Note to Airlines: Stop Whining!

I am tired of hearing how bad the airlines have it.  The high cost of feel is affecting everyone.  They need to stop with the “feel sorry for us” message and find a way to make money.  If they need to raise ticket prices than raise them.  If no one flies when they do raise prices, then lower the cost or cancel some flights.  Charging me when I get to the airport to put a bag on board is just a fancy way to disguise a fare hike and it’s a phony, disingenuous, we think our customers are idiots, way of doing business.

The fact is, I would never know it if they raised prices by $50 a ticket because as a layman it seems there is no rhyme or reason to their fares now.  I booked a ticket back to NY this month with three weeks notice.  The price was just $350 round trip on American.  That’s a steal!  I was expecting to pay $450.  My trip home during Christmas is $550 and I booked it 8 months in advance.

My point is, The airlines need to stop complaining about the cost of jet fuel, stop complaining that they  can’t make any money.  Here is some advice: Just fly the dang plane and get me where I am going safely.  Last I checked the executives at the major airlines were all making a decent living.

If an airline needs to go out of business then close your doors!  I guarantee another airline will step in.  People need to fly, they will pay to do it.  The market always finds a way to correct itself.  So from now on, all you airlines, just quit your whining and find ways to do things better and cheaper.  If you do that, I bet you will be successful.

UPDATE: Airlines Fly With Not Enough Fuel

The story I did on Airline Pilots complaining that their airlines were forcing them to fly with “Minimum Fuel” requirements is now getting national attention.  I am happy MSNBC.COM is featuring the story that has peaked the interest of lawmakers in Washington.

Here’s the deal, with the price of Jet Fuel skyrocketing airlines can save money by carrying less fuel.  It means the plane is lighter and burns less fuel in the process.  But pilots we spoke with insist it is causing many planes to be rerouted and diverted more often.  Their example, when they carry :Minimum Fuel” they don’t have a large enough reserve to circle an airport over and over.  That means they need to land at another airport simply because if they don’t, they will run out of fuel.

That seems unacceptable.  A commercial pilot I spoke with said, “you don’t want to be at minimum fuel, and then not have the landing gear come down.”

At the very least the problem is inconveniencing passengers by forcing them to land at an airport that was not their final destination. 

To watch my story, click here.