On the news tonight they said that Southwest has decided to join Jet Blue by not overbooking flights anymore. So-- maybe things will change. Maybe customers will end up having more rights.
I think this recent event could have happened on any airline run in America. I'm not sure about airlines in other countries. I generally feel like I get better customer service from non- American Airlines. I doubt I'll boycott any of them if they are flying where I am going. For me the bigger issue is finding out how to support change and increase passenger rights. Humanity and sensibility must reign over the dollar.
Long gone are the days of leg room, cloth napkins, a meal served on real plates and real silverware.
I understand they are running a business, have share holders and are required to make a profit. In an article written May 2016-- I read today on CNN Money said that the U.S. airlines made a $25.6 billion dollar profit. That is substantial if that information is correct. A 241% increase over 2014. The article stated customers paid $3.8 billion in baggage fees and $3 billion in reservation change fees.
If that article is even close to being true you have to ask. How much profit is necessary and at what cost?
Rows have gotten closer together, seat have gotten more narrow, flight staff may be over worked but they aren't very friendly anymore.
The flip side of that is people drag too much luggage on the flights, can be rude and there are a lot of plain crazy people flying so working as a flight attendant isn't a job I'd sign up for but they did.
Random thoughts:
If you pay for a seat and show up they should have a seat for you.
There are times they need to bump but it should be voluntary not forced and you should receive reasonable compensation.
Once boarded they should not pull you off-- again only voluntary.
I think they should give sandwich boxes at no cost. .. or fruit.
I was on a flight recently and when they were passing out drinks I asked for some pretzels. They said they would sell them to me. I was surprised. I thought all the airlines still gave peanuts and pretzels.
I think it should be required to tell customers the truth about delays and give updates every 20 minutes even if all they say is we don't have any new information.
I fly Delta the most and have been fairly happy about it for the most part.
For years I have felt that airline crews are a bunch of unhappy people with low or no customer service skills. Because I've had a number of surprisingly hateful experiences with flight crew staff I'm sickeningly sweet when I board a plane in hopes I can win them over.
I will say the past 6 or 9 months this has improved. So-- hopefully times are changing.
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