Why I hate flying

 

"Is this any way to run an airline?  You bet it is."   Back in the 1970s, that was the popular slogan of now defunct National Airlines (in 1980, it was gobbled up by Pan Am which in turn Delta took over).   National was a proud airline with a good reputation.  But today, National Airline founder George T. Baker is likely rolling over in his grave ... especially if he would be able to Google "Is this any way to run an airline."

That simple slogan search on Google produces tale after tale of the pitfalls of modern aviation travel, with the vast majority of the problems being put squarely on the airlines.

Years ago, I gave up on United.  Their planes were dirty, the employees were rude, and United just didn't give a damn about its passengers.   They lost me as a customer, and to this day, I will not fly United unless I have no choice.

Soon, American was to follow.   I had close to 200,000 frequent flier miles on American.  But the same bad attitude from haggard flight attendants, the "can't do attitude" that they and the airline exhibited, and the failure to modernize their fleet had me taking my last American flight about six years ago when I used up the last of my miles.

But now, American has also taken over US Airways, and with the takeover, the bad attitude and poor customer service that has been rampant with American is making its way into the US Air culture.

I have flown US Air a lot over the past several years, as it is my preferred airline in and out of Puerto Vallarta (connecting through Phoenix).  Sunday’s experience has proven that the common sense thinking of US Air has been forgotten in the mindless corporate decision making of its new owner, American.  And so we have the demise of another airline.

Sunday afternoon we arrived in Phoenix about 3:00 on a flight from Cabo San Lucas.  We had a connecting flight to Palm Springs at 6:43.  We built in the extra time because last time, we missed our connection due to extremely long lines at U.S. Immigration and especially at TSA.  But on Sunday, the lines weren't as bad so we got through by 3:45.

There was a 4:35 flight to Palm Springs so we went to the counter and asked if we could get on it (we only had carry-on luggage so we were ready).  The gate agent said sure, there was plenty of room for us, but at the gate she would have to charge us $150 because it would be a ticket change.  She said I could talk to customer service.  

So, I went to the customer service desk where three lovely ladies are sitting there filing their nails and combing their hair.  They seemed bothered that someone would actually ask them a question.  I explained that we'd like to take the earlier flight and there was room on it.  Nope, you have to wait three more hours because that is the ticket you bought.  "Not our problem," as one of them said (as she took a break from ratting her hair).  I explained that if we took the earlier flight which had plenty of seats available, that would open up seats on the later flight that they could possibly sell to last minute passengers who would pay a lot more than we did. Furthermore, it didn't make sense to send a plane partially empty when you could fill seats.  She said, “Yeah, we used to do that, but no more.”  She said it was the new rules from US Air. 

So we waited for three hours, got on our flight at 6:43 (that appeared overbooked), and made it home as scheduled.  Really, no big deal in the long run, but more of a disturbing sign of lack of care that many airlines now exhibit.

I understand the airlines want to gouge customers as much as they possibly can, but their rules now have become so stringent, it doesn't make good business sense ... plus, it ticks off once loyal passengers.  For me, I'll do whatever it takes to not fly US Air again, and I have been a very good customer of theirs.  But again, they don’t care.

There are still several domestic airlines that I have flown recently that seem to be less rigid and more in tune with serving passengers than reaching deeper and deeper into their pockets.  Alaska Air and Southwest are a couple.  Continental used to be, but it doesn’t exist anymore either, taken over by the dreadful United.

In short, I am like a lot of other people these days.   I don't like to fly anymore.  It's not that I have a fear of soaring six miles above the earth in a metal tube with wings (I don't).   It is simply the hassle associated with getting through the airport, dealing with the idiots that run the TSA (check out the story on WFTV’s website today about the TV reporter from Washington, DC who had trouble getting past a TSA agent in Orlando, FL who thought a “District of Columbia” driver’s license was from a foreign country and demanded to see the reporter’s passport … really).  Now you also have to put up with crappy attitudes of airline employees, dealing with grumpy passengers (who are pissed off after putting up with crappy attitudes of airline employees), and finally putting up with the few airlines that remain.   And you wonder why I prefer driving between Palm Springs and Puerto Vallarta.  Oh, and thanks for the memories US Air ... I'll miss you.