Comments on: Bad ideas go viral: US Airways starts charging for aisle and window seats http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:07:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Beat The System: Killer Priceline Tricks For Hotel Deals http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21582 Beat The System: Killer Priceline Tricks For Hotel Deals Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:10:01 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21582 [...] Upgrade Travel Better [...] […] Upgrade Travel Better […]

]]> By: Marilyn Terrell http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21484 Marilyn Terrell Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:23:11 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21484 Clever use of the word "choice" to make something distasteful sound great. Clever use of the word “choice” to make something distasteful sound great.

]]> By: Jason H http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21483 Jason H Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:31:10 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21483 I often find myself puzzling over people's desire to find any reason to knock air travel. I'm not necessarily saying that this is the best idea that US Airways has had, but suffice to say that every airline is looking for any source of incremental income. Which often lends me to thinking about the status of air travel in the United States. So often US airlines are compared to Asian or European mainline carriers, which I think is a bad comparison to make. On my last flight on Delta I was in first class from Denver to Atlanta (thank you Gold status) and the gentleman sitting next to me talked endlessly about how much better Lufthansa is than Delta. If you look at the route networks and aircraft distribution for LH and DL, of course it's going to be better on LH. Same with Asian carriers. They aren't serving as domestic carrier for the third largest country in the world. Further, LH isn't filling up their planes with a bunch of people who believe that they deserve to travel by aircraft and that they deserve first class treatment for a $400 transcontinental coach ticket. US carriers are hamstrung because they believe (or are forced by the DOT Essential Air Service program) to serve small and underperforming communities. That being said, if Delta decided that they were going to pull service (including RJ service) to all but major markets, and focus on creating a premium 3-class international carrier, the uproar from citizens and politicians would force them to revert to their old ways in order to "serve the people." Nevermind that by "serving the people" the airline is forced to destroy itself. I often find myself puzzling over people’s desire to find any reason to knock air travel. I’m not necessarily saying that this is the best idea that US Airways has had, but suffice to say that every airline is looking for any source of incremental income. Which often lends me to thinking about the status of air travel in the United States.

So often US airlines are compared to Asian or European mainline carriers, which I think is a bad comparison to make. On my last flight on Delta I was in first class from Denver to Atlanta (thank you Gold status) and the gentleman sitting next to me talked endlessly about how much better Lufthansa is than Delta. If you look at the route networks and aircraft distribution for LH and DL, of course it’s going to be better on LH. Same with Asian carriers. They aren’t serving as domestic carrier for the third largest country in the world.

Further, LH isn’t filling up their planes with a bunch of people who believe that they deserve to travel by aircraft and that they deserve first class treatment for a $400 transcontinental coach ticket. US carriers are hamstrung because they believe (or are forced by the DOT Essential Air Service program) to serve small and underperforming communities.

That being said, if Delta decided that they were going to pull service (including RJ service) to all but major markets, and focus on creating a premium 3-class international carrier, the uproar from citizens and politicians would force them to revert to their old ways in order to “serve the people.” Nevermind that by “serving the people” the airline is forced to destroy itself.

]]> By: From the Mind of J http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21473 From the Mind of J Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:32:30 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21473 More reason not to fly. More reason not to fly.

]]> By: Earth Day events; LAX full body scan; US Airways seat debate - Travel - LATimes.com http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21470 Earth Day events; LAX full body scan; US Airways seat debate - Travel - LATimes.com Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:06:01 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21470 [...] | Here are two takes on the US Airways move to charge for aisle and window seats. Upgrade: Travel Better vents about this decision and reminds us it’s not a new change (Northwest did it in 2006) and [...] […] | Here are two takes on the US Airways move to charge for aisle and window seats. Upgrade: Travel Better vents about this decision and reminds us it’s not a new change (Northwest did it in 2006) and […]

]]> By: Mark Ashley http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21469 Mark Ashley Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:56:45 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21469 I agree that not all seats are created equal, and in that spirit, it becomes all the more important to check <a href="http://www.seatguru.com/" rel="nofollow">SeatGuru</a> before choosing where to park your butt. And getting off the plane earlier is indeed valuable under certain circumstances. A tight connection, or an international flight, in particular. So yes, I could see paying a few bucks under those circumstances. But not every circumstance. The irony remains that late arrivals to the airport are likely to get these seats for free when they check in at a kiosk. Much as UA's economy plus seats are assigned to late arrivals if the plane is full. And don't get me started about Lufthansa. Even with United elite status that afforded Star Alliance Gold recognition, I somehow always got assigned seats in the <a href="http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/10/10/open-letter-to-lufthansa/" rel="nofollow">last row of the plane</a>, right next to the toilet. I agree that not all seats are created equal, and in that spirit, it becomes all the more important to check SeatGuru before choosing where to park your butt.

And getting off the plane earlier is indeed valuable under certain circumstances. A tight connection, or an international flight, in particular. So yes, I could see paying a few bucks under those circumstances. But not every circumstance.

The irony remains that late arrivals to the airport are likely to get these seats for free when they check in at a kiosk. Much as UA’s economy plus seats are assigned to late arrivals if the plane is full.

And don’t get me started about Lufthansa. Even with United elite status that afforded Star Alliance Gold recognition, I somehow always got assigned seats in the last row of the plane, right next to the toilet.

]]> By: Oliver http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21467 Oliver Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:56:21 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/04/17/bad-ideas-go-viral-us-airways-starts-charging-for-aisle-and-window-seats/#comment-21467 Well, I think some travelers do consider the front of the economy cabin to be more desirable than the back. Not all seats are created equal, even if the actual seat/space is identical. For instance, on international flights getting off the aircraft quickly can make the difference between a 5 min immigration wait and a 30 - 60 min wait. LH, for example, also seems to reserve the front of the economy cabin for their frequent flyers. They don't charge extra cash, but they clearly believe that it's a perk that should be reserved for those who deserve it (and I as a Star Alliance Gold member have ended up sitting in a middle seat in the back). Now, I am not a US Preferred flyer and as a UA 1K I don't benefit. But if my choice is $5 for a somewhat "nicer seat" or a bad seat in the back, I'll gladly pony up the little extra money. Well, I think some travelers do consider the front of the economy cabin to be more desirable than the back. Not all seats are created equal, even if the actual seat/space is identical. For instance, on international flights getting off the aircraft quickly can make the difference between a 5 min immigration wait and a 30 - 60 min wait. LH, for example, also seems to reserve the front of the economy cabin for their frequent flyers. They don’t charge extra cash, but they clearly believe that it’s a perk that should be reserved for those who deserve it (and I as a Star Alliance Gold member have ended up sitting in a middle seat in the back).

Now, I am not a US Preferred flyer and as a UA 1K I don’t benefit. But if my choice is $5 for a somewhat “nicer seat” or a bad seat in the back, I’ll gladly pony up the little extra money.

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