Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

travelandtourworld.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

91–100 of 678 posts

Re: US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

#91

Post by jghn »

Larrikin wrote: post #76
jghn wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know way too many parents who take the stance of not bothering to pay for assigned seating, on the assumption that people will move around to accommodate them. As someone who pays for an assigned seat so I can sit where I want, this annoys the crap out of me as now they expect people like me to move. When I point this out, their response is "why should I pay for that?" I agree with the airlines here but if it makes…

You don't have to engage or justify staying in your seat, just say no thank you and end the conversation

Have you never seen a confrontation erupt from this? Or a flight attendant "suggesting" the person being asked to move?

Re: US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

#92

Post by onionisafruit »

izacus wrote: post #41
bsimpson wrote: post #32

I'd be curious to see how the all-in price of airline tickets has evolved in recent decades. It feels like it's now commonplace to have hundreds of dollars in additional fees for things like legroom. That means a cheap ticket is a midrange ticket and a midrange ticket can end up being quite expensive unless you fall for the "we get to strap you behind the bathroom with only the clothes on your back" Saver ticket. It…

Hundreds of dollars for legroom? Are you... sure? For what kind of flights?

The point of the comment is it’s hard to be sure because the pricing is anything but clear.

Re: US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

#93

Post by Spooky23 »

hopelite wrote: post #57
bsimpson wrote: post #32

I'd be curious to see how the all-in price of airline tickets has evolved in recent decades. It feels like it's now commonplace to have hundreds of dollars in additional fees for things like legroom. That means a cheap ticket is a midrange ticket and a midrange ticket can end up being quite expensive unless you fall for the "we get to strap you behind the bathroom with only the clothes on your back" Saver ticket. It…

Related to that; I am curious in what airlines think they will get or what motivates them to prioritize being deceptive, sneaky, dishonest, manipulative, lying, con-artists, i.e., just abusive all around? If everyone is required to provide "all in pricing" then there is no competitive advantage in being a bigger, better fraud; so must it be concluded that they think they have a competitive advantage at being the bett…

It’s really easy: it’s all about revenue maximization.

Honestly, people fly too much. I’m 6’5 with a 24” shoulder - flying economy is painful for me and the poor soul stuck next to me.

I don’t need to fly for business and am fortunate to have a lot of PTO. So, I fly first class, business class, or not at all. If the cost is too much, i drive. There’s virtually no east coast trip that is more unpleasant to me via car. I’m young enough that I can do NY to Georgia or Chicago overnight with no ill effect. There’s so much wasted time around the airport many flights don’t even save time.

I’m going on a trip to Asia in the early spring with my kid. I could save like $4000 flying in the back… but why? If that amount of money is breaking the bank, I cannot afford two weeks there anyway.

Re: US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

#94

Post by makeitdouble »

ghaff wrote: post #50
izacus wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hundreds of dollars for legroom? Are you... sure? For what kind of flights?

I'm most familiar with United. Economy Plus (which is mostly about a bit more legroom) does have a modest premium absent sufficient status that gets you it for free. But Premium Economy that gives you somewhat wider seats as well as legroom gets into the hundreds of dollars. International business has lots of benefits including legroom and lie flat seating but that usually gets into the thousands.

Nothing should be allowed to be called "Premium Economy"

Re: US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

#95

Post by xenator »

doodaddy wrote: post #16

> Instead of the clear, itemized pricing system that passengers currently rely on, airlines could hide fees until later in the booking process… They call what we have now “clear”? Where when looking at a page of flights I don’t know how much the multitude of economy/economy+/economy++/premium economy/business/business++ seats will cost until I click on each flight? Where every carrier offers slightly different variat…

[flagged]

Re: US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

#96

Post by whatsupdog »

philipwhiuk wrote: post #74
whatsupdog wrote: post #29

[flagged]

Is that your personal blog? Bit crass. I was expecting an actual industry source rather than a screed.

No... I just came across it and it seems heavily researched. You can just google "obama air traffic controllers test", there are other sources as well.

Re: US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

#97

Post by EE84M3i »

hopelite wrote: post #57
bsimpson wrote: post #32

I'd be curious to see how the all-in price of airline tickets has evolved in recent decades. It feels like it's now commonplace to have hundreds of dollars in additional fees for things like legroom. That means a cheap ticket is a midrange ticket and a midrange ticket can end up being quite expensive unless you fall for the "we get to strap you behind the bathroom with only the clothes on your back" Saver ticket. It…

Related to that; I am curious in what airlines think they will get or what motivates them to prioritize being deceptive, sneaky, dishonest, manipulative, lying, con-artists, i.e., just abusive all around? If everyone is required to provide "all in pricing" then there is no competitive advantage in being a bigger, better fraud; so must it be concluded that they think they have a competitive advantage at being the bett…

To add to this - is there some kind of general rule for what specific industries will devolve into the pattern of having these sorts of anti-consumer practices? Off the top of my mind I can think of cable companies, gyms, cellphone providers, airlines, live events. Is it market capture and/or the high cost of switching providers that prevents meaningful competition?

Re: US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

#98

Post by lotsofpulp »

hedora wrote: post #71
philipwhiuk wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some of us think you're just being cheap.

I’ve definitely selected adjacent seats in the past, then ended up separated the day of the flight. Even if it’s a couple, it’s probably the airline’s fault. I solved the problem by preferring southwest, but their new CEO is an a*hole, and instead of raising ticket prices $50 a seat is adding assigned seating, removing legroom, charging for bags, adding ticket change fees, etc, etc.

I avoid southwest because they don’t have assigned seating.

Re: US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

#99

Post by WaitWaitWha »

I echo what some already stated. I think this topic if real needs to be known. Problem is that I cannot find any reference where this information is coming from.

Give me a link, document, reference, or something to back up the claims. Otherwise it comes across as FUD.

Re: US airlines are pushing to remove protections for passengers and add more fees

#100

Post by LPisGood »

dillydogg wrote: post #62
DangitBobby wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you want to sit together, pay for that privilege. Agreed. I think they leave too much money on the table. Use of window shades and lavatories could be behind a subscription service as well, with Sky Comfort+ affording you the privilege of multiple lavatory visits for those who have chosen the luxury IBS lifestyle. I'll let you know if I think of anything else those pesky airline passengers take for granted.

I think paying for water is a great opportunity. Maybe even the precious Biscoff. Especially for those cross country flights.

Spirit Airlines does not give free water. They will give you a cup of ice if you ask.
Post reply on HN