I hate flying. The rising costs of flights. The crowds. Waiting in long lines. Flight delays. Losing luggage. Losing my mind. Sitting in the middle of two less than appealing seat-mates. Sitting through a three hour flight with a little monster behind you who won’t stop kicking the seat. Just me?
The point is, flying can be downright miserable, no matter how much you pay.
Granted, tougher (and necessary) security measures are part of it and the fact that the airlines are hemorrhaging money isn’t helping. But, there is something I think the airlines can do to…
- Make the flying experience as fun as the investment
- Make flying more affordable for the masses
- End price confusion…while preserving margins
My solution? Add more tiers of service to the flying public. You want to pay an arm and a leg for the same flight but ‘better’ service? Here you go. Can’t afford a flight, but don’t mind flying uncomfortably? Standing room for you.
I suggest an airline test the following concept:
First Class – Much like the old days with ample legroom, attentive flight attendants, a gourmet meal (w/ real silver), free booze, hot towels, slippers, etc.
Priced: $1000 — $1200
Executive Class – Friendly service with comfortable seating, a good meal (plastic utensils), discounted booze, priority boarding and lavatory-sharing with First Class passengers.
Priced: $600 — $800
Economy Class – Decent service, adequate legroom, soda/water and snacks for a fee and limited lavatory.
Priced: $300 — $500
Limited Class – No service, bench seating, water and lavatory only in emergency, board the craft moments prior to take-off and have to make the ‘walk of shame’ past other travelers.
Priced: $69 — $99
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
As a patron of many US military charters, I think the jump seats in a C-130 would fall into your “Limited Class” category.
I remember a skit on a comedy show way back in the 70′s, where the Limited Class passengers were tied into their seats with ropes instead of seat belts, and the hag of a flight attendant went down the aisle, slinging some sort of potato mush onto the paper picnic plates of the poor passengers. HA! They couldn’t even foresee a day when we would not even get ANYTHING to eat.
Anyway, the solution is very simple. Taking an airliner is like taking a bus. Leave the driving to us. So, if you wouldn’t take a bus, why would you take an airliner? Buy your own airplane and fly whenever and wherever you want to! We are allowed to bring knives, drinks, and even guns into our private cockpits if we darn well feel like it! The only time we take off our shoes is to wiggle our toes in the gentle breeze coming from the cabin vent or heater. Our seats are so soft, we can fly for 4 hours without needing to stand up. No crying babies. No catching Ebola or TB from a world traveler back in 38F.
On top of that, flying in your own airplane with one other person is as cheap as flying an airliner. And you get to see the REAL America. You fly into sleepy little airports and discover that our country outside the cities is NOT polluted, the sky is blue, the grass is green, there is no crime, and people treat each other with respect and courtesy. More people should take up flying. It gives you an entirely different perspective.
Hey, Robin! I just flew Frontier Airlines last week and they now have a similar system in place – pay for the amenities you want. Yours is better and more indepth, but maybe the flying world has chance!
Melissa
Okay…hey, Tom…
I think flying is what you make of it. Me, I’m an aviation aficionado, so I don’t mind the ‘inconveniences’ associated with today’s airport experience. Couple that with my voluntary election to sit window-style – I’m 6’5″, really not that fun – and some would call me borderline mental.