengers in the early jets) and the hairstyles (the late 50s or early '60s, I'd guess) were real. People enjoyed flying then.
When the jets came in, alot of us in the cabin crew went out. Have to add, Pan Am was pretty special then. Juan Trippe knew what he was about.
And Pan Am is now a railroad.
You hit it right on the head. We are going down! Sorry to be so pessimistic but nothing seems to be changing to the positive. We are so mislead and misinformed by a complex media that our democracy has essentially been disenfranchised, and our government is incompetent. The corporate oligarchy is in control. What do we do???
We should all go to North Korea things are SO much better there without privately owned corporations!
Here's an idea...bring your own bag of pretzels!!!
I know this is groundbreaking to some of you, but if you know you will be hungry and we all know that food service isn't supplied, be somewhat of a grownup and take the initiative to bring your own snack.
I know that wouldn't be as fun as complaining about how mistreated you are but it seems rather simple to me.
Wow. Congratulations, you totally grasped the point of the article. Your reading comprehension is way above a 2nd grade level.
We DO take a snack with us, at least I do but you people who are supporting the airlines keep contradicting yourselves. "Only when the people as a whole complain will the airlines change." I am sorry if we cannot all be like you and stand by and smile while we get shafted but some of us ARE making that stand you folks said we should.
I used to fly for Pan Am in the day, just before jets, on DC6-7s. We served full meals, table cloths, nothing plastic, complementary wine and well-poured drinks (in real glasses). Long flights (say from NY to SAmerca) with stop and go's in the islands: breakfast (real eggs and bacon or pancakes not made of cardboard), dinner (filet mignon or chicken kiev - cooked in ovens, not just nuked/warmed over), of course lunch (hot or cold) and endless snacks (NOT stale peanuts). That's when flying was fun, for crew and pax alike. Of course we worked hard, but generally the pax were relaxed and appreciative. One especially long and tiring trip I complained to a fellow stewardess (what we were called then) how grueling it was. I was 22; she was in her 30s and I thought older than God. She said: "You don't know grueling til you've flown a DC3 over the Amazon." She had!
And then it all changed for the worse, long before 9/11.
I'm curious, sanddollar, what is your perspective on what happened since you were there in the hey day? Care to share your thoughts?
If I knew I would get treated better, with some food, and a little more leg and butt room I would pay more for a ticket. As it is now its just a race to the bottom of the barrel. The airline industry has made flying as enjoyable as a cattle car train ride to Dachau.
Please tell me you did not write what you wrote. Shame, shame, shame on you... and shame again.
I wrote it. Don't be so sensitive.
You, are an idiot. I HATE flying because of cramped conditions and lack of service but did you seriously just compare a cushioned seat, air conditioning and bathroom facilities to suffocating to death, relieving yourself while standing and starvation? Geez get some perspective.
No, I said it was about as enjoyable as a cattle car ride to dachau, not auschwitz. Its not a slam against any one other than the airline industry. There are no sacred cows here. lighten up.
Please google Dachau, read about it, and then print your apology. You MUST be more sensitive before making comments like your original one. Please......
Political correctness is a religion I don’t subscribe to. you are just going to have to live with it.
Walter, I don't think any of us can imagine what a cattle car train ride to Dachau was like. You cannot either, no matter how bad your flight was.
Father Brownstain sez:
Walter has issues,
But put down your tissues.
Don't report him for misuse.
i fly several times a year from vegas to sfo on virgin america. it's a short flight but there's always drink service. no snacks but i know that in advance and, if necessary, i pack a muffin or croissant. the problem is when the flight is delayed as it is about 80% of the time due to fog or low clouds. then i'm stuck with airport food which isn't always bad if you happen to be close to an actual restaurant with a kitchen but it is always expensive. i just consider it part of the expense of flying.
i will say that the few international/long haul flights i've taken–AA, lax to london, heathrow; Aloha Airlines (now defunct), las vegas to maui; and Air China, sfo to hong kong have been rather pleasant experiences. no complaints about the food and service was excellent.
this is all just a product of what americans will put up with. there will come a tipping point when the lack of amenities and terrible service on domestic flights will become unbearable and people will stop flying. then and only then will there be a change. but without a viable coast to coast alternative i don't see it happening any time soon.
If I thought that they actually needed to cut costs, I wouldn't complain. The problem is that all this money is not going back into the company, but a bunch of rich people (and not just the airline industry either). We've all seen the bonus structure and salary level of CEOs in America versus those in other countries (like Japan, Sweden, etc). The differences are disgusting.
Well, the airlines have to pay for the high union wages some how!!
Oh geez here we go again! All the problems we suffer are the unions fault! It's OK if the companies of the world do anything they can to maximize their profit, but let a bunch of people band together so the can maximize theirs, and OH Heaven forbid! A union! OMG those greedy SOB's!! LOL Don't blame people who have the guts to to stand up for themselves just because you don't!
Seriously, Gary??? Union bashing is your answer? God forbid that the pilots and flight attendants earn a decent middle class living while most airline executives have golden parachutes the size of the Hindenburg to float them off to retirement. Give me a break. Unionization is NOT why you don't get pretzels on a 9 hour flight from Maui to Chicago.
Brownstain...you clearly have issues.
I remember flying from TIA to DFW to LAX and we would get several beverages, hot meals that actually tasted good and like someone posted early a fruit and cheese plate towards the end of our trip. Now you have to pay for EVERYTHING. Oh and don't you dare even think about asking for soda with no ice. That would me they would be giving you more soda! It has all become rather absurd.
lol. If I get a soda from them, I ask them to leave the can. They tend not to like that very much. I actually told one lady "I paid for i. Do you want me to go to the cops about you robbing me over a soda can?" She gave it to me.
Melissa; there is no reason why theycannot leave you the can. I work for a large US airline and give the can without batting a lash. (It does not diminish my paltry salary) In fact, I would rather you take the can, because 1/2 empty cans fall over inside the drawer and then everything gets sticky! As far as food service goes; please don't blame the flight attendants. I worked when there WAS hot food service and never minded doing it. If they brought it back, that would be fine with me. (But after todays report on the hygene or lack thereof in the food kitchens, do you really want that?) I could tell you stories that would make your skin crawl. Needless to say, I bring food from home whenever I am working. It's amazing what you can come up with using you imagination. Also, If you are thirsty thoughout the flight, don't be afraid to ask for whatever you want, even if the service has ended, we are here to make you comfortable and if you are on my flight you can have whatever you need!
Love your sarcastic sense of humor :)
I will NOT pay for food on the plane. I smuggle food from home in my bag. There needs to be more regulation of these airlines preventing all these extra fees. There needs to be more regulation on these morons, not less.
On a 9 hour American flight from Maui to Dallas, no meal but even on a 6 hour flight to/from the US to Europe, a meal is served!
South African Airlines treated us very well in Economy this Spring. For a long flight from Dulles to Johannesburg, it was quite comfortable. The food was wholesome and plentiful. Each of us was given a sleep mask and a pair of stretch socks in addition to the usual headphones. One of our fellow travelers took a (South African) apple with her as we deplaned on the return flight – she forgot she had it and US Customs pounced on her.
I recently took a United flight to Hawaii from Detroit... a roughly 9 hour experience... and because it is a "domestic" flight they did not serve a morsel of food. 9 hours, no pretzels, no peanuts, nothing. The drink cart came by twice in 9 hours and other than that they only served water. This is absolutely rediculous. Couldnt they just charge 0.50 more on the ticket price and give you "free" pretzels? I am so annoyed, yet what can we do? Not travel is an option, but not a very good one.
The whole travel experience has become a gigantic suck fest. You get to the airport 2 hours early, get charged for every bag of luggage you bring, wait in a crazy security line and get randomly chosen for a frisking, they find that you have a small tube of lotion for your eczema that they make you feel like a criminal for having, you sit in the terminal for the remainder of the 2 hours, they randomally check your bag again while boarding, you get crammed into seats with no leg room, you fly 9 hours with no food, land at your destination to find they lost your bags that you had to pay them to deliver.
crud
And the airlines are amazed that they can't make any money while they innovate new and amazing ways to make air travel more torturous than it already is. Get ready for pay toilets and optional seat cushions.
It's not like America can't use a diet, even if it forced upon.... seriously people, look around. We're getting FAT!! And what ever happened to personal accountability? TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES! Prepare! Bring food! You all complained when you had it, so they took it away. Now you complain that they don't have it, provide for yourself! If you really wanted a meal with your ticket, you'd be willing to pay for it, but you're not. We wanted the cheapest fair possible, and with the cheapest fair, you chose NOT to have a meal. It wasn't up to the airlines, it was up to YOU, the consumer. And STILL, most airlines aren't making any money at all.
Can't please em' all.
We complained about BAD food not because they were serving food/
formerly our major annual vacation was to a carribean destination – now – we do the RV thing – we can eat when we want, don't have to deal with long lines and a**hole-people – we see all parts of the country – and we actually enjoy the ENTIRE vacation – air travel just plain sucks now – pricing works out to be about the same and the aggravation level is WAY down!!!!
You obviously did not fly Hawaiian Airlines. Try it sometime-one of the very best.
Brownstain,
Your parents named you aptly as to what their aspirations were during conception, but they had to settle for you instead.
As if you are some great thrill to sit next to. I would rather be stuck between a baby rhino and Michael Moore than someone like you. At least Moore would be able to hold an interesting conversation.
I’m make sure and save some special fat ooze for you next time we travel together. Double bacon cheeseburger with extra onions just for you.
People you all seem to forget, We complain that tickets are to expensive, We sue if our Coffee is to Hot, People are allergic to this and that, People NEED special this and that, People steal and lie!
Really we also used to have Horse and buggies. We also used to .... We cant argue well we need meals becouse we used it. Times have changed. I wished I had lived in the era where we dressed up as a whole to see a movie. But I live in a generation where women where PJs or Spandex as clothes.
TIMES have changed
Now I am not against some airline rules/laws about canceling flights, how long we sit in planes, etc but really.
That wonderful time you look back on also would have locked you into that loud, noisy tube with a cloud of cigarette smoke, but no worries, you probably would have been a smoker yourself since it was still such a popular thing to do. 20 or 30 years later, you'd be on your death bed from emphysema, now wishing you were 20 or 30 years in the future when you might have been saved. It's all relative.
You are comparing smoking on flights to not getting food on flights? Come on, I am a smoker and used to fly in the smoking section but when that stopped it didn't make me nearly as angry as what the airlines are doing now. The airlines are losing money well maybe they need to look at their business model maybe people would be more likely to fly their airline if they DID show some courtesy and give out extras even if it did cost a bit more I know I would. I am well over 6ft tall and very broad shouldered, no I am not fat and I often feel guilty encroaching but that is offset by the fact I get to sit on the plane for several hours with my knees up around my chin. Give us back SOME space, not asking for much just a couple inches take out a couple rows of seats and spread the cost for the loss of those fairs to the rest of us I think we would all happily pay the extra 20-30 each bucks for some wiggle room.
British Airways business class on a flight from London to Atlanta served food constantly, including English high tea!
Porter Airlines in Canada has free meals, free snacks, free bottled water, and free beer or wine!!! It is the nicest airline ever, they have a lounge where you can get free juice water or coffee before your flight and free Internet access... If ever you fly to Eastern Canada via New York or Chicago, Fly Porter... What flying should be... http://www.flyporter.com
A fat claustrophobic in an aluminum tube.
Its bad enough when Tubbo oozes into the seat next to you.
Now they want to impact our world from behind.
Here’s an idea: Eat a salad, put down the Fatsoburgers and stay home.
Or better yet, fly Fat B**tard airlines.
Fat B**tard has plenty of room for you to blimp out, and with ten foot ceilings, claustrophobia will not be an issue.
They have a deep fat turkey fryer on each flight.
I'd rather have an obese person for a seatmate than a rude, egocentric person like you. If you ever start to view people (including yourself) as human, with their own issues that influence their bodies and their choices, I'll reconsider.
Why would you call yourself brownstain? Show some dignity.
I have been annointed Brownstain as a tribute to Deadeye Dick Halliburton Cheney.
If the world were a pair of underpants,
Dick would be the Brownstain.
I'm actually happy sitting next to someone who is a generous soul (and takes up a bit more space) than by someone who only lives for himself (no concern for others). I am thin enough to have room in my chair left over, but I have family members of different shapes and sizes. I love every one of them! What's wrong with you, Brownstain? Are you saying that you're only friends with people your size or thinner? What kind of person does that make you? Time for you to do some soul searching and focus on cleaning your own self up, Brownstain.
That's Father Brownstain to you.
I pity the person that has to sit next to you – regardless of their size. What a jerk!
I agree, I am tall, well over 6 foot, but slim. I cannot stand when someone is taking up too much room next to me. I don't make a big deal about it, all i do is ask to be reseated, and they generally find a way... It is not only uncomfortable, but it is rude that the other person knowingly crams themself into a small seat, unlike many other industries, airlines really do not have a lot of wiggleroom (no pun intended) to expand the seating due to america's obesity epidemic. This guy isnt rude, he's right, and for those who worry about being sat next to an egotistical person, just go to sleep, they leave you alone.
There was a time when I flew between 10 and 15 round trips annually out of DFW. Now with security that treats everyone as hardened criminals (Love taking the shoes off!), and the fact that my two daughters are not allowed to come see their daddy off at the gate or go to the gate to welcome me home, and the fact that I have to pay extra for my one solitary suitcase to fly with me, and the fact that a small plastic cup of ice and a soft drink is become more and more rare, I barely fly at all anymore. I will drive to Kansas City, Memphis, Albuquerque, Tulsa and even Birmingham instead. Flying is not a fun endeavor. Actually, it has become somewhat miserable.
The airline executives and the Transportation Security Administration have managed to ruin flying for me.
I wholeheartedly agree. Travel in general is no fun anymore. We are being indefinitely held hostage by some obscure terrorist. There is no end to this. What did America do that is so vile to cause people to act in this way? I still have not got a sufficient answer to that question. I am sure it has something to do with "money" which is going to be the downfall of this nation.
Umm, no. Al Qaeda ruined flying for you.
What is the difference between a corporation trying to maximize its bottom line and an individual trying to maximize his/her bottom line. Are they both greedy? Or is it only greed when it applies to someone else? We don't want to pay because we want to keep our money and have a certain level of service. The corporation doesn't want to pay because it wants to keep it's money and provide a certain level of service. Many others have already pointed out that the best solution is to vote with our dollars. If everybody were to stay put for a year we would see amazing enticements to travel come our way. However, as long as we insist on complaining rather than acting we will have to live with waht we have.
I agree about our domestic carriers, Absolutely rediculous!! No meals on US Airways from Phoenix to Philadelphia, enroute to London. Luckily meal service on the international leg. But had to pay for alcohol. That is why I fly British Airways directly from Phoenix to London. Decnt food and free beverages throughout the flight. I also commend Air New Aealand on my leg from London to LA. Excellent food and again free alcohol. Even if the flight attendant wasn't serving at your seat, all you had to do was walk to the galley and ask for another beer or two. No questions asked.
Robert, on my recent flight from SFO to Munich/Germany I chose Lufthansa. Hot, moist towelettes provided before dinner and before breakfast to freshen up. Two meals (warm dinner and warm breakfast), snacks, flight attendants walked trough the aisles with beverages all night. On top of that, you could walk back to the galley, where they had trays with beverages, snacks, chocolates for passengers to grab. No questions asked. The food was fine even for coach passengers, just don't expect haute cuisine. Very polite and friendly cabin crew on the 11-11.5 hour flight.
Some airlines still seem to be able to provide service despite the cheaper tickets.
It's maddening, isn't it? I recently flew NYC – Denver and back, then NYC – Atlanta and back within the span of about 10 days. 2 canceled flights, 3+ hours stuck on the runway, 1 overnight stay in Denver = 2 packets of cookies, 2 miniscule OJs, 1/2 a can of Diet Coke & 1 purchased Jack & OJ. I'm staying Earthbound for the forseeable future.
This is a hilarious, but sadly accurate, description of my flying experiences before customer service tanked. I miss the mystery meat, and I'm a vegetarian.
I remember flying Delta between Atlanta to LA when I was a teenager; they would serve dinner, and then later in the flight cheese and fruit was offered before landing, or some cake if it was a night flight. When I got older, Delta had in-flight literature that bragged about how much ice their flights carried daily for the drink service.
On a recent Delta flight, Atlanta to LA, they made an announcement before boarding: there would be no food on board at all, so anyone wanting anything to eat had better run and buy something from the concession stand – first class passengers included. My row didn't receive the solitary drink service until over halfway through the flight.
I remember flying back and forth to San Diego from Atlanta in the late 70's right after Delta started flying there. They had what they called "Champagne Flights". Basically they went up and down the aisles serving Champagne and fruit. The seats in the tourist section where what you find in 1st class now. It was a great flight. Of course it cost about 4 times (in constant dollars) what the flight would cost today, but it was enjoyable.
It is really amazing how the airlines cut back on their on-board service and got away with it. Meal service was based on the flight time. Although a flight from Washington, D.C. to Chicago took more than 2 hours even prior to 9/11, the scheduled flight time was 1 hour 58 minutes. It was just the start. Now it does not matter how long is the actual flying time, sitting on the tarmac does not count anymore, nor does the wait to board the aricraft matters either. Given the limited eateries which serve "healthy food" at the airports, and all the dietary guidelines we should follow in order to avoid being charged for an additional seat on the plane due to our size, not to mention the various food items we should not take on board as a courtesy to our fellow passengers, we might as well get bottled "Ensure" or "Slimfast" at the gate as we board the plane, and for an additional fee we may select our choice of flavor (vanilla, strawberry or chocolate) at the time we reserve our flight.
This past April we flew Air New Zealand to visit our daughter and kiwi son-in-law. Our United flight from Chicago to SFO was a glass of ice with 1.5 ounces of diet Pepsi poured on top and a 1 oz. bag of pretzels. Our ANZ flight (coach) from SFO to Auckland had a full dinner, complementary NZ wines, many offerings of water through the entire 13+ hour flight, and a complete breakfast before we landed. We were flabbergasted by the service and the awesome, delicious food. It can be done! We just flew first class on AirTran from Seattle to Milwaukee 2 weeks ago. We were offered a glass of ice with diet Pepsi poured on top (you still don't get the can, even in 1st class!) and a choice from a basket of assorted granola and candy bars. That was first class on a 4 hour flight!
Air NZ has been, and will always be the top of my list for food service on their flights. Don't forget the English tea service and hot towels. I flew there in 2005 for a semester in ChCh, and it was one of the most positive experiences on a flight I've ever had with service. And I flew coach.
ANZ is my preferred carrier due to their outstanding in-flight customer service. I normally avoid airline food like the plague as it tends to cause more than a bit of discomfort. Imagine my shock and surprise when I had not only real meals, but incredible food. We had breakfast with pancakes and fruit and dinner was a choice of beef or lamb (the lamb was delicious). I fully plan on trying to take ANZ to any future overseas trips if this is their standard. The US flights I took were pathetic. I suggest packing your own to go for the US carriers. Just please keep it in sealed containers (take-out containers leak).
Actually it was business class, Airtran does not have a first class. Compare the price of your business class ticket on Airtran to the price of a first class ticket on another airline. I think you will find that the food was pretty expensive.
Steve- Airtran in fact does have a first class. You get free alcoholic beverages, actually any beverage, snacks, and headphones. Have flown it on their Orlando- Chicago (Midway) route a few times.
The fact of the matter is that if you want excellent service you should be prepared to pay for it. Do not look for rock bottom prices and then complain you didn't even get a cookie. The statement made by another poster has it all correct....The mainstream American travler today is the bus travler of the 60's and 70's. You had to really save up or be well to do to travel by air years and years ago.
I have recently flown from Peoria to St.Pete/Clearwater for $107 (taxes and fees included) round trip....yes, I had to pay for my checked bag, yes, I had to pay for a beverage and snack.....but $107????? I have flown from Peoria to Las Vegas for $147...I know that I am not going to get a meal, a movie, a free snack or even free beverage...but I got to Vegas and back for a steal and shouldn't whine about it.
Free booze and a huge seat with tons of leg room....1st class, business class.....I will take it!! lol
You get the can, I do every time, all you have to do is ask politely.....
I just retruned from Va. Bch on Air Tran. It was a round trip ticket for only 200.00 . We left at 6.23 am and arrived in Houston at 9.53 am with a 30 min lay over in Atl. on the plane from Atl. I asked for a coke and water and was given both and the attendent left the whole can. The American people are greedy and spoiled. They want all for nothing. If you can not get to your destination in 3 to 4 hours without having a full blown meal for that kind of price then get up a little earlier and make yourselves a meal and then get on the plane. BTW I thought the the news piece was not only well written but also entertaining. I lmao.
I've flown on Delta to Europe 5 times in the last 12 months and the meals have not changed. Same Chicken or Pasta dish served each time.
What did you expect? The American public wants the cheapest possible price.
How is it that European airlines are still able to provide tasty, pleasantly served fresh meals? On a flight from Frankfort to Florence, It. a sandwich on a fresh roll, cookie and beer or soft drink is served in record time with big smiles from the flight crew. The meals on KLM include freshly baked bread, flavorful meals, an abundance of snacks and free beer and wine.
Why don't American Airlines serve food. Two basic reasons: 1. It cuts into the profit margin of the airline to have to put food on an airplane for everyone on board. If you figure the expense of the food, the food preperations, the trays, plastic silverware, plus the carts, the stoage area (even if it is cold), the flight attendents that complain about heavy carts and having to serve means and pick up the trash and want more money for it, the costs are actually prohibitive on a large airplane. 2. the American traveling public, that use to ride on the bus or train, is not one the plane. Do you remember meals served on bus's? The American public bitches and moans about the slightest cost increase. In the 1950's and 60's a ticket on an airline cost was serveral hundred or thousand dollars in todays dollars. People dressed up and rode in style and were treated in style. Look at your average coach or now even first class passenger, they look like something out of the local gym, or the twilgiht zone. Deregulation is the demise of service, the extra's, and profit for the airlines. Fuel prices cut into what was left. Where employee costs were the #1 cost, it has now slipped to #2 and possible #3 as technology, contracts or lack there of, and layoffs have decimated the employees importance in the airlines. Add on to that that management no longer feels it necessary to take just a "fair" salary for themselves, they want millions of dollars a year in salary, topped with benefits, stock plans and of course the golden parachute guarrantee if they get fired or retire.
The money has to come form someplace. No meals for coach. In fact if you look in the coach area of most US airlines the galley has either been removed or neer installed to save weight and make room for more sardines in the back.
first off, I don't care about the industries PROFIT MARGIN, what about my personal profit margin? second off, they do still have good on the plane, they jus make you pay for it now, ALOT and it's overpriced... Third off, american were so "class" in the past, yeah and they were also racist and we are far more educated than we were in the past. Come down for your high horse please and don't defend an industry that consistently takes advantage of americans.
Sean – you may have more education today than in the past but as a whole the education today is nothing compared to the education of the past.
I couldn't agree more. I was a flight attendant on Latin America's largest airline, before they went belly up. We used to serve a full bar alcoholic cart during flights that lasted 35 minutes! Sandwich service (plus full bar alcohol cart) in 45! All that did was create this air of demand. These people didn't care if they were in the air for a mere 1/2 hour, they felt they had the RIGHT to all that stuff. So God forbid we run into turbulence, or the beer was warm, or the bread stale, it was near mutiny aboard when stuff like that happened.
People, you are on a bus. A bus with wings. Get over it. Bring your own damm pillows and snacks. The crew is there for your safety, not to rub your feet. I, for one, am happy to see all that service gone. It was great when people paid a fortune to have it, but like the article says, and it's not only people who fly, our whole society has turned into a group of slobs and direspectful creatures that don't deserve the time of day, much less a pack of pretzels. You want good service? PAY UP! Because the airlines surely will never ever shell out again to cater to a bunch of passengers with no class.
Sean,
DB's points are valid. The industry, in fact ANY industry, is designed to generate a profit. Your desires as the consumer are only important when ALL consumers collectively refuse to accept lousy service. This means that you don't use that airline or perhaps utilize an alternate mode of transport (train, car, etc.). Less customers means less profit and results in either the airline going belly-up (free market economics) or changing their policies to attract a new customer base. You can only be "taken advantage of" if you allow it.
The point about "class" of traveler is also valid. Take it as a noun and not an adjective. The wealthy could afford to fly and spent big for that opportunity. Big money equals big perks. As the industry expanded and sought to attract volume, they lowered fares and attracted a different "class" of traveler. Cheap tickets means less perks, simple as that.
Wow, RixLax. THAT is why the airlines are going belly up. Because of the POOR service of the flight crew like you. It's incredible that you admit you don't provide service. Airlines AND Buses AND Trains are all a business and in the service industry. I work in the service industry. If you provide good quality service, then your clientale sticks with you and your business grow as. People want to do business with someone who provides good service. If your airline provides poor service, guess what...less and less people will want to fly with you.
If airlines need to cut costs and do away with food...fine...it's business, I understand. But if the flight crew has an attitude with me and acts like I'm bothering them when I get cold or thirsty...take a hike...I'll find another airline to fly with. There are some airlines I refuse to fly beause of the POOR service they provide. If your airline had flight attendants without the attitude you have, maybe they would still be around.
Dear RixLax,
there is no company if there is no product/service and there is no profit if that product/service is bad even though it is a necessity. I agree that mix of passengers changed but look what happened with american flight attendants: most of them look like they just came from their beds, no manners, angry, rude to passengers.... They do not deserve to be paid for their serices. And no, their job description is not that they are there for my safety only (that is questionable how somebody who has problems moving around can save me from anything) they are there to make me feel comfortable during my flight which includes smiles on their faces, water, food, snacks etc. If they do not like the job description there are some other jobs to do. Hey, but who would leave those free/extremely cheap tickets, right. Somehow they always forgot to add that to their pay... I fly at least five times/year oversees and it cannot happen to me to fly on any of american air companies. I would rather shoot myself
for the price we pay to fly you should be rubbing our feet.
"for the price we pay to fly you should be rubbing our feet"
Really? I recently flew to Europe and it cost barely more than when I flew in the late 70s. The same dollar price that is. What else costs the same as over 30 years ago?
It is a common misconception that people go back to the business that provides the best service. Where do most people book their tickets? Orbitz or other agencies. How do they book? Based on meals, service etc? No. Based on price and schedule. So, if the airline offers the best service and happens to fly at the time one needs for the lowest price, the customer is happy. If, however, there is another airline next to it that is even known for poor service but offers $5 lower price, guess which one will get the reservation.
It's not the airlines, WE are the ones that are creating the poor service conditions. Airlines are simply taking it as far as they can.
To RixLax:
I am truly sorry about your troubles while working as a flight attendant, but please do not generalize. Not everyone on board are out to be jerks and complain about everything. They're some who paid good money, they worked their ass for by the way, to be on a particular plane. For a flight over an hour, there should be some form of food, like pretzels, or peanuts. And yes, a drink as well. Yes, a plane is a bus with wings, but buses don't charge several hundred dollars for a ticket, and most buses don't go for over an hour. Some do though, but it's easier to bring snacks from home, but in the airport, the task is difficult. So please, push your bad experiences aside and don't think your the only cereb in the world. I'm only asking for food that's no more than $2 a person, and should be included on my ticket anyway.
Wow, RixLax. "Pay up?" For fluffy amenities like...oh, I don't know...HAVING A BAG to check in? As for food, I used to really appreciate the little bag of Blue Diamond nuts and some soda. It's not much to ask, is it? Look closely at the picture accompanying the article. Looks like First Class, but still, it's a shock when you consider the no-frills torture flying has become. I was always grateful and appreciative toward the flight staff. Flying is a total pain nowadays and I avoid it whenever possible, mostly because of the lack of value one gets for the cost of a ticket.
@Bill,
That is a bit simplistic. If you paid the same dollar amount as you did in the 70's, that would be an increase of over 500%. Inflation between now and 30-40 years ago has drastically increased the cost of everything (even milk). Flight times are also less than half what they used to be, both in the air and in the airport. Also, the population of the earth had doubled since the 1970's placing more demand on the airline industry (and all others for that matter). The population in 1970 was 3.7 billion, compared to today's 7 billion. Consider the cost of security for such service. Can you think of the last time a plane was held hostage as they were in the 1970's? (Obviously I mean no offense to any victims of 9/11 or any other air disaster).
__
I have no problem if the airlines do not offer food (snacks or meals). If I am hungry, I can bring my own or purchase in an airport. It's called planning. Deregulation really had nothing to do with the food. Customer service is in a universal decline all over the world. Most people do not expect good customer service anymore. That has been brought about as a result of lower wages, more responsibility on the part of employers as well as a general attitude of laziness in America. That is also America's greatest export, laziness. Just look at the poor grammar and laziness in the writing of these comments for proof.
When we have an acceptable level of behavior and responsibility again, I expect airlines will once again provide meals. We should stop expecting more from other people and start expecting more from ourselves.
The cost of the ticket is nothing if you remember what it actually gets you. $350 gets me from coast to coast and back. It gets me there within hours. Alternatively, I could pay thousands of dollars and spend weeks of my time driving from New York to Los Angeles and back to New York. Some free peanuts would be a nice perk, but I'm already getting my money's worth without them.
As a former Airline employee, pre deregulation, so much contributes to the changes the airlines have been forced to make. Prior to deregulation, if an airline wanted to fly a certain route, they had to apply and get CAB approval. Markets weren't saturated with 5-10 airlines vying for the same routes/times, thus started the price wars. You the american public want safe air travel, competent pilots and flight attendents but you want to pay less than it costs to take a bus. So quit complaining. If the airlines increased fares to accomodate your food, then you'd be complaining about the cost. You will never be happy. Just remember, you get what you pay for!!!
db, you're a jackass.
I coudn't agree with CoffeeClue more. I hate paying for bad food on planes, but would rather be able to buy my cheap tickets (and yes, they are cheap compared with past prices) than have a bunch of extras built into the price.
In 1984 I saved for a year to fly my family out to AZ from MA to visit my family that had not seen my kids in 10 years. The cost, including food, was $1800.00 I had a second job since my main job only paid me $300.00 per week. Most trips I would travel by myself because of the cost.
Its all about greed. They are trying to take as much money from everyone as they can and no one is doing anything to stop it. Whereas, other country's have more regulation to prevent this kind of behavior. Unfortunately, the United States holds money as their god.
Let me add that in THIS country, companies can get away with anything they want to do.
Melissa – arent companies supposed to make as much profit as possible? I fault no company for that. You want better service, etc., voice your consumer muscle but dont fault companies for operating their business. If you owned a business you'd be after as much money as you could as well, else you wouldnt be in business very long.
And let us not forget the fact that corporations give HUGE sums of money to the money squandering lying poloticians!!! This allows the corporations to do whatever they want!!! MAKES ME SICK!!!
ME – True, companies are SUPPOSED to make a profit... but aren't they supposed to provide in RETURN for that profit? It might have something to do with all the brilliance of stripping companies down to their "core business:" what are American travelers paying for, quick passage to Disneyland, or dinner, a movie, and (oh, yes) a safe trip to wherever?
I think it would be interesting to look at the books of these airlines, check out their profit margins after all the cutting and charging for the "little extras" other world airlines apparently take for granted, compared to before, and especially before de-regulation.
When you purchase a ticket, the only obligation the company has to you is to deliver you from point A to point B....Anything else is above and beyond. Also, flying is not a right, it is a luxury that is taken for granted. while you complain because your usual peanuts or pretzels are no longer available, you forget that the flight time is a fraction of the time it takes to drive/ride there via bus or car. Back in the day, people flying was like taking a yachting trip today...something that was done for more fun than actual need. Today, you deal with screaming babies, annoying women who tell you about their 12 year old daughter starting PMS and Obese people taking up well over their fair share of the seats. I'd complain about baggage or about passenger to passenger problems before the food. bring a snack and suck it up
The reason the service is so different on some European airlines is that Americans tend to shop on price, French people tend to shop on quality of service – different culture, both equally valid. When most of us travel, we shop around to find out who will offer the lowest fare on a particular route. This means that airlines have to constantly undercut each other in order to keep us buying their tickets. Lower sales prices HAVE to mean lower cost of producing the service, hence the 'perks' go away. For the most part, French people are willing to pay extra for a ticket if it means getting there more comfortably, hence Air France is not forced to compete on price, but on service. It's just not reasonable to expect $1,000 worth of service for $200.
Melissa, before you start to talk about greed and regulation, learn about the american airline industry. Most of these airlines lose money for 3 out of 4 quarters of the year. They're not cutting back because they're greedy, they're cutting back to stay afloat. With gasoline prices skyrocketing and ticket prices consistently decreasing, it is getting harder and harder for airlines to draw the net they need to pay their personnel and cover the extreme maintenance cost of their fleets. Either of these could be reduced, but do you really want the airplane that is flying you to be poorly maintained or the pilot who is in control of that airplane underpaid and disgruntled? In some of your other posts, you talk about regulation. Before the airlines were deregulated, tickets were incredibly expensive and airlines actually made a large enough profit to pay their pilots enough to buy a new cadillac every month, which works out to roughly 700,000 USD a year today. The airlines would thank you for regulation, and, then you would have something new to blindly complain about.
It is called Capitalism, profit is the driving force. If you do not like it, then fight to change to Socialism.
Also. Airlines haven't been making profits for years, they are having to be supported by the government to keep fares from rising drastically. Flight prices for coach have barely increased in 30 years. If you want perks, PAY MORE. I remember my mom taking cross country flights for $600 in the early 80's. They were crazy expensive since she made all of $15K a year. When I was living in CA and made $50K two years ago I made the same flights for $350. Expenses like salaries have gone up with the cost of living, but ticket prices haven't.
Melissa, do you own a company? If so, would you be willing to give away your product or services at below market value out of sheer altruism? Would you like the government to determine how much businesses are allowed to make? How would you feel if the government put a salary cap on your pay?
Greed or frugality? That food is there any time you want it. Just buy a first class ticket. For the rest of us who can plan our meals around a flight, we'd prefer to not foot your food bill with our ticket.
"money as god' I like the concept of money as god. Money does not discriminate. It always goes to the one who desires it's affection. It does not judge you based on you ethnicity. It is plural. It is not vengeful . It does not enable or disable one from doing things. It is ever present and the advantages of its use and disadvantages of it's misuse can be seen clearly and the best of all.....It does not require interpretation from clergy.
Oh and Melissa. As for Greed. Are you going to tell us you are not greedy? Perhaps not for money but you sure are greedy for attention and soapbox to stand on and shout out your opinions....So you are greedy for affirmation and acknowledgement. You too are greedy. It is just that you feel your greed is somehow more scantified than mine.
Melissa – you're an idiot. This attitude that "companies" are all greedy evil entities that are trying in every way possible to kill the nice, pure people of the world is nothing but a drug-induced fantasy! Stop smoking that weed and step into the real word. Where companies are started by individuals and/or families, grow and provide salaries, benefits, and retirement options for people from small towns to large cities, including old ladies in their retirement years and teachers working for next to nothing. Yeah, they need to make a profit...that's how the system works. No profit, no company, no job. 99.9% of company managers don't spend every waking hour trying to figure out how to screw you or your neighbor. And, despite your Alice in Wonderland perspective, companie in America are no different than companies in any other country!
The part that amazes me is that the European air-lines are also much cheaper, and travel agents at least have the appearance of helping the traveller rather than the industry.
Wouldn't it be nice for us Americans to be able to fly from NY to MI for the same price Europeans can go from London to Barcelona.
I can only assume that the U.S business model (other than FL & NV) is based on some 1960's concept that only businessmen travel, and are therefore willing to pay top dollar by charging it to the never ending Corporate credit card.
Infact, maybe U.S airlines are run by Willy Loman, and we're witnessing death of an airline-ticket salesman.
Sorry dude, but it is not cheaper to fly on most European airlines. Also, many get money from their governments, so the total cost per passenger mile is as much, if not more, than it is in America. It's just spread out to then non-flying public as well. Cheap European discount airlines like Ryanair practice the same cost-cutting measures as US airlines do. Full-cost European airlines still charge their passengers about the same amount as American airlines are.
Steve, the bottom line is that they are cheaper for the customer (I don't care how they achieve it).
It costs as much to fly from Buffalo to Albany as it does JFK to Rome.
I wouldn't mind no frills if I could sightsee in the U.S for a reasonable price. As it stands, it's cheaper to fly to Europe and then take easyjet flights for next to nothing. I know. I've done it 3 times.
I won't even get started on the superior train system over there.
Travel in the U.S is just too expensive.
GAZ – the simple fact is that most European airlines are subsidized by their respective governments which makes the cost to the passenger lower. If you want government subsidies for the airline industry you'll pay less for a ticket, but you WILL pay for it somewhere else (read .... TAX).
Well we have all see how the Europeans maintain such a great lifestyle. I find Europeans to be hypocrites. So they don'rt borrow money..whooti do....they let their governments borrow on their behalf. You say you don't care how they give you a cheaper far as long as they do. I don't care how you ge it to me for cheap as long as you do. That to me seems a very self-centered view of the world....very European infact.
The writing style and text chosen make this article hard to read and above the reach of most (even seasoned air travelers) in style and composure. Really CNN?.....we expect better
Personally I found the writing style refreshing, creative, and very entertaining, something I would enjoy reading on my flight in 2 days to Chicago to distract my mind from the hunger pangs due to lack of food service.. how I long for the days of international travel and free food with ample service..
Marc: Who is the 'we' of which you speak? I was able to understand all of the words he used. Perhaps you could consult dictionary.com?
Seriously! What was the point of and conclusion to this article? Go get some reporting done.
You can thank Reganonomics and deregulation. While you're at it, you can thank the same idiotic, proven-wrong theories for deregulating the banks, the telecoms, the oil companies, and killing the middle class while concentrating 90% of the wealth of the US with 1% of the population.
A lot more people are able to afford to fly precisely because if deregulation. It costs A LOT LESS to fly in the US now than it did in the era of regulation.
Back in the good old days of regulation of the phone companies and airlines, a long-distance call across the country would cost you $.25/min and that was in 1980's dollars. Now they are a few pennies per minute. The same with airfares. What the airlines have done is unbundled the costs. There is no free lunch, literally. Every pound of cargo costs the airline money, so if you check a 50 pound bag and I don't and we both pay the same amount for the ticket, then I either paying for something I don't use or helping to offset the cost of your bag. Same for food, blankets, legroom, etc. Americans want everything as cheap as possible and the airlines have responded. Don't check luggage, don't buy food, don't use the internet and you can fly from Atlanta to San Fransisco for $129. Now that is cheap.
Almost generally international flights serve full meals, but even here, AA has the worst airline food. I flew from LA to Heathrow a couple of years ago in British Airways and the food was great, the service was great and it didn't feel tiresome at all. I wasn't that expensive either. I wish all flights were like that.
I've flown to Singapore on United Airlines, EVA (Taiwanese airline), Japan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. The last three were spectacular in service, with Singapore Airlines as the best. In my May 2008 United Airlines' flight to Singapore, we overheard one flight attendant whisper to another, "the chicken's cold." We were at the back of the plane and they had not planned ahead to make sure that food was hot for those in the back. Similarly, they have this practice of giving "add hot water" noodle bowls to passengers as the minor meal somewhere over the Pacific. Singapore Airlines et al. take pride in their service and never do anything (regarding service) that doesn't impress customers. The American airliners (domestic and international) have to recapture the golden era of air service on their own routes. This era is alive and well on Asian airliners. Why can't the American airliners do the same? I know–it's cost. Still angry about it, though.
I flew from the Detroit to Heathrow (7 hours) and another 10 hours from Heathrow to Joburg and during that time had 4 meals and a snack. Even when I took and hour flight on South African Airways or Botswana Air I still received a snack and refreshment. I just took an American airline flight for four hours to Vegas and had to pay $2 for water... really. Come on.
What was the cost per mile of the two trips?
This is why, whenever I have the option, I fly foreign airlines. While I'm all for supporting domestic businesses, I have to draw a line somewhere. European airlines have won the battle for my business, far and away. I only wish they would take over a bunch of domestic routes.
I don't even think our airlines know what their customers want. If a coach seat is $350, and first class is $2000, I would gladly pay 50% more ($525) for a seat with 25% more space, a decent meal, and the ability to get more than an 8 oz glass of water in a dryer-than-the-sahara airplane.
And that is the problem right there RixLax, people who work for the airlines just like you with the attitude of "PAY UP! Because the airlines surely will never ever shell out again to cater to a bunch of passengers with no class." Just because fliers are fed up with ever increasing costs of flying and the HORRID way a SERVICE industry treats its customers doesn't mean we have no class. We aren't talking about 30 minute flights with no food but to have to pay for a bad meal on a 4+ or even longer flight when we are being gouged every other way, increased baggage fees etc. Airlines could care less about their passengers just look at people stuck on the ground for hours begging for water and although the staff managed to get their pilot a bottle of water there was nothing for the children or elderly forced to endure. Don't even think about getting on your high horse with us we pay your bloated salary. I still dress nice and unfortunately for me I still remember when Airlines and Airline workers like you cared. And Tyler, you are assuming that by not feeding us they removed that fee.
Haha, "bloated salary". The flight attendants at the airline where I work start at about $14k/year for a job that requires them to spend 180 nights a year in hotels away from home.
Agreed to many comments here, I go visit family a lot in Asia, travel internationally and you'll see just how bad US based airlines are both in quality and in service. The damning part of the whole thing is that US airfares are only "slightly" cheaper than most Asian carriers. The worst is the return leg to the US, the transition from polite and helpful young flight attendants who serve good food to old grouchy and rude flight attendants who toss you a bag of nuts is always a beat down.
I guess it's my own fault for living in a major US based carrier's hub city...
This is echoed many times in the responses above but if you want a good meal and you are flying overseas, fly anything but a U.S. airline. IMHO the best airline meal I ever had was on a Cathay Pacific flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong–the "western breakfast" (you could also get Chinese). The seat spacing was excruciating (I am 6'-6"–that is 2m for some of you) but the meal made up for it. Cathay Pacific, BTW, is mostly owned and controlled by the People's Republic. The Chinese do it right when they want to.
AGREE 100%.
Because American Airline executives are greedy with their bloated salaries and bonuses. I don't see why the airlines can't offer a sandwich, bag of chips and soft drink?
The best airline I have flown so far is Qatar Airways! You get to pick from a menu even in economy class and it's a choice of exotic food including appetizer, main course, dessert, cheese and crackers, and they also provide free alcoholic beverages although I do not drink. The flight attendants are the nicest, always smiling no matter how unreasonable the passenger can be. You get free headsets, a thick and comfortable blanket, and even stickers for your seat if you want to be woken up for meals, duty free or not. If Qatar flies where I'm going, this is my airline of choice regardless of cheaper flights.
I've flown on Airlines all over Europe (and the world for that matter) and most airlines in Europe DO NOT serve free food. I think that is a HUGE misconception. In fact, some airlines in Europe mercilessly even charge for water!
You will not find any big difference between airlines in North America and Europe.
In all honesty, the best airlines in my opinion were surprisingly in my case, ones based out of South East Asia and Africa.
Air Flight is about getting you from point A to point B, not feeding you. For God's sake, you can't go without eating for couple of hours? PIG