Deskflier From Sweden, joined Jan 2007, 537 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 1691 times:
I don't travel much, but for most people I know it's not an issue of low price vs more perks, but travel or not travel. With cost as the main deciding factor. Could possibly be another outcome if I knew more people that do business travel.
How can anyone not fly, when we live at a time when we can fly?
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1619 times:
I travel F anyway, so service is the ticket for me.
I appreciate the 'perk' with my F ticket . . . no lines, no BS, free drinkies, wider seat.
Adding decent service aboard the a/c would be a great plus.
Decent something to eat - toss that damned snack basket out the door. And an F/A that gives a crap.
Most all the time, I have a decent ride. No complaints about the crew at all . . . . but the in-flight offerings by almost all carriers today (save CO and UAs Premium Trans-Cons) sucks. Bottom line.
Qwame From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 129 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 1611 times:
I think it depends on where you are travelling too. I can take low prices and crapy service or minimal service for say 2-3 hrs. However, if I was going from JFK to LHR. I would want some decent service.
Kmh1956 From Bermuda, joined Jun 2005, 3324 posts, RR: 8 Reply 5, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 23 hours ago) and read 1600 times:
Since I generally fly only from BDA to BOS or other East Coast cities, the flight really is little more than a bus ride at 37000 feet. So with that in mind...price, the lower the better.
On the few occasions I've flown BDA-LGW, I've flown BA in Y class and really had no complaints. It's not a 4-star restaurant you're in...it's mass transport. As long as I can curl up in my seat and read, snooze, and enjoy a snack of some description I'm happy.
'Somebody tell me why I'm on my own if there's a soulmate for everyone' :Natasha Bedingfield
PacNWJet From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 836 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 23 hours ago) and read 1598 times:
Count me as one of those people old enough (44) to remember a time, albeit when I was in my 'teens, when service in Coach/Economy (call it what you will), both on the ground and in the air, was good enough that one did not have to fly Business or First in order to have a pleasant travel experience. Nowadays it's not only the in-flight experience that has deteriorated in Coach, but also the ground service (phone reservations, check-in, baggage, etc.) that has descended to such a low level that air travel is an ordeal, something to be dreaded. Most (not all) of this can be chalked up to the mass public's demand for low fares.
My wife and I are blessed with good jobs, sufficient frequent flyer miles, and a financial situation that is comfortable enough for us either to upgrade or purchase Business or First Class tickets on most of our flights. We do so because Coach is an unpleasant experience for us. However, we would gladly pay more money than what is currently typically charged in Coach if Coach service (both on the ground and in the air) were restored to the levels that existed before mass demand for low fares drove Coach service to the lowest common denominator.
So, short answer: If Coach service, both on the ground and in the air, was what it once was before the low fare craze, my wife and I would gladly pay more for it, especially if it meant that we could travel more often (in other words, if an improved Coach cost more than what is currently charged in Coach but less than what we currently pay when we purchase Business or First Class without using upgrades).
AsstChiefMark From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 22 hours ago) and read 1589 times:
An airliner is simply a means to get from one place to another. You don't see train and bus company workers brown nosing with their riders. Why should an airplane be any different?
An airplane trip isn't supposed to be like a weekend stay at a 5-star hotel or an afternoon at a fancy health spa.
Kmh1956 From Bermuda, joined Jun 2005, 3324 posts, RR: 8 Reply 9, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 19 hours ago) and read 1573 times:
Quoting AsstChiefMark (Reply 7): An airliner is simply a means to get from one place to another. You don't see train and bus company workers brown nosing with their riders. Why should an airplane be any different?
An airplane trip isn't supposed to be like a weekend stay at a 5-star hotel or an afternoon at a fancy health spa.
Give me lower fares any day.
Ooh, the F class elite is going to flame you for that one!!! However, I agree with you wholeheatedly.
'Somebody tell me why I'm on my own if there's a soulmate for everyone' :Natasha Bedingfield
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 19 hours ago) and read 1569 times:
Quoting Kmh1956 (Reply 9): Quoting AsstChiefMark (Reply 7):
An airliner is simply a means to get from one place to another. You don't see train and bus company workers brown nosing with their riders. Why should an airplane be any different?
An airplane trip isn't supposed to be like a weekend stay at a 5-star hotel or an afternoon at a fancy health spa.
Give me lower fares any day.
Ooh, the F class elite is going to flame you for that one!!! However, I agree with you wholeheatedly.
Naaa, some of us won't.
Mark flies out of MSP, and it's my guess he's airborne 2 to 3 hours at best.
I fly outta ANC - and have to fly at least 3.5 hours to get to my first Continental US gateway (SEA). Let alone 6 hours to ORD or 5.5 hours to MSP or 6 hours to PHX. Then I continue from one of the gateways, elsewhere.
So I don't mind shelling out for an F seat. If I'm going to be stuck aboard a tube hurtling through the atmosphere for 6-7-8-9 hours, I don't mind at all. Expensive? Perspective I guess. Worth the cost? Depends on the carrier.
Since I'm going to buy an F ticket anyway, then yes, service is important. Not just on the ground - but in the air. Particularly in the air. I'm not a stuffy crumudgeon that shakes his empty glass or rings the call button for a glass of water, that's not my style. I don't even necessarily need a smile . . . and I always remember you get what you give. So a little please and thank you goes a long way.
TrijetsRMissed From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 2097 posts, RR: 6 Reply 12, posted (5 years 10 months 1 week 17 hours ago) and read 1558 times:
Low fares for domestic flights within the US. The service (or lack thereof) is pretty similar across the board. For intercontinental flights, I'd be willing to pay a little more to fly on a foreign carrier with better service.
AlexPorter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (5 years 10 months 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 1455 times:
I usually try for some mix. I run a kayak search and find out the cheapest airfare available within my time constraints (if any). Domestically, I give about a $20-$25 margin depending on length of flight, and internationally I give a $50-$100 margin depending on length of flight, and choose the best service option within that margin.
However, on special occasions I may choose the best service option regardless of its price. Technically this hasn't happened yet, but such special occasions may include things like birthdays (only if I happen to fly on the day itself), honeymoons, and so forth. (For something like my birthday, I'd still choose a Y-seat or maybe upgrade with miles, but for something like a honeymoon I'd go in first class). One example: the very first flight I take after I graduate from college will be the best option available. Most likely I will be flying PHX-MSP but it could vary. But if it is PHX-MSP, I'd fly Sun Country in first class. The return would just be in Y, though.
Sevenair From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 1728 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (5 years 10 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1435 times:
I think 10% more for good service. But often the difference is a lot more. For flights to London from NCL, I usually choose STN with easyJet as it is cheaper. Returns can be had for GBP44+20 for the train is GBP64. If I can get a cheap BA flight for GBP69, I will choose BA as there are a few more perks.
If it is long haul, then I am afraid I always go for the cheapest. Take a few weeks ago. I got totally mistreated bya flight school in Florida. Last minute with Globespan was $178 all in one way including a light meal. BA would have been $650 (I forget how much exactly) so no competition there! Only benefit to flying BA would have been a full meal.
But I have flown FR. And yes, you do get treated like a cow on its way to the slaughter house, but for the price I don't complain. With easyJet (my favorite airline) I am willing to pay a little bit more and fly them over FR. To me easyJet are a humane low fare airline. FR is too hardcore for me.
JFK69 From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 1381 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (5 years 10 months 12 hours ago) and read 1391 times:
Since I have basically become accustomed to the subpar services of our Domestic carriers, price wins out. I do JFK-LHR which is just over 6 hours and I get a meal and a snack box with a screen at my seat. I fly JFK-SEA on AA or B6 which is a little under 6 hours and I don't get a meal, I don't get a snack box and sometimes a screen by my seat. I do both and I accept both. As long as its not within 50 bucks, I will always go with the lower price.
AsstChiefMark From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (5 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 1381 times:
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 10): Mark flies out of MSP, and it's my guess he's airborne 2 to 3 hours at best.
Except when I go to London. Even then, seat 41A (eastbound leg) and 41J (westbound leg) on an AA 772 isn't bad. I always choose the same seats every time.
Aerofan From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 1515 posts, RR: 2 Reply 19, posted (5 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1365 times:
depends on the length of the trip.
4 hours or less price the deciding factor. one caveat (us domestic flights. even if i'm flying transcon for more than 4 hours. i refuse to pay for the misnomer F class. since to me that's not value for money
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