Just you try to fly the friendly skies

Of course the current buzz in travel is the question about American Airlines. Will it bankrupt? Will it layoff hundreds of workers? Will it cut flights? Will it…will it?

Ever since it was taken over by CPAs and attorneys, it’s been a downward spiral in customer service. Offering less and less to the flying customer. And, to pour salt on the open wound, nickel and dime the passenger into a state of ill will. Done so by offline/online fees, baggage fees, and onboard fees. All in addition to it’s advertised fairs. Sometimes creating extra fees greater than the price of the original ticket.

Now, American Airline is faining bankruptcy. Sighting increased costs. Costs of ground and air crews, high maintenance costs, landing and take off fees, the cost of maintaining FAA standards, fuel costs, retirement obligations, expensive aircraft, etc etc. All pointing to my earlier statement that airlines are a losing proposition. And for the most part, cannot exist without government subsidy. Subsidies from local, state, and federal governments.

And the alternative to subsidies is higher ticket costs. Therefore making air travel for the few and rich. Perhaps that the way it should be. The airlines have taken a Sachs Fifth Avenue service and morphed it into a Wal-Mart airline. With the end result being poor service and angry passengers. Passengers do not want to be treated poorly. Passengers do not want to be squeezed into less and less space. Especially when the passenger is becoming bigger and bigger. Making the whole situation almost impossible to resolve.

American Airlines as well as the other airlines seem to want it all. But in the process, have lost it all. Shooting themselves in the foot. Taking the goose that laid the golden egg (the passenger) and filleting into a goose salad sandwich. Not a good deal. Good luck American Airlines.