The Bipolar US

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Article
😛h34r:

 

[freedom]

the vast majority of pax will never know ... we may even make money off of higher fares as some people who listen to the media call to cancle their tickets and then rebook .... cha ching !

 

[Art at ISP]

Freedom, you are truly clueless. If the airlines can't price their product properly to begin with, it is totally wrong for them to take advantage of this tax situation and keep the extra money...UNLESS, and that is a stretch, when the FAA is reauthorized it will charge back for those tickets sold during the shutdown...which is unlikely if not impossible.

The vast majority of airline passengers WILL know the difference, ESPECIALLY frequent travelers, and they WILL remember......

That said, I am not pointing this exclusively at US.... AA and I believe most of the other majors have joined the club, although the article said as of yesterday only US and AA had raised their fares to keep the tax money. It is just wrong.

 

[robbedagain]

i agree ART. Its just amatterof time before things get back in order bc I cant imagine the govt wantin to keep losing the 200 mill plus a week? for a prolong period

 

[ChockJockey]

it is totally wrong for them to take advantage of this tax situation and keep the extra money...

Inconvenient calculations regarding the morality of pricing decisions were thrown out when it was found that more often than not they had a negative effect on the bottom line. This is not a phenomena limited to or originated by US Airways.

The vast majority of airline passengers WILL know the difference, ESPECIALLY frequent travelers, and they WILL remember......

For the rank and file kettles who don't know any better and don't bother to educate themselves then this sneaky fare increase is perfectly fine, nay, expected...but to subject the FF's to the same kind of treatment? Outrage!

 

[USA330300]

Freedom, you are truly clueless. If the airlines can't price their product properly to begin with, it is totally wrong for them to take advantage of this tax situation and keep the extra money...UNLESS, and that is a stretch, when the FAA is reauthorized it will charge back for those tickets sold during the shutdown...which is unlikely if not impossible.

The vast majority of airline passengers WILL know the difference, ESPECIALLY frequent travelers, and they WILL remember......

That said, I am not pointing this exclusively at US.... AA and I believe most of the other majors have joined the club, although the article said as of yesterday only US and AA had raised their fares to keep the tax money. It is just wrong.

Aren't you just a good little socialist? Last I knew US was a private company and will price according to market conditions. How dare they attempt to increase revenue and profit, and how dare that translate into profit sharing for the third qtr. Passengers have demanded $200 rt from coast to coast for too long, and the airlines have obliged. This small increase is minuscule compared to what the airlines should be charging. My God, if people would actually pay a fair fare, the airline may be able to pay their employees what they're worth.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Aren't you just a good little socialist? Last I knew US was a private company and will price according to market conditions. How dare they attempt to increase revenue and profit, and how dare that translate into profit sharing for the third qtr. Passengers have demanded $200 rt from coast to coast for too long, and the airlines have obliged. This small increase is minuscule compared to what the airlines should be charging. My God, if people would actually pay a fair fare, the airline may be able to pay their employees what they're worth.

I'm going to ignore the build-up to the key point in your post.

Fair Fares is the key in all of this. As to paying employees "What they're worth", the free market already determined that you aren't worth very much. Not saying it's right or fair, just that in the end the free market rules.

A fare of $1,025 PHL-BUF leaving Monday and returning Tuesday is NOT a Fair Fare, It's gouging pure and simple.
Conversely, $199.00 PHL-LAX is equally unfair to the airline.

Way back when, BBB told FFOCUS that if he could raise the bottom fare $30.00 he could lower the top far by $300.00

I have very little sympathy for the airlines as they through their unbridled arrogance have made the market what it is.

 

[USA330300]

I'm going to ignore the build-up to the key point in your post.

Fair Fares is the key in all of this. As to paying employees "What they're worth", the free market already determined that you aren't worth very much. Not saying it's right or fair, just that in the end the free market rules.

A fare of $1,025 PHL-BUF leaving Monday and returning Tuesday is NOT a Fair Fare, It's gouging pure and simple.
Conversely, $199.00 PHL-LAX is equally unfair to the airline.

Way back when, BBB told FFOCUS that if he could raise the bottom fare $30.00 he could lower the top far by $300.00

I have very little sympathy for the airlines as they through their unbridled arrogance have made the market what it is.

Then speak with your dollars and stay off of the planes. Nobody is holding a gun to your head to buy a ticket. And it is not your right to board a plane. Stay the hell away. Who are you to determine what is fair? When you become the CEO or start your own airline, then we will all expect walk up fares of $400 r/t coast to coast tix.

 

[USA330300]

Freedom, you are truly clueless. If the airlines can't price their product properly to begin with, it is totally wrong for them to take advantage of this tax situation and keep the extra money...UNLESS, and that is a stretch, when the FAA is reauthorized it will charge back for those tickets sold during the shutdown...which is unlikely if not impossible.

The vast majority of airline passengers WILL know the difference, ESPECIALLY frequent travelers, and they WILL remember......

That said, I am not pointing this exclusively at US.... AA and I believe most of the other majors have joined the club, although the article said as of yesterday only US and AA had raised their fares to keep the tax money. It is just wrong.

Art, please fly Allegiant or some other dimwitted airline. And no, we won't miss you bringing chocolates and treats on board for the FAs. Most FAs will not eat something a passenger gives them. It goes into the circular file in the air darling. Have fun over at the cattle car. I'm sure you'll be pulling the lever for Obama in 2012 for your government handout.

 

[SparrowHawk]

Art, please fly Allegiant or some other dimwitted airline. And no, we won't miss you bringing chocolates and treats on board for the FAs. Most FAs will not eat something a passenger gives them. It goes into the circular file in the air darling. Have fun over at the cattle car. I'm sure you'll be pulling the lever for Obama in 2012 for your government handout.

Pardon me whilst I call BULL FECES!

Almost every F/A I ever gave a chocolate to or other candy treat consumed the treat in flight. Pilots came out and thanked us as they knew what our intentions were and to a person they seemed both genuine and appreciative.

I handed out just as many pieces as Art did.

The reason it was eaten is that the item was always sealed in its factory package. The reason I only ever used prepackaged candy was based on my doing a bit of homework and asking F/A's and agents. I was told "Most homemade goodies end right in the trash as we're afraid of the wackos out there". Honestly I can't say they're being paranoid.

As to the "Cattle Car" comment, I've flown on WN and it's neither as good as their loyalists make it out to be or as bad as some perceive it to be. Where WN shines to me is when a legacy like US has CRJ200 vs a 737 and the fares and schedules are similar on a route. Honestly which would you choose in that situation if FF programs didn't matter to you?

I am personally offended that you would attempt to denigrate an effort from loyal customers to put a smile on someone's face who was real close to watching their company slide into the same abyss as Pan Am, Eastern, Braniff and others. For me I've no regrets & I'd do it again. In fact I may just do it next trip just to annoy you.



Just for the record, Allegiant is profitable as is Spirit & WN, a claim that US can't always lay claim to. AND I'm voting for Ron Paul, can't speak for Art.

 

[N965VJ]

Aren't you just a good little socialist?

¿Qué?

And no, we won't miss you bringing chocolates and treats on board for the FAs. Most FAs will not eat something a passenger gives them. It goes into the circular file in the air darling.

I've never seen anybody throw out a packaged goodie, and most male FAs that don't have a thing for chocolate will take them home to their better half, so try again.

 

[Art at ISP]

Art, please fly Allegiant or some other dimwitted airline. And no, we won't miss you bringing chocolates and treats on board for the FAs. Most FAs will not eat something a passenger gives them. It goes into the circular file in the air darling. Have fun over at the cattle car. I'm sure you'll be pulling the lever for Obama in 2012 for your government handout.

Just because I am a consumer advocate doesn't mean I am a liberal. When you stop collecting taxes, there should be a reduction in the total charge to the customer. You don't raise the fare and keep the difference. That's what is FAIR.

For what it's worth the FAs we interacted with loved the chocolates...they were in factory sealed packages and they were greatly appreciated. Just a mere gesture, but it meant alot to some.

..and not that it's any of your business but while i lean to the right I vote independantly.. And while Obama is hopefully a one term wonder I don't see anyone on the short list I could support....are you listening Chris Christie?

US airways is alot like the US government now, paralyzed by parasitic politics that threaten to bring the whole houses of cards crashing down...

I'd love to talk further with you when you grow up.....

 

[signals]

And now our bipolar government chimes in!

This keeps getting better

 

[signals]

Guess who is and who isn't giving refunds?
Article

 

[SparrowHawk]

This just in:

UPDATE: Spirit Airlines CEO: Booking Growth Doubled Since Tax Holiday


By Doug Cameron
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES


The head of Spirit Airlines Inc. (SAVE) said Thursday that bookings' growth had doubled since it opted against passing suspended federal taxes on to passengers.

The newly-floated carrier was among a handful to cut fares last week after the budget impasse led to the removal of tax collection powers from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Most airlines are pocketing the windfall, leading to an outcry from lawmakers. However, Spirit Chief Executive Ben Baldanza said passing on the savings had helped lift its year-on-year booking gains to 43% between Saturday and Tuesday, compared with a 23% gain in the first three weeks of the month.

"Our view is that the tax money is the consumer's money. Spirit never had that money," said Baldanza, adding that he didn't expect rivals to have to repay any of the collected levies.

More Here

Well Doug what say you? Looks like Spirit is pretty healthy financially given their quarterly profit as a percentage of revenue NK is out performing US.

The budget carrier reported pro forma net income of $26.8 million or 37 cents per diluted share for the second quarter.

Operating revenue for the second quarter was $275.9 million,