Airline sinks to new low.

[CanOfCorn]

What are they supposed to do? Not raise costs to make customers happy and fly every plane at a loss? They are really between a rock and a hard place because flying planes is not cheap.

 

I didn't say not to raise fares...I'm saying that to raise fares and then start charging for other things like pillows, blankets, food, 2nd bag, shoot, probably 1st bag eventually, those are the kinds of things that are really going to piss off your customers.

 

Lemme give you an example. My wife's family has been planning a trip to Hawai'i for her parents 25th anniversary for 5 years (they are major planners). Well, obviously, you can't get a ticket more than about a year in advance. And honestly, I'm fine with purchasing the tickets at the current price. I mean, it's not ideal, but I understand. What's pissing me off is that our son will be 5 months old then and we are going to be bringing a lot of stuff for him (diapers, formula, pack-n-play, etc) and the airlines are going to be charging for all of it. What am I supposed to do, not take it? Rising prices + losing benefits = alienating the people that use your product.

 

I think people will pay what it costs if they are given a complimentary soft drink, a pack of nuts and a free 2nd bag. You start charging for everything and people will find another way...that's not helping the airlines.

 

And honestly, where the f*** is Amtrak during all this? if I were them, I would be hawking my wares all over the place.

 

[southsider2k5]

I don't think you will be able to get an amtrak to Hawaii

[Rex Kickass]

Amtrak, by and large is running at capacity. Which is surprising given how poor their service is. And the food on Amtrak is only free if you're in a sleeper car.

[lostfan]

Amtrak, by and large is running at capacity. Which is surprising given how poor their service is. And the food on Amtrak is only free if you're in a sleeper car.

Yeah, I take the train to New York semi-regularly, and it's been sold out all the times I've used it, regardless of time of day.

[Steff]

I didn't say not to raise fares...I'm saying that to raise fares and then start charging for other things like pillows, blankets, food, 2nd bag, shoot, probably 1st bag eventually, those are the kinds of things that are really going to piss off your customers.

 

Lemme give you an example. My wife's family has been planning a trip to Hawai'i for her parents 25th anniversary for 5 years (they are major planners). Well, obviously, you can't get a ticket more than about a year in advance. And honestly, I'm fine with purchasing the tickets at the current price. I mean, it's not ideal, but I understand. What's pissing me off is that our son will be 5 months old then and we are going to be bringing a lot of stuff for him (diapers, formula, pack-n-play, etc) and the airlines are going to be charging for all of it. What am I supposed to do, not take it? Rising prices + losing benefits = alienating the people that use your product.

 

I think people will pay what it costs if they are given a complimentary soft drink, a pack of nuts and a free 2nd bag. You start charging for everything and people will find another way...that's not helping the airlines.

 

And honestly, where the f*** is Amtrak during all this? if I were them, I would be hawking my wares all over the place.

 

 

I took Bri to Florida for 2 weeks then to Arizona for a week. I bought diapers and formula when I got to both places and I used the cribs provided by the hotels. I got lucky on the car seats because my sister had my nephews I could use in Fla and my girlfriend let me use her sons when I was in AZ. Bri was 3 months old at the time and spent lots of time in onsies and simple outfits. I know it's a bit of a hassle, but you can pack pretty compact for them. I got to take her diaper bag and small stroller on board for free, in addition to my 2 carryons, so that was a help. I agree it sucks - the charges - but it's all they've got aside from raising the flight costs even more than they already have.

[Chisoxfn]

This could be a good time for a rental car company offering up strollers and baby seats for free for people that rent cars from them (obviously they'd have to put down a deposit) but could be a nice marketing gimmick.

[NorthSideSox72]

Amtrak has been doing huge business lately (not surprising given the cost of driving and flying). Problem is, they can't add capacity or renovate equipment, because they don't have the budget for it.

 

I'd really like to see the US adopt a system similar to what the Brits did recently... treat the rails like utility lines, but open to competition and new businesses. Those businesses share costs of upkeep and maintenance of the infrastructure based on usage. This would create an opening for new rail carriers to jump into the fray, running only profitable routes at first, then expanding.

 

The current system is such that the rail companies own the rails - UP, BNSF, etc. And since they are making a good buck on freight right now, and aren't expert in passenger service, and don't want the traffic issues, they have zero motivation to start offerring passenger rail. Something has to give, if you want the intercity passenger rail system in the US to be anything other than its current state of awfulness.

 

[Rex Kickass]

Amtrak has been doing huge business lately (not surprising given the cost of driving and flying). Problem is, they can't add capacity or renovate equipment, because they don't have the budget for it.

 

I'd really like to see the US adopt a system similar to what the Brits did recently... treat the rails like utility lines, but open to competition and new businesses. Those businesses share costs of upkeep and maintenance of the infrastructure based on usage. This would create an opening for new rail carriers to jump into the fray, running only profitable routes at first, then expanding.

 

The current system is such that the rail companies own the rails - UP, BNSF, etc. And since they are making a good buck on freight right now, and aren't expert in passenger service, and don't want the traffic issues, they have zero motivation to start offerring passenger rail. Something has to give, if you want the intercity passenger rail system in the US to be anything other than its current state of awfulness.

 

Two words could solve this problem: Eminent Domain.

[NorthSideSox72]

Two words could solve this problem: Eminent Domain.

Well that certainly won't happen under this administration, who has made it clear that they have no interest in passenger rail as a solution to anything. Perhaps under Obama, or maybe even McCain, it might fly. Congress could try it either way, but they won't bother until after the new Prez is sworn in.

 

[Steff]

This could be a good time for a rental car company offering up strollers and baby seats for free for people that rent cars from them (obviously they'd have to put down a deposit) but could be a nice marketing gimmick.

 

As a parent I would not use a rentalcar seat. First, there's no way to confirm if it's ever been in an accident, and second they have expirations and I suspect the rental places would remove the labels to be able to maximize their profits and use them past their safety dates. Travel strollers are not that expensive, but since you can rent them pretty much anywhere anyway it's probably something travelers that don't want to lug them along would consider.

[CanOfCorn]

I took Bri to Florida for 2 weeks then to Arizona for a week. I bought diapers and formula when I got to both places and I used the cribs provided by the hotels. I got lucky on the car seats because my sister had my nephews I could use in Fla and my girlfriend let me use her sons when I was in AZ. Bri was 3 months old at the time and spent lots of time in onsies and simple outfits. I know it's a bit of a hassle, but you can pack pretty compact for them. I got to take her diaper bag and small stroller on board for free, in addition to my 2 carryons, so that was a help. I agree it sucks - the charges - but it's all they've got aside from raising the flight costs even more than they already have.

 

Thanks...that helps. Also, there's a service called Babies Away. It's parents and grandparents that rent all kinds of things from toys to cribs to pack and plays...so I think we are going to use their service for some of it.