Comments on: Blaming the victim for our air travel mess

By: Marilyn Terrell

Marilyn Terrell — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:38:14 +0000

If the airlines think they can make more money by offering better services to the elite passengers, let them try. But I think Southwest already found a better formula, of offering good and reliable service to all passengers, and they’re one of the few (only?) successful domestic airlines in business today.

By: Tim A.

Tim A. — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:08:25 +0000

…I have to wonder…something tells me HE has elite status too and also probably gets the upgrades as well. Soooo I don’t get it. It just sounds like he’s complaining about the jerks and responding to the hurt feelings of people flying coach. But not really posing a good argument that it is truly ruining air travel.

I understand the jealousy though. After all, when I’m stuck in economy for a 13 hour flight to Japan and I see kids as young as 10 or 11 enjoying business class on a Continental 777 flight, it kind of irks me… Ok. It really irks me. Especially since I do this leg every month. But are they ruining air travel? No. I think there are far far bigger issues out there than “the elites”… His blog is great but at least for this article he seems to have missed the point…

By: Mark Ashley

Mark Ashley — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:05:07 +0000

Mr. Coward, please play nice…

By: Chris H.

Chris H. — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:55:38 +0000

To add to jetlags points, I believe that blame is due to those that call the shots. Not that the airlines have had it easy the past 15 years, but it’s been poor business decision after poor business decision.

But jetlag made the most valid point yet, and I quote:

“It’s the sh*t hitting the fan on the fossil fuel economy.”

By: jetlag

jetlag — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:00:27 +0000

The idea that “someone” is to blame for the problems of air travel in the early 21th century is just silly to me.

It’s not the elite travelers.
Or the frequent flyers.
Or the casual travelers.
Or the airlines. (Though I wish Southwest flight attendant would be less cloying!)

It’s the sh*t hitting the fan on the fossil fuel economy. Here’s what I want in air travel:

* reliability
* convenience
* comfort
* low prices
* high wages for employees
* an empty seat on either side of me. (Hey, I can wish!)
* the end of TSA.

Those days are over (to the limited degree they were ever here.) And there’s no one group you can point a finger at.

By: Anonymous Coward

Anonymous Coward — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:36:39 +0000

I cannot believe dumbasses like this Chris Elliott guy actually exist. Seriously.

What a poorly research piece by a pathetic excuse for a journo-moron….

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:12:10 +0000

Not only are we not ruining air travel, we’re also not packing unnecessarily large bags and trying to cram them into the overhead bin, we’re not holding up the security line to argue with the TSA agent about taking off our shoes, we have our ticket and ID in hand, we don’t (usually) cause the flight attendants much trouble, we board when we’re supposed to and we get off quickly.

It’s a crummy way to travel these days but we do it so much that we’re very efficient about it, making it better for everyone else. We sit in coach most of the time unless our upgrade squeaks though, so you really can’t tell the difference between us and “them” anyway.

Yes, we’re just like everyone else. We’re just better at it.