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Airlines Colluded to Ensure Onboard Food Would Be Awful

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Re: Airlines Colluded to Ensure Onboard Food Would Be Awful

#41

Post by tracker1 »

cj wrote: post #31
stephenr wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't the point that food in economy class is often worse than it needs to be for the cost, and food in first class is not good enough to justify the massively increased ticket price?

Yes, but many don’t buy first class for the food. On a red eye (often don’t serve much food at all and if they do it’s very rushed) it might be you need to sleep for a meeting tomorrow. Or if you’re tall, leg room + basic comfort.

As a fat and tall guy, it's all about the extra free inches of space. Worst seat is the back isle. Person in front of my pushed seat back and dislocated my knee. Short notice flying for work can really suck.

Re: Airlines Colluded to Ensure Onboard Food Would Be Awful

#42

Post by bruce511 »

tracker1 wrote: post #26
chii wrote: post #3

good airline food but at a higher ticket price is not what consumers actually choose to buy. They'd rather suffer and get a discount on the ticket. They merely complain about that suffering.

Didn't agree so much. I generally avoid air travel, when I have to, sometimes I'll bite the bullet for first class. I'll fly Delta over the cut rate carriers. I'm not a luxury car guy... But have bought a few Buick cars along the way. So I'll pay a premium for comfort and quality in general to a point. Not everyone does every time, but there should definitely be the option.

I think you're both right. Obviously, given the success of no frills airlines, the vast majority of consumers are absolutely price focused. The shorter the route, the more evident this is.

Equally some small minority (assumed from the relative tinyness of business/first class) are prepared to pay for more.

Both can be true at the same time, and are.

For longer flights, the desire for at least some amenities goes up. I don't expect in-flight entertainment from London to Schipol, but London to Sydney without a screen would be brutal.

Personally I'm in the camp where the worst food in the terminal is still 10 times better than the food on the plane, so I eat before and after, not during. But everyone else seems to love the hour killed discovering what they're being fed. So again, room for different opinions.

Re: Airlines Colluded to Ensure Onboard Food Would Be Awful

#43

Post by greedo »

tracker1 wrote: post #26
chii wrote: post #3

good airline food but at a higher ticket price is not what consumers actually choose to buy. They'd rather suffer and get a discount on the ticket. They merely complain about that suffering.

Didn't agree so much. I generally avoid air travel, when I have to, sometimes I'll bite the bullet for first class. I'll fly Delta over the cut rate carriers. I'm not a luxury car guy... But have bought a few Buick cars along the way. So I'll pay a premium for comfort and quality in general to a point. Not everyone does every time, but there should definitely be the option.

Wait, Buick is a luxury car now?

Re: Airlines Colluded to Ensure Onboard Food Would Be Awful

#44

Post by vjulian »

j7ake wrote: post #21
loosescrews wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've traveled for business a few times and a few times I got the company to pay for a first class seat up front. One time the first class cabin had a crying baby in it. Another time it was full of rowdy children. It turns out that rich people have children too. Paying for first class simply decreases your chances of dealing with such things, just like any other seat upgrade. I suspect that airlines could offer seats…

Why does first class decrease the chance of rowdy children? In some cities, only the rich can afford multiple kids.

In my experience, the cultural differences due to socioeconomics explains a reduced chance of having to tolerate rowdy children. Those children in first class will be better behaved on average, or the parents will be more likely to heed complaints.

Re: Airlines Colluded to Ensure Onboard Food Would Be Awful

#45

Post by tracker1 »

jevoten wrote: post #7
chii wrote: post #3

good airline food but at a higher ticket price is not what consumers actually choose to buy. They'd rather suffer and get a discount on the ticket. They merely complain about that suffering.

Charge $100 more for a ticket to get a slightly better sandwich, then claim the consumer chose the worse sandwich.

Given airport food court pricing you might be surprised. Plenty of people pay 3x the price for 1.8x the space.

Re: Airlines Colluded to Ensure Onboard Food Would Be Awful

#46

Post by mannykannot »

anigbrowl wrote: post #18
chii wrote: post #3

good airline food but at a higher ticket price is not what consumers actually choose to buy. They'd rather suffer and get a discount on the ticket. They merely complain about that suffering.

Thanks for telling me what I want, I guess? there I was, being led astray by what I thought were my own preferences.

Our options are not determined by what we want, but by what the ticket-buying population as a whole has demonstrated is its actual (as opposed to merely stated) preferences. The marketplace for travel is not perfect, but it has never been more efficient.

Re: Airlines Colluded to Ensure Onboard Food Would Be Awful

#47

Post by mysterydip »

TillE wrote: post #35

I've flown long distance economy a lot, and business class a few times, and I just wish airlines would serve sandwiches instead of elaborate, mediocre meals. It would probably be better, and it would definitely be easier to eat in a cramped economy seat.

Dating myself, but I flew TWA back in the day and we got a complete bag lunch with sandwich and a few other things, complimentary. It's been downhill since then, but maybe that extra cost is why they're not around anymore?

Re: Airlines Colluded to Ensure Onboard Food Would Be Awful

#49

Post by jacurtis »

jethro_tell wrote: post #30
loosescrews wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've traveled for business a few times and a few times I got the company to pay for a first class seat up front. One time the first class cabin had a crying baby in it. Another time it was full of rowdy children. It turns out that rich people have children too. Paying for first class simply decreases your chances of dealing with such things, just like any other seat upgrade. I suspect that airlines could offer seats…

That's because you're paying for a wider seat and better service. I suspect they are just as happy to take some kids parents money for the seat as not. And judging by the number of people I know that get upgraded, its not like they sell out every flight.

First class is always full. If you have status with the airlines you can get free upgrades to first class now. So they start releasing upgrades like 3 days ahead of time for the best statusholders. Then 2 days before they release upgrades for the middle tiers, and same-day or day before is the lower tiers. They basically try to shift everyone up a tier in the flight and the extra coach seats that those people left behind will get filled with the basic-economy fliers, which is why they don't let them reserve seats: they just use them to fill in the gaps on the flight.

You are more likely to have an empty seat next to you in the back of the plane than in the first class.

Re: Airlines Colluded to Ensure Onboard Food Would Be Awful

#50

Post by aaronax »

greedo wrote: post #43
tracker1 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Didn't agree so much. I generally avoid air travel, when I have to, sometimes I'll bite the bullet for first class. I'll fly Delta over the cut rate carriers. I'm not a luxury car guy... But have bought a few Buick cars along the way. So I'll pay a premium for comfort and quality in general to a point. Not everyone does every time, but there should definitely be the option.

Wait, Buick is a luxury car now?

Yes ("premium"), between Chevrolet and Cadillac.
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