More Cost Cutting From NWA

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Hell yeah they need to raise prices. There are all kind of freaks that can afford to fly now. Ever watch airline?

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It kind of has become Air Greyhound, hasn't it?

I would gladly pay $50 to $100 more per flight to weed out some of the maroons that I see on every flight I take.

"Excuse me, this is my seat."

"Well, you weren't here yet, so I figured I'd take it."

"I'm here now."

"Can't you just go to my seat?"

"No, that's yours. This one's mine. Now, I'd like to sit in my seat."

Happens more than you think!

I'd gladly pay $100 to avoid that. Especially when my company's paying for it!
 
I am also fond of how Southwest charges the fatties for 2 seats. There is nothing worse than having some fat sweaty guy in a tanktop and shorts try to wedge himself in the seat right next to you.
 
John and I took British Airways from DTW to LHR and FCO-LHR-DTW home. We paid around $550 +$130 in taxes and got outstanding service. When we got on the plane there were blankets and pillows on each seat along with a bag with an eye mask, headphones, and a disposable toothbrush. There was a tv in the back of each headrest with a variety of channels/movies. We were fed 2 meals on each flight (one hot; one cold) and they were pretty good. I was incredibly impressed with the service they provided plus the friendliness of the crew. I realize we got a student discount, but I would not hesitate to fly BA again. Talk about getting your money's worth!
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Re: More Cost Cutting Form NWA

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Consultant Says "Don't Be Stupid"

"Please remember you are in a service industry," [Adam Pilarski of Avitas] said, and try to avoid what former Continental CEO Gordon Bethune referred to as "sky nazi" cabin service. He criticized "nickel-and-dime" attitudes toward cutting amenities, scoffing at airlines' publicized moves to remove olives and pillows. You must cut costs in ways that make sense, related to productivity." Cost control "has to fit the business model, and must be related to productivity."

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[/ QUOTE ]shoot, we know all about nickel-and-dime'ing from our Princess Cruise!!! it definately does not show you good customer service.
 
Re: More Cost Cutting Form NWA

Ah yes.

"Your card preese...yo cruise card preese"
 
Re: More Cost Cutting Form NWA

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Ah yes.

"Your card preese...yo cruise card preese"

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Yeah, they say that during the whole cruise then when you get back to port you hear your name called to report to that front desk because you went over your deposit amount!!!!!!!!
 
Even More Ridiculous Cost Cutting From NWA

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NWA cost-cutting means BYO reading material
Liz Fedor, Star Tribune
June 1, 2005 NWA0601

If you want to read a magazine on a Northwest Airlines flight, be prepared to bring your own.

The Eagan-based carrier stopped stocking the Harvard Business Review, Newsweek, Glamour and other magazines on its planes and in WorldClub lounges, saving about $565,000 in the coming year.

"It is part of our continuing effort to reduce our non-labor costs," Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said Tuesday.

WorldTraveler, Northwest's monthly in-house magazine, will continue to be available.



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am afraid you have it all wrong my friend. The airlines are charging "motel 6" prices not "Hilton" prices.

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I agree. I was talking about relative prices between the "legacy" carriers and the "low fare" carriers.

Just for giggles, I'm looking up fares from JFK to LAX. This is a round trip leaving July 4 and returning July 11. (yes, I'm bored.)

Independence $289
Airtran $169 ($304 business class) - Note: LGA not JFK
Jetblue $318 - Note: SJC not LAX
ATA $383 - Note: LGA
America West $344
Frontier $583 - Note: LGA
Spirit $260 (Business class $390) - Note: LGA
Midwest $318 - Note: LGA

American $371
United $363
US Airways $344
Delta $374
Continental $494
Northwest $540

I think that the results bear out what I had previously thought. The LFCs are cheaper on average, but some require flexibility in arrival or departing airports. The legacies are more expensive but go exactly where you want to go.

The other point, not reflected here, is that with many of the legacies, the service is not as good as with the LFCs. You pay extra for food, headphones, blankets, etc. Additionally, the LFCs lead the way in inflight entertainment.

My personaly belief is that the LFCs will continue to gain market share and service more and more airports. I think that they will also start flying to Europe in the next few years, which will cut into one of the last cash cows of the legacies.

My point is that the legacies need to start providing better service for the price they charge. Then they will be more justified in raising ticket prices.
 
Just for giggles, I'm looking up fares from JFK to LAX. This is a round trip leaving July 4 and returning July 11. (yes, I'm bored.)

Independence $289
Airtran $169 ($304 business class) - Note: LGA not JFK
Jetblue $318 - Note: SJC not LAX
ATA $383 - Note: LGA
America West $344
Frontier $583 - Note: LGA
Spirit $260 (Business class $390) - Note: LGA
Midwest $318 - Note: LGA

American $371
United $363
US Airways $344
Delta $374
Continental $494
Northwest $540


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And to compare using Doug's suggested illustration earlier in this post:

Roundtrip on Greyhound with a total trip of 63 1/2 hours each way...$291.00.

Or try Amtrak with a total trip of 61 1/2 hours each way...$428.00.

And yet you can fly it for $200 (and if it weren't a holiday, the legacy carriers would be just as cheap). Ridiculous I tell ya!
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You can't swing a dead squirrel and hit at least five people who think they got screwed on a $300 fare from NYC to SFO.
 
Tell 'em that Greyhound costs more, and dare them to look it up.

Maybe that will shut them up.

Probably not.
 
The average idiot who looks at that list will immediately choose AirTran or Spirit simply because they are the lowest price. In the end it is the exactly same product everyone offers, which is transportation from point a to point b. Its harder to differentiate like you could between a Saturn and a BMW.

Why is Frontier so expensive though? I like F9.
 
Flying is cheaper than Greyhound now, and you get much better service on the big gray bus. Wow. And people wonder why the airlines are losing money!
 
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The average idiot who looks at that list will immediately choose AirTran or Spirit simply because they are the lowest price.

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So, why would someone be "smart" for paying more for the same product? This, to me, is stupid.

I'll actually pay more for a Jetblue flight, only because I know that they have tv's for everyone and nice plush leather seats. But like you said, its a different product, and it can be distinguished. If the legacies offered "legacy" service, perhaps more people would be more apt to fly on them?

~wheelsup
 
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So, why would someone be "smart" for paying more for the same product? This, to me, is stupid.

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A number of reasons. Maybe one airline's schedule works with yours better. Maybe you've got a business meeting that might go long, and if you have to miss your flight, you'd like the flexibility of having more flights to choose from. Maybe you've got elite status on one airline and you like getting on and off the plane first, and getting your bags first or the premium seating. Maybe one airline is just more convenient.

I don't mind spending $50 or $100 more to fly when I want to where I want. UAL tends to get my business because of their minihub at IAD. I can pretty much go anywhere I want non-stop, and it's usually a lot more convenient for me.

It doesn't matter if it's for business or pleasure, I spend the extra money because of the convenience factor. If it's business, it ain't my money. If it's for vacation, well, I'd rather spend time at my vacation site than changing planes!

I'm paying for the convenience there, kind of like how I pay more for 7-11 when I'm jonesing for a hot dog at 3 AM.
 
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