Sep 27 2008
Fly the Hostile Skies with US Airways
When I needed to get a ticket home from my Izeafest Blog Conference in Orlando, I chose US Airways from the list of Expedia options. The price was good. Unfortunately, the ticket price was just their starting point.
I had two bags to check. My flight out on Delta let me bring one bag free (I know Southwest still allows BOTH bags free). The fee was $15 for the first bag (50 pound weight limit) and $25 for number two (same 50 pounds).
So that was an extra $40 out of pocket at check-in. Sneaky.
Once on-board I realized I was, for the first time, on an airline that charges for drinks.
All drinks, not just booze. They charge for water ($2). They charge for soda ($2). They hit you up a buck now for coffee and tea, while tiny bottles of wine jumped from $5 to $7. Of course free snacks are a thing of the past.
So anyone wishing to have WATER, plain old WATER, on their US Airways flight has to now juggle their time so they can:
- empty their water bottle before the security check…and then…
- refill it at the water fountains before they get to their gate.
Or else suck it up and pay. Not everyone is willing to drink water fountain water anymore. I think it depends on local quality of the water in question. I found Orlando water drinkable, unlike the barely potable supply at LAX.
The flight attendants were also less than polite about stowing my carry-on bags in the row behind first class.
Anyway, that’s the newest scoop on flying. I forsee things getting worse before getting better. I know that’s being a bit negative. After all, they still provide all the free oxygen you want, right?
Stumble it!
I HATE flying USAir, but in some locations it is the contract carrier of my employer and I have no choice.
As to your last question about oxygen, there’s a funny video on YouTube title “New Airline Fees” that you should watch.
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I will take a look then! I love a good laugh at the airline’s expense.
What airlines are people still willing to fly?
I flew Delta in June and will be flying them again in October. I’ve managed to get good ticket prices with them and, as you said Jilly, they do allow the first check-in bag at no charge. You know I’ll be loading up a bag to bring to the Big M’s home
I’m going to be looking for tickets to FL for Christmas and am planning to avoid USair. Big M likes American Airlines and I have found AirTran to be adequate, but the seating seemed a bit cramped - not quite enough leg room for me.
US Air is always one of my last choices. They are simply the worst of the US airlines.
I prefer JetBlue, AirTran and Midwest of the “discounted” airlines. Southwest is ok, but I hate the lack of assigned seating. Allegiant was also ok, but they nickel and dime you on everything. I’ve also heard Virgin Air is great, but they don’t serve Orlando, yet.
Of the majors, I’ve had ok experiences with United, Continental and American.
As for drinking water, I tend to fly with those flavored powder drink sticks (available at supermarkets in brands like Crystal Light) - the grape flavor is strong enough to mask most bad water tastes from the drinking fountains in the gate area.
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Okay I just watched the YouTube Airline Fees video. Funny in a scary kind of way. I like the airbags part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYFNNlSS8QY
My feeling is that airlines feel that they can treat their customers like crap because all the others do the same. If someone has a horrible experience on Delta and swears to never fly them again then they’ll go to, say, American Airlines. But someone on another airline just had an equally horrible experience and will end up flying on Delta.
I think it’s getting bad enough that people are really looking hard at avoiding business trips or vacations altogether. If that happens the airlines will actually start to lose customers. And not to another carrier.
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Virgin Air is great, I like it even more than Jet Blue since now you have to buy those stupid pillow/blanket sets from them. Same seatback TVs, pretty good food when you get it…Yeah, Virgin has my vote. I also don’t mind Southwest despite (as Michelle points out) the lack of assigned seats. I always end up next to either the morbidly obese guy or the screeching baby, assigned seating or not.
fly the “hostile skies” — great title!
i despise air travel, even though i usually travel jet blue, which seems to suck a bit less than other airlines.
yet the environmentalist in me can’t be sad about the airlines being terrible. maybe if they get bad enough people will think twice before flying, and fewer flights would be a good thing indeed for our planet.
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Stories like this just reaffirm my love for Southwest. I know some people don’t like the lack of assigned seating, but it seems like a small trade off for good fares, no fees and staff that is sometimes HAPPY!
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Hi Jill, if you ever find yourself flying in Europe, try your best to avoid Ryanair. A quick google of “Ryanair problems” will tell you why!
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Stories like this make me appreciate having Alaska Airlines and Air North as prime carriers here in the north. Ouch!
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Well, it all sounds exploitive.
Here in Calgary, the home of WestJet, we have a beautiful airport with many services on the airside of security. For domestic flights, we can get water and Starbucks, and last time I flew internationally, there was a Tim Hortons airside.
WestJet is still very consumer-oriented and flying is still comfortable with them. They offer advance seat selection for a fee (this is a new service) and there is free online check-in & seat selection 24 hours before departure.
The main complaint I have about flying is that people insist on reclining into my lap. I joined the Facebook group, “Don’t Recline in Coach” (membership was about 6 at the time) because it is one of the few things within passenger control to make the flight better for all.
I usually check my bag and limit the size of my carry-on to try and give myself space in the cabin. It’s too bad so few airlines can be trusted to handle and deliver checked bags reliably. The forced culture of carry-on just leads to more in-cabin crowding. (I’m happy to say WestJet is reliable on the luggage front too).
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Travel websites should make a point of displaying your fully loaded costs of flying on each airline. I suppose they would need to ask you whether you plan on checking bags, how many, and if you plan on being thirsty or hungry during your flight. That stuff all adds up.
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