the random musings not worthy of new thread thread

[rjs246]

So... in my endless quest to educate myself on things that don't really impact my life directly I just read this in-depth analysis of the airline industry and how we got to the point we're currently at. I'd say Jay was more right than wrong in his 'airlines need more competition' argument.

The article touches on my points about the race to the bottom in terms of service and comfort, which are definitely side effects of competition and price wars, but the cause there is that people and businesses don't want to pay for service/comfort. They want to pay as little as possible to get where they're going, full stop. Air travel is seen as a necessity, not something to splurge on. So while some of my points were validated, generally the verdict here seems to be that more competition would benefit everyone since no one wants to pay for airfare frills anyway, they just want to safely get where they're going.

http://www.vox.com/new-money/2017/4/12/15247172/why-airlines-are-terrible

[PhillyPhreak54]

You're right that people want to pay as little as possible - what's funny is those same people who want to go cheap will be the first ones bitching about having to pay a bag fee or whatever. United has introduced a basic economy feature. This is a direct result of competing with Spirit/Allegiant/Sun Country...you don't get to pick your seat and you have to pay for your carry on and checked bag. Basically an a la carte menu.

The not choosing seats is going to be an issue. They're going to be stuck in middle seats in the back. So when a family of four books these fares they're going to show up and be pissed they cannot sit together. Then they'll hold up the boarding by asking people to switch seats. "Ummm...can you trade with me?" they'll ask someone sitting in an aisle. Oh sure - yes, I will take a middle seat so you can sit in the aisle! No. (as an aside - I once had someone ask me to switch a first class seat for a coach. I was too stunned to give them a witty snarky remark - just a flat no).

I'll definitely read the article later on lunch.

Sus mentioned an airline starting up where they offered larger seats and more space...I too have had this thought and I will have to see if I can find the article on FlyerTalk where someone wrote about it. I think it would get support. Enough to have a large route network? Not sure. But I wish someone would do it.

I have always been fascinated with airline business models. Waaaaay back in the old days of Nintendo they had a game where you built airlines up and I loved it. Since then I have always paid attention to that industry.

[Sgt PSN]

There was a documentary about airline start ups a while back. Soul Plane. Very informative. Check it out.

[Tomahawk]

Trump's Failed Airline

Interesting article from a link in rusty's interesting article from the fake news site Vox. The short story is Trump has always been an idiot dick

[ice grillin you]

i abhor the death penalty but i might make an exception for this guy

http://www.newsweek.com/fearless-girl-charging-bull-rights-new-york-city-582722

[Susquehanna Birder]

...people and businesses don't want to pay for service/comfort. They want to pay as little as possible to get where they're going, full stop

It certainly does seem to have driven itself into a commodity state. At the risk of parroting much of that article you linked, I still wonder if there isn't a legitimate, workable niche for an airline that charges a bit more - proudly - for a really enhanced flying experience. Well maybe not enhanced...but at least pleasant. I know that some have tried (like Virgin), but I can't shake the feeling that there HAS to be a way to make it work.

[Rome]

United's stock value has plummeted by a billion dollars as a direct result of their heinous treatment of that passenger (and to lesser extent the treatment of the fly-free girls in leggings) and they've issued three apologies hoping to stem that tide.

Tell me again how their actions were warranted and how that man deserved the beat-down he received, because evidently the marketplace disagrees.

[Rome]

...people and businesses don't want to pay for service/comfort. They want to pay as little as possible to get where they're going, full stop

It certainly does seem to have driven itself into a commodity state. At the risk of parroting much of that article you linked, I still wonder if there isn't a legitimate, workable niche for an airline that charges a bit more - proudly - for a really enhanced flying experience. Well maybe not enhanced...but at least pleasant. I know that some have tried (like Virgin), but I can't shake the feeling that there HAS to be a way to make it work.

Emirates is exactly what you're describing. 

[Tomahawk]

United's stock value has plummeted by a billion dollars as a direct result of their heinous treatment of that passenger (and to lesser extent the treatment of the fly-free girls in leggings) and they've issued three apologies hoping to stem that tide.

Tell me again how their actions were warranted and how that man deserved the beat-down he received, because evidently the marketplace disagrees.

The marketplace is wrong. United didn't punch the dude; the infamously overaggressive Chicago PD did. Dude didn't necessarily deserve a beat-down (though I'm not sure that really qualifies as a beat-down) for throwing a temper tantrum instead of abiding the stipulations in the contract he agreed to, but I don't feel sorry for him.

[Diomedes]

The market being known for rationality and moral rectitude...

Airport security asks you off, get off. 

Cop tells you to show your hands, show your hands.

Wife wants a snack, get her a snack.

Grow up.

[Susquehanna Birder]

Emirates is exactly what you're describing.

I consider them to be a premiere service class type of thing. I'm talking about somewhere in the middle. Something that people will pay a bit more for and not have to be jammed into the plane like sardines. Hell, even first class seats these days are terrible.

[phattymatty]

i'm so offended on a daily basis by the things our government is doing that this has not affected me in the slightest. a private company is a bunch of jerks? good gracious when did that start. boycott them or whatever fine but that guy was also a douche for screaming like a douche.

[phattymatty]

also what kind of self-respecting adult lets someone drag you out like that like a screaming toddler. man up buddy. i'm not on united's side either but let's just say that all people are garbage.

[smeags]

i'm so offended on a daily basis by the things our government is doing that this has not affected me in the slightest. a private company is a bunch of jerks? good gracious when did that start. boycott them or whatever fine but that guy was also a douche for screaming like a douche.

this is pretty much where I am at.

[ice grillin you]

i have seen very few people or outlets even try to defend united much less side with them

a handful of right wing big business corporate blogs
a few right wing media outlets who tried to smear the victim
a small number of racists who blamed an uppity chinamen
dio thawk and sus

its been quite a while probably since barry became prez maybe since 9/11 where something has been less overtly politicized and has been so one sided

i mean 80% of republicans thought trayvon martin at was fault