Let’s not kid ourselves here…this is still coach.  You get to buy the same snack box, and you will still spend $6.00 for a Bloody Mary.  But being able to stretch your legs…that is huge.  Then let’s lump in the fact that for a few bucks more (ok…forty dollars more) you can get “Premier” boarding…meaning you board in Zone 1.  There is but one rationale for this, and that is to actually have a spot to put your carry on luggage.  I don’t need to pay for that, but if I were not an Elite member I would certainly cough up the forty-seven to take advantage of this little perk.  I will admit it, I was a staunch critic of Spirit Airways charging forty-five dollars for a carry on, but that is all you get…the right to carry you bag on.  With United and their “Premier” boarding line option available for purchase you get so much more.  Early boarding, a place to put your bags, a chance to get settled before the mad rush begins and really, a more pleasent travel experience. 

I must admit, I find my United Economy Plus experience a much more enjoyable experience than simple economy.  That might sound snobby, and I certainly don’t mean it to.  When you are a business traveler though, you become a bit more selective in all of your travels.  I used to fly Southwest, but after being told that your family can’t board with you when you’re an A-lister, and you have to board with them, I’ve had enough.  As an elite member of Star Alliance, I am able to take them on with me at the same time I board.  To me, the comfort of my family is important as well, even if they don’t fly as much as I do.

Now…from the standpoint of the airline, I think they have something here.  Sadly, we live in an entitlement society.  Everybody expects that everything will be given to them on a silver platter, and they don’t want to actually do anything to get that particular thing they seek.  In traveling, I see this every day whether in the airport.  When people check in they complain that they are in a middle seat, and then treat the person behind the counter like they created the problem in the first place.  Then you have those people who will trying to talk their way into the club lounges of the airline (saw if four times ar the Red Carpet Club in the D Terminal at IAD on Tuesday) and then there are those that complain when the drinks are not free inside the Clubs (though many have complimentary “house” selections).  Once it is time to board the plane, you have everyone running for the boarding door as soon as they announce pre-boarding, when know full well they have ten or fifteen more minutes before they will get to board in the first place. 

Once onboard you have a whole host of issues to deal with as well, like people not being satisfied with how far their seat reclines, or my personal favorite, those that spill over into the seat next to them, and then expect the person next to them to deal with it.  And not to be forgotten, everyone seems to feel it necessary to bring their huge big bags inside the plane rather than checking them through.  Seriously…when has fifteen extra minutes at the airport hurt anyone?  In twelve years of being a road warrior I can’t recall a time when getting my bag from baggage claim made me late for anything.  Sadly, when it comes to travel, we have gotten pretty selfish.  The airlines had to respond to all of this somehow, and thankfully, most have introduced new “premium” features that should you wish to take advantage of them, you will need to pay for them.  Things like “Economy Plus” from United and the optional “Premium Lane” (or boarding group one). 

As the photo caption says, coach does not have to suck anymore, and thanks to United Economy Plus, it doesn’t.

In the past several years  have managed to enjoy many wonderful vacations with my family, and I have never stayed in the same area when I am there on business.  But when I would drive by the resort we stayed at I would remember that special night at the pool when the kids were just able to be kids.  Or that evening my wife and I walked over to a particular restaurant to enjoy a cocktail and some munchies, just us being a couple.  But I’ve never returned to actually stay in the same area before.  I am not sure how I am going to do, because the more I am on the road, the more sentimental I manage to get.

I will post some follow-ups to this to let you know how it goes.  Frr now though, I am sitting in Tampa waiting for my flight that is being delayed due to weather in the area.  Until the updates, I’ll see you up in the air.

It has been a long time since I had been to DFW as none of my airlines of choice require me to go through there most of the time.  But on this trip I connected on American in DFW on my way back to Tampa.  What I expected was the standard airport terminal scene…hundreds and hundreds of chairs, a lot of marginally dressed people and some expensive shops that charge you $4.50 for a bottle of water.  Not here…not in this terminal.  When I got off the plane I felt as if I was dropped off at a high-end mall with some really nice shops and really good choices for real food, something most airports lack.

If you are forced to connect through DFW, do yourself a favor if time allows and visit the D terminal.  You won’t be sorry, and you’ll probably feel refreshed after walking in the mall.  I know I was.

When I grew up flying, you got dressed like you were headed to church, and everyone else did too.  When we flew from Peoria, IL to Dallas, TX on Ozark Airlines, it was a classy event.  There were literally “wine and cheese” parties on the way.  Children got their wings, and people acted civilized toward each other.  Chicago to San Diego on American was the same experience.  But as time went on, the airlines started to resemble buses with wings.  Passengers now (many) look like they just got out of bed (because they are still dressed in their pj’s) and it is not uncommon to hear about altercations on planes.  Flight Attendants used to look like they enjoy their jobs, and in fact, it was a high-profile position.  Now, the airlines and demanding passengers have made it where you may well get a hostile flight attendant (I’ve run into several who were NOT happy to be working.)

I have flown several times to Asia on Cathay Pacific and Philippine Airlines.  I am not going to bore you with the details, but when I say that coach on Cathay Pacific is better than First Class on any US carrier, I am not joking.  Real food…four times while in the air.  Headphone for the movies, drinks, etc., it makes for a very nice ride across the Pacific.  You hear the same from anyone who flies Lufthansa, Virgin or any European carrier (except Ryan Air, the people that are bringing you standing room only flights and pay-per-use toilets.)  So where did American carriers go so wrong?

The answer to that question is not very easy to come up with, but when shareholder value is the key to your corporate mission, that is a problem.  All of the things that make travel on carriers like Lufthansa or Cathay Pacific cost money.  When something costs money, that means the shareholders don’t get as big of a return on their investment, making it not sure a hot buy.  And THAT is the problem.  Fuel prices really hurt the airlines, as did the events of 9/11/20o1.  But we, the traveling public, allow the airlines to get away with cutting back on services because we don’t vote with our pocket books.  We continue to be creatures of habit watching the quality of service erode around us.  Why?  Because we’d rather something be convenient, than fuss over quality of service.  We put cheap tickets ahead of an enjoyable experience.  The airlines know this…and thus you get what we have today.  A bus with wings.

As a business traveler that spends a majority of my life in the air, I can’t begin to tell you how much fun flying COULD be, and how much fun it was…but is no more.  Those who travel by air twice a year (and call themselves frequent travelers) and don’t know any better, they don’t care.  Those of us that live on these planes know how things used to be, and what they could be if only the airlines really wanted to make things better.  If they were not afraid to fly with empty seats, while charging more for the seats that they fill.

So what are we to do?  Unless we run our own airline, there is very little we can do except for being picky about the quality of service that we expect.  Pick the airline that has the best service, and be willing to pay for it.  When you fly, dress appropriately, and make sure your kids do as well.  Arrive early and avoid the stress, and roll with the punches.  When the weather causes delays, don’t take it out on the people that work for the airline, and the passengers around you.  Behave like you would for your mother or grandmother, and enjoy the experience.  We might not be able to change the direction that the US airlines are headed in, but we sure can change the experience that we have.