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Air Rage Is Getting Worse, and Airlines Can't Fix It

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Re: Air Rage Is Getting Worse, and Airlines Can't Fix It

#11

Post by FreakyT »

wly_cdgr wrote: post #5

Airlines are lying, bait-and-switching pieces of shit and the flying experience gets worse every year, so the only thing that's surprising is that there aren't way more of these incidents

> the flying experience gets worse every year

People always say this, but I haven't seen any evidence that it's true. In my view, the flying experience at least in the US has actually gotten better over the last few years. United, for example, added free seatback IFEs. (About 10 or so years ago, you had to swipe a credit card to watch anything.)

Re: Air Rage Is Getting Worse, and Airlines Can't Fix It

#12

Post by wjnc »

wkat4242 wrote: post #7
wly_cdgr wrote: post #5

Airlines are lying, bait-and-switching pieces of shit and the flying experience gets worse every year, so the only thing that's surprising is that there aren't way more of these incidents

They are yes but that doesn't justify taking it out on their employees. They're just in the same boat as we are. And with airlines like Ryanair, when you want something just pay for it. Seat selection, carryon etc. It's still cheaper than a traditional airline. When you follow their rules you won't have issues.

The amount of people (willfully?) trying to haggle with Ryanair is probably the most detrimental to their experience. My latest flight about 40% (yes, I’m counting) of the waits were for people discussing non-booked preferences (suitcases, seats, priority). They should accept any customer wish (except seating) and charge afterwards. That would be great. “Oh here we see you had a overhead and stood in the priority lane. That’ll be € 400 extra.”

Off course their pricing is obnoxious, intransparant and pretty much in opposite of good customer service, but that is their good right. They fly safe, on time and have the best network.

Re: Air Rage Is Getting Worse, and Airlines Can't Fix It

#13

Post by kashunstva »

snakeyjake wrote: post #8
lulznews wrote: post #3

They caused it by racing to the bottom. They could fix it, but won’t.

They may be racing to the bottom but you don't have to. I pay the EXACT SAME for airfare that I did in the 90s and 2000s, adjusted for inflation. The standard of service and amenities are better. You can fly, today, right now, from NYC to Paris in a gigantic lie-flat seat with a widescreen entertainment device, goodie bag, hot towels throughout the flight, food that's actually decent, and personal electrical sockets…

> But most people select "price: lowest to highest" and click on the lowest number regardless of how bad that option is

That the quality of the premium service is unchanged may say little about the how the experience has changed in the lower tiers. The issue in those service tiers may not be in comparison to the first class experience but in comparison to previous years’ experience.

That said, though I rarely fly, and when I do it’s never in some rarefied class of service, I don’t perceive much difference. The security theatre is the most notable change; but that’s hardly the fault of the airlines. The opacity and complexity of the rewards programs is an irritation; but I suppose it’s my own indulgence that I just ignore all that.

Re: Air Rage Is Getting Worse, and Airlines Can't Fix It

#14

Post by AlotOfReading »

FreakyT wrote: post #11
wly_cdgr wrote: post #5

Airlines are lying, bait-and-switching pieces of shit and the flying experience gets worse every year, so the only thing that's surprising is that there aren't way more of these incidents

> the flying experience gets worse every year People always say this, but I haven't seen any evidence that it's true. In my view, the flying experience at least in the US has actually gotten better over the last few years. United, for example, added free seatback IFEs. (About 10 or so years ago, you had to swipe a credit card to watch anything.)

I don't know how long you've been flying or what airlines you use, but the situation was very different pre-9/11. 2 checked bags and seat selections were free, you could walk/pick up family at the gate, and onerous security checkpoints weren't a thing. More importantly, seats had more room.

Sure, you had to read skymall instead of watching a movie during the flight, but tablets didn't exist yet so we didn't know better.

Qualitatively the situation is worse today, even if the difference is usually exaggerated.

Re: Air Rage Is Getting Worse, and Airlines Can't Fix It

#16

Post by makingstuffs »

wjnc wrote: post #12
wkat4242 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are yes but that doesn't justify taking it out on their employees. They're just in the same boat as we are. And with airlines like Ryanair, when you want something just pay for it. Seat selection, carryon etc. It's still cheaper than a traditional airline. When you follow their rules you won't have issues.

The amount of people (willfully?) trying to haggle with Ryanair is probably the most detrimental to their experience. My latest flight about 40% (yes, I’m counting) of the waits were for people discussing non-booked preferences (suitcases, seats, priority). They should accept any customer wish (except seating) and charge afterwards. That would be great. “Oh here we see you had a overhead and stood in the priority lan…

One thing I am guilty of is trying to get an extra legroom seat for free.

I’m 6ft5 and feel like my choice is between being forced to pay for something which I cannot help or be placed in a seat which is so small I end up damaging body.

However, this is usually something which takes up a few seconds of me just asking and moving on if they can’t.

While I have no data and this is just logical assessment I’d bet a lot of reason for the increase in these incidents is the way in which airlines have drastically increased fares and lowered services since the pandemic.

Since the pandemic airfares have doubled across the board and, with that, things like a complimentary checkin bag on an 8 hour flight have been removed.

Atop of that other complimentary things such as alcoholic drinks and meals have also been removed from many airlines. All the while operators have been implementing algorithms which force you to pay to sit next to the person with whom you are travelling.

It’s not an excuse for people to start abusing staff as that is unacceptable no matter the reasoning. Just trying to add some perspective

Re: Air Rage Is Getting Worse, and Airlines Can't Fix It

#17

Post by andrei_says_ »

wkat4242 wrote: post #7
wly_cdgr wrote: post #5

Airlines are lying, bait-and-switching pieces of shit and the flying experience gets worse every year, so the only thing that's surprising is that there aren't way more of these incidents

They are yes but that doesn't justify taking it out on their employees. They're just in the same boat as we are. And with airlines like Ryanair, when you want something just pay for it. Seat selection, carryon etc. It's still cheaper than a traditional airline. When you follow their rules you won't have issues.

High levels of cortisol and adrenaline impede reasoning - so passengers lash out at whoever/whatever is available at the moment.

Re: Air Rage Is Getting Worse, and Airlines Can't Fix It

#19

Post by FreakyT »

AlotOfReading wrote: post #14
FreakyT wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the flying experience gets worse every year People always say this, but I haven't seen any evidence that it's true. In my view, the flying experience at least in the US has actually gotten better over the last few years. United, for example, added free seatback IFEs. (About 10 or so years ago, you had to swipe a credit card to watch anything.)

I don't know how long you've been flying or what airlines you use, but the situation was very different pre-9/11. 2 checked bags and seat selections were free, you could walk/pick up family at the gate, and onerous security checkpoints weren't a thing. More importantly, seats had more room. Sure, you had to read skymall instead of watching a movie during the flight, but tablets didn't exist yet so we didn't know bett…

Parent comment asserted that "flying gets worse every year", which is a very different declaration than "flying got significantly worse after 9/11"

Re: Air Rage Is Getting Worse, and Airlines Can't Fix It

#20

Post by AlotOfReading »

FreakyT wrote: post #19
AlotOfReading wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know how long you've been flying or what airlines you use, but the situation was very different pre-9/11. 2 checked bags and seat selections were free, you could walk/pick up family at the gate, and onerous security checkpoints weren't a thing. More importantly, seats had more room. Sure, you had to read skymall instead of watching a movie during the flight, but tablets didn't exist yet so we didn't know bett…

Parent comment asserted that "flying gets worse every year", which is a very different declaration than "flying got significantly worse after 9/11"

Other than the security checkpoints, all of that happened incrementally over time. 9/11 is just a convenient before/after for the airline industry.
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