F*CKING Airlines! Pretzels and pillows take back seat to first-class perks

[matcom]

<snip>

These days, sitting in coach can put pretzels and pillows out of reach. But step into first class, and things are as comfortable as they've been in years: on certain domestic United Airlines flights passengers get portable DVD players, hand-dipped chocolate truffles, fully reclining seats, and Kir Royale cocktails.

In one of their latest schemes to boost revenues and return to profitability, airlines are adding perks to first class after years of cutbacks. The flourishes are a return to the airlines' philosophy of rewarding the customers who pay the most for their seats -- and it's creating a growing disparity between the haves and rear-of-the-plane have nots.

''You used to be able to get a little snack or sandwich, but that's gone," from coach, said Denis Bergevin, an Orlando, Fla., business traveler who flies first class for long trips and coach for short hauls. ''But in first class, they're always around, coming by three or four times, serving food on a plate."

The extras are being added after several airlines slashed the cost of their first-class tickets earlier this year in hopes of luring passengers who previously could not afford the upper class. That's made the first-class cabin more accessible.

''Prior to January, most business travelers that flew in business or first class used frequent-flier miles to upgrade. Since those airfares have come down substantially, more business travelers are purchasing them," said Kevin Mitchell, president of the Business Travel Coalition, a Philadelphia group that represents corporate travelers.

First-class fares started tumbling in January, when Delta Air Lines put a cap on one-way, first-class fares as part of a pricing simplification strategy. Many airlines, including Delta, US Airways, Continental Airlines, and United Airlines now have $699 fare caps in first class on at least some routes. The average first-class, one-way domestic fare slipped to $670 in the first quarter of this year, versus $772 at the same time in 2004, according to data from American Express Business Travel.

Decades ago, all classes of air travel were considered a luxury experience, one which passengers routinely dressed up for and were served hot meals regardless of where they sat. After the industry's deregulation in the 1970s, airlines changed their business model to one in which passengers paid multiple levels of fares, and only the highest-paying ones -- those in first class -- got the best service.

more.....

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2005/08/14/pretzels_and_pillows_take_a_back_seat_to_first_class_perks?mode=PF

[Ilsa]

1. I wonder how much longer before my husband can get

bumped back up to first class. He travels on business alot, and sitting in the back is sucking more than ever.

[miss_kitty]

2. frankly, I never see myself flying again.

I'm going by land or sea. Fuck planes.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Hell, the last economy coach flight I took, the temperature was in the 80s

I was shocked that they would allow it to be so uncomfortable.

[FloridaPat]

4. The profit is in 1st class. They pay the big bucks everyone else

would pay. But rather than have a plane half empty, they fill coach with cheapie tickets that really don't deliver a profit. Before the gas prices went up, it cost $79 a minute to run a DC9.

Gee, we can thank the repubs for this mess too.

[jus_the_facts]

5. I've never been on an airplane....

....and it looks like I never will. :nopity:

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. I'd like to go back to the old days, when people of good breeding

were the only ones on the flights. When you didn't have to deal with assholes in shorts and t-shirts swilling budweiser through the flight; or iPod wearing fucknobs who play their goddamn music loud enough for everyone within ten rows to hear it; or other low-class scum.

I know this makes me seem very elitist, but fuck, people used to respect each other and not be low-class assholes on flights and trains and stuff.

If higher prices are what's needed to protect the integrity of the traveling experience, then I'm all for it. Price the loser fucks right out of the ability to take part in the system, until they learn to goddamn behave like human beings.

[FuzzySlippers]

7. Oh yeah. Those well-behaved, well-heeled passengers.

Like this investment banker who defecated on a serving cart in first class.

http://archive.salon.com/travel/diary/hest/1999/04/13/passenger/print.html

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. Oh yes, nothing like anecdotal, one-off, stories.

Ho hum. Yawn.

Not sure of your point. I can't think of any group that is perfect. One can prooftext all one wants, but it doesn't "prove" anything.

[Book Lover]

9. When did money *ever* buy good breeding?

Have you ever worked or lived with the rich? Geez..... (Yes, I have, by the way, both worked and lived. The rich *are* different from you and me - they are more hateful and arrogant)

[Celeborn Skywalker]

10. Money doesn't make one bit of difference

in regards to how much class one has. I've known just as many rude upper class people as I have poorer people.

[Madrone]

11. Get the fuck off the boards, George!

;)

[pdx_prog]

12. I usually fly coach on anything under 4 hours..

and I usually get upgrades to 1st or business on overseas trips. When I sit in coach I can usually spot the person who will be sitting next to me when the board the plane.....yep, that's the one....the old person with the drool coming out of their mouth....lol

About two months ago I was flying from Frankfurt to Portland and got stuck in coach. This girl came in with dreadlocks and sat across the aisle from me in the second seat from the end. When she walked beside me I could smell her fuckin BO. She reached up to put her bag overhead (she had on a tank top of course)and I seen she had twice the underarm hair that I have. She had these capri type pants on and had leg hair like Mr. T. This poor guy had to sit next to her and did everything in his power to get moved somewhere else. He just about begged the flight attendant to move him somewhere and she finally did. This girl was just pure old nasty....:)

[pitohui]

13. and the problem is what exactly

first class is more accessible than ever

some first class tix cheaper than coach

smart shop & show a little loyalty to yr airline, you'll get plenty of first class upgrades, i do & i'm hardly bill gates

if you pay a couple hundred dollars more than the other guy, or you fly the airline more than the other guy, yes, they're going to give you some champagne cocktails if you like, i'm not seeing the problem