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Subscribe to RSSAir travelers continue to be dissatisfied with the flying experience, according to a new report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), which evaluates the quality of U.S. products and services.
The report, released Tuesday, shows that passenger satisfaction with airlines has dropped 1.5 percent to a score of 65 on a 100-point scale – tied with newspapers for the lowest score among all 47 industries that ACSI surveys. Business travelers, which represent the most profitable segment for airlines, were the least satisfied filers with a score of 61.
David VanAmburg, managing director for ACSI, said that higher airfares and fees, coupled with a consistently poor air travel experience, are fueling customer frustrations.
Brian Kersey / AP
Rich Accordino, left, and Juan Perez-Wheeler remove a sign with the old Continental Airlines logo to reveal the new United Airlines logo featuring Continental's blue globe May 17 at a ticket counter at O'Hare International Airport.
“We’re seeing customers experiencing overall costs going up, but the experience is not getting better,” VanAmburg said. “It’s going to create a more disgruntled public.”
Airline mergers have also impacted customer satisfaction. Continental, which last fall merged with United, saw its customer satisfaction score plunge 9.9 percent to 64. A year after absorbing Northwest Airlines, Delta saw its customer satisfaction score for 2011 fall 9.7 percent to 56 – the lowest score in the industry.
“It’s very challenging for companies of these sizes to integrate their operations quickly and seamlessly without having some negative impact on the customer,” said VanAmburg, adding that US Airways also saw a big drop in customer satisfaction in 2005 after its merger with America West.
One bright spot in the airline industry is Southwest, which leads its competitors with a customer satisfaction score of 81 – its 18th straight year at the top.
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VanAmburg credits Southwest’s policy of not charging for the first two checked bags as one possible reason for its superior score. Passengers who pay a fee for checked baggage registered a satisfaction score of 58 – a 3 percent decline over last year – versus 68 for passengers who don't.
Southwest also has long been known as a no-frills discount airline. “You’re not perceiving that Southwest is nickel and diming you,” said VanAmburg. “That’s the way it’s always been with Southwest.”
United saw its customer satisfaction score improve 1.7 percent to 61, tying with US Airways. American Airlines remained unchanged with a score of 63.
While airline satisfaction overall has decreased, hotel satisfaction rose 2.7 percent to a score of 77. VanAmburg said that hotels have managed to retain customers in this challenging economy by offering attractive promotions, perks and rewards to maintain a quality experience for their guests. “Chains know they have to be very competitive on price,” he said.
Henry Harteveldt, a travel-industry analyst for Forrester Research, said today’s air travelers perceive they’re paying more and receiving less. “They don’t see any response from the airlines to improve reliability, on-time performance, and provide them with the products or amenities they would like to see to make their experience better,” he said.
For example, last year Continental eliminated its complimentary in-flight meals, the last major U.S. domestic airline to do so. The airline is still in the midst of combining its operations with United.
"We continue to listen to customers and provide them more value for their money, by expanding United’s Economy Plus to Continental flights, offering new frequent-flier redemption options that enable customers to use their miles more easily, and expanding free Wi-Fi and alcoholic drinks in our airport clubs,” said Rahsaan Johnson, a spokesman for United Airlines/Continental Airlines.
“I think what consumers are saying is the airlines really need to start focusing on making the experience better,” Harteveldt said.
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Joy Jernigan is a senior travel editor for msnbc.com. Follow her on Twitter @JoyJernigan.
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This is NEWS?!
How come when I go to the American Airlines Ticket Counter I feel like I just walked into DMV?
The employees of these Companies seem miserable!
Airlines in general are awful. Southwest leads the steaming pile but is still crap. I couldn't believe it last time I flew Continental. They charge you $25 for 1 bag of <50lbs and $125 for any bag >50lbs and that's just one way. They turn around and charge you the same fee on your way back like you magically got rid of all your luggage while on vacation. It's a rip off! So you pay $500 for a plane ticket which is already ridiculus and then pay for your luggage and any food or drink that you eat while on the plane. Are you trying to tell me that prices and fees are so high due to the price of gas?! Even worse is that the airlines will look at a report like this and say hey at least we are above 50%. Screw the airlines, I'll drive. People will keep complaining about how crappy flying is then fly anytime they need to go somewhere. The airline industry has us all by the balls and we do nothing.
The TSA is worse than the worst airline. Do they get paid a bonus for being extra rude?
How can you grade something that's non existent?
So glad that I don't have to fly anymore. Sorry for people that do. I would have to give airline employee's a better grade than the DMV.
Profits through the roof and customer satisfaction and an all time low.
Sounds familiar.
I can't wait for high speed rail!
I agree Ryan....having traveled all over Europe...we are way behind the time of excellent public transportation in general. I would give the US a D- if I was grading!
As soon as I know that I am going to fly somewhere, my very FIRST stop is Southwest. If for some reason I can't find a flight through Southwest, then, and only then, do I go to the other airlines. Even if Southwest is oddly more expensive, after you factor in the no bags fee, your breaking even. I avoid flying any airline except Southwest if possible. Customer service is great, prices are usually the best, and it's just a better experiance.
TAKE AMTRAK!
um I would agree with you but its not much better. I took Amtrak home from D.C. and the train was an hour late, then for some reason the two hour trip home took three and a half hours because the train was moving at appx. 15 miles an hour most of the trip for some inexplicable reason. A few weeks before that trip I took it up to D.C. and it took an hour and a half longer due to the train breaking down 6 times (each time the A.C. turning off on the 90 degree day.
But to be honest it was still better than a typical flight.
Why don't we have high-speed rail service? Because we have to keep bailing out the airlines?
Maybe, just maybe, one day, we'll join the modern world like Japan and Europe, and get high speed rail. Hell, we can't even get high-speed internet in most areas and it's 2011!
America: The newest "can't do" country.
No funds for a national high speed rail system. We've spent all our money on wars to protect our oil supply and keep our cars running.
HSR here in the US is a very different problem than in Europe or Japan where things quite simply are much more concentrated and closer together. Notice that the HSR in China is very limited on where it goes and it is also totally government financed, i.e. doesn't need to make a profit. I would like to see HSR for long distances in this country but I'm not willing to see another government owned bureaucracy created to build it and then run it.
JJMurray: Europe is a big place too. You can ride high-speed rail from Madrid to Milan to Athens. It's no excuse that we're large so we can't do that. It's all about priorities.
would you want to live next to a High Speed Rail??? not me..
couldn't be any worse then living close to an airport! I suppose you are one of those people that say you don't want a prison anywhere's near your home also...so should we just not lock up criminals?
I am all for HSR and I really wish the US would get off its butt and advance with the times already! Having traveled in Europe...its awesome!!!
President Obama has a high-speed rail proposal...energy efficient, environmentally sound, safe, practical...Imagine all the jobs this would create! I know I would rather take a high-speed train to CA or up and down the East Coast than fly if I had the opportunity. And I love to fly!
maybe it's the government that needs to stop using airlines like a cash cow
Randall - Since we are in an economic downturn and joblessness, one of the things I proposed, and probably the Federal Government is the only one big enough to do this, is to build a coast to coast high speed railway. If China can have a train that goes 400 miles an hour, why can't we do this? If would create a lot of jobs. If it is true that our deficit could be solved by getting America back to work, this and rebuilding our other infrascructure might do the trick. Cal10pilot - Perhaps the Cash Cow airlines dollars to go toward the above mentioned project.
Gee, again? The major airlines are just big corporations screwing everyone now. They don't care about your ass anymore. Get in the cattle car and pay for your bags too sucker.
It didn't used to be that way. I remember. Well, kudos to Southwest. At least you get what you pay for with them.
It didn't used to be that way. Flying also didn't used to be affordable for anyone but the wealthy. Now everyone flies.
Following is from Spirit -- Southwest Airlines inflight magazine:
"Before Southwest, only 15 percent of adults in the United States had flown on even one commercial flight. By the end of the century, 85 percent had taken to the skies. A prime reason is the “Southwest Effect”—the phenomenon in which the entrance of Southwest into a market lowers the average fare on other airlines while dramatically increasing the number of Passengers."
Southwest is celebrating their 40th anniversary this month.
My family growing up was middle-class and we flew more than a few times. It was affordable then too. The amount of travelers is no excuse for poor service. Even first-class passengers have to put up with a bunch of BS from these people nowadays.
Before it was Southwest it was PSA (Pacific Southwest Airlines). I have always enjoyed flying SW the Attendance area very pleasant and so are the Pilots. Never will fly Northwest or Delta ever again, no customer service skills.
Flying in September on Delta, with a change of planes. I have service dog, Delta really puts you through the hoops, demanding more documentation than to fly service dog on European airlines. Rude, no customer service skills...and that's just on the phone. I'm scared to death, and in the 70-90's I flew over the pond dozens of times, it was quite affordable, and my last flight to Italy, affordable, comfortable, and they didn't charge for luggage, served two hot meals. This was just after 9/11, it was 10/01...a decade of misery is what I'm hearing from people. I agree, Amtrak is expensive, unreliable, uncomfortable and boring. Eurail, fantastic. I took a train from Barcelona to Glasgow in great comfort for a song. If I weren't such an American, and if they'd have me, I'd ask for asylum in Denmark, a place with the highest taxes and the highest happiness level. But I miss America if I'm gone too long. (quote from movie, Three Days of the Condor, Robert Redford)...
One thing no one takes in to account is that airlines start up all the time and drive fares to a minimum. You can not have quality staff when the public wants to fly for less than 1980 prices. It's not all the airlines fault. It is a very regulated industry and with the exception of Southwest I would not but airline stocks because I don't think this cycle of start a discount airline--discount airline fails is going to stop anytime soon. I am not in the industry but know several who are. Basically we want $10hr employees to be responsible for NSA regulations then passengers don't want to be screened or patted down. People who refuse this are helping the terrorists, better if like the other post said they take the train.
So, you're telling me that a $10 employee can't be polite and professional, but a $20 employee can? BS
I managed a large business where service reps made $7. And they were ALWAYS polite because that was what I trained and hired them to do.
I travel the world yearly. China's airlines are late and rude on a corporate basis, but so friendly on a personal service level. It makes up for it. Thailand, Macau, Japan...all friendly in the plane and terminal.
When I travel in Canada or the U.S. I'm embarrassed. I get herded with sharp voices and sarcasm. Attendants in the terminal make inappropriate jokes to each other and act like drunken hot dog vendors.
Customs and TSA are even worse. Shouted at to put my shoes and baskets in special ways that we obviously should have known. Last time in Newark, the elderly Chinese woman in front of me was visibly shaken and disoriented.
And customs stared at me with disdain for ages until I said sorry for not declaring a cereal box in my luggage. I wasn't even staying in the U.S. But certain meds and that cereal could be acceptable in Canada but not in the U.S. I was told. Yes, I apparently look THAT stupid.
All in all, for spending so much money, I regularly am made to feel stupid and humiliated. (Not really, but they do try.)
I don't think any amount of money could make these people polite. Training could. But as we all know, big corporations just don't care unless they lose money. And they're making billions...
I don't know who's making billions. Most airlines, except Southwest, are pretty consistently losing money.
Utahwoody - Check the CEO pay for each of the major airlines, Most lose money and still pay Multi Million Pay packages.
High Price Babysitting... they escort the child to the plane, the seat and then off the plane to the gate and verify (at least they are suppose to) the person picking up the child it the one listed.
High priced baby sitters? What are you? Other than a clueless, cocky, arrogant, narcissistic individual who has not worked a day at their job?
Airline customer service has gone down hill and so has many other customer service jobs.
Dealing with our fellow human beings can be a challange.
Funny, Southwest was the one that I was disappointed in. Recently, they raised their unaccompanied minor fees, twice now to extremely high amounts in comparison to what we used to have. I mean, why does it cost $100 EXTRA to fly a child, round trip, unaccompanied, when every unaccompanied trip requires a non-transfer.
It's just, get on from one parent then get off to the other. Why should that cost me another $100?!?
Steve, while I don't know why there is such a high fee, Southwest charges the LOWEST fee of any of the major airlines. It costs $200 round trip on many other airlines. What I don't get is that most airlines charge $100 each way to bring a pet when you carry it on yourself!
Airlines blame rising fuel costs for their woes, but I believe it is the fact that flying is now a miserable experience. When your customers hate using your product, but only do so because there are no viable alternatives, it is time to rethink your business model. No, trains and driving are not realistic alternatives for anyone not retired.
I agree with Steve...the unaccompanied minor fees are absolutely ridiculous!
As for pets...since I think only service animals should even be allowed on a plane, they can charge away!
Steve - I've paid the extra for a child to fly unaccompanied and was happy to do it for the safety of our child. Why don't you think it's worth it for your child?
I do not mind paying a fee....but not $100 each way...for them to escort them to a seat and escort them back off the plane and check some ID....this is very excessive...I could see $25 each way. Its not like they sit and entertain the child for the flight!
I am not against rising travel costs, as long as transportation is oil-dependent; I am understanding of rising and falling trends of airlines' costs and frankly gas prices are not high right now, they're catching up to where they naturally should be.
Still, I rate airlines at a 'C', as there is much more to customer satisfaction than merely costs. In fact, I think airlines should raise prices just a hair more in order to offset the costs of more creatively pleasing their customers' experiences.
I'd say the #1 most shameful thing I know of that airlines are doing is showing up in the tabloids having kicked a customer off a plane for some stupid reason like coughing too much or saying the 'F' word. These are the kinds of stories that make me want to boycott planes entirely. By road, by train, or by boat, we don't have to fly. Bring a laptop, have cellular Internet, spend the money saved on hotel fees and food, and enjoy the extended experience of freedom.
Customer service: transparent indifference.
"You don't like it? Walk!"
Steve S~because they're babysitting YOUR kid. All the while, the rest of us are getting "less than" service. If you're unhappy with the charge, then fly with your kid.
You tell yourself they are babysitting, but the child will just sit patiently like every other passenger, and get charged an extra fee for being young.
@Blonde- I completely agree. I had two unaccompanied minors (sisters) on a flight a couple of weeks ago. One was a teen, bust must have just missed the cut off. The other was probably 10-11 years old. They had missed their connection in Newark and were on the last flight to their destination. United had a person assigned to them who would not let them out of their right. She handed them off to the FA on the flight, who had to stay with them until their grandparents picked them up. The girls were safe, happy and well cared for. I would have no problem paying for this level of service.
Airlines don't take the time to do background checks on children before they fly unaccompanied. For all they know, the child will be unruly and troublesome. In most cases, this is not true, but they won't know that until after they have to monitor the child. Airlines are also going to have to pay increased insurance to cover unaccompanied children. Considering the costs for extra luggage, it's not much of a surprise that the fees for supervising a child are what they are.
Airlines could just charge a "fine" for unaccompanied children who cause problems and then lower the cost for the rest, but causing problems is relative. It wouldn't take much effort to get that fine overturned in court. Airlines aren't going to bother with that hassle, so they charge every unaccompanied minor equally (and more) to cover for the few who are problems.
Riamus - "background checks on children" -- seriously? Tell me how you expect anyone to accomplish this. And who's going to pay for it.
Riamus..... hahahahahahahahaha now you want them to profile children.. sorry Sara you are on the NO FLY List because you are a brat....
Get Real
All I ask is for the CEOs of airlines from America to take an economy class ride to any place in South East Asia or China. Then take ANY airline (non US) from there Economy class and fly back to the US. That's it.
They'll learn what service and passenger comfort is first hand. No wonder the airlines there are more profitable
Hard to argue with that logic
You can't expect such high class people to sit with "commoners" do you? I think you should stick them all on a plane and fly it into the Pacific.
I can't make up my mind, who's badder? Lawyers, the Cable Company, or Airlines?
Who's badder?
The TSA .... hands down.
a
I'm gonna have to wave the B.S. Flag on this one. Case in point round trip flight from Bahrain (a middle east country recently in the news for riots) to Chicago. The cost from Bahrain to Chicago $1,000. The cost starting the trip from Chicago to Bahrain $1,800 not including taxes. Why? Throw in the fact that the Middle Eastern airlines tend to do a better job as far as frills and service goes(in flight) and with some of the best meals. The nickel and dime situation in the America has gotten so far out of hand that the ridiculous has now become the norm.
Few airlines have any customer service, we fly business or the airlines equivilent, the staff are generally rude and unhelpful and we often have problems with the flight arriving... recently Condor in comfort class took us to a completely different destignation, we had nearly 5 hours on the ground before they took us onto our destiugnation and neither during the time on the ground or after when we complained did anyone from Condor respond. We are now going to take them to the European small claims court inorder to force some kind of response, and this company is German where normally one would expect "somekind" of service. The exception to the rule are the Asian carriers they still have some "customer Service" and the likes of Singapore and Cathy Pacific really look after you, before, during and after the flight if you have any problems.
I guess we in the west have had it too good for too long and have forgotten what running a business is all about - "YOUR CUSTOMERS"!!!
What is it with American airline companies? I fly all over the world for business, more than 100,000 miles per year, and your airlines are the worst when it comes to customer service and simply being polite to passengers who, quite basically, pay your salaries. It's gotten to the point where I will now always select a non-American carrier even if it's significantly more expensive. The worst is flying domestic American carriers - if it's not outright rudeness by flight attendants it's your ridiculously petty surcharges.
It's called "maximizing profit". It used to be the standard for making the most money was to treat your customers well and give them competitave prices, which would create a return customer, but after Reaganomics it all comes down to "how much can we make this quarter" instead of "how much can we make by keeping a customer base for the next 100 years". Because of this, American business is doomed to die a slow painful death as other countries take over.
as a commercial pilot, after getting my college degree and 12 years of flying i got a job at a regional airline making $18,160 a year. If I had had children I would have been eligible for food stamps. I now work for a major carrier flying a widebody jet to international destinations making what a nurse fresh out of nursing school makes.I fly people who don't even change out of their pajamas, shower or sober up to travel. They want to fly at nearly the speed of sound in fabulous luxury and act in a way that wouldn't be tolerated on a city bus for $99 coast-to-coast. They are flown by people who are exempt from rest rules that checkers who work at a supermarket enjoy.
Guess what.
Screw you....take a bus.
I haven't seen anyone here talking about pilots, and I do believe pilots are grossly under paid considering their responsibilities. It was however, your choice to be a pilot, and since you are in control on your aircraft, why not let your cabin crew know they are to treat the customers with respect, like any other business, and maybe you'd find more customers treating them with respect as well. And if you don't like your job, then get one as a supermarket checker where you can have all the "perks" you think they enjoy.
Most of us get paid less than you and don't get to sit in a cockpit. Oh, and we do have degrees.
If you think your coach seat is uncomfortable, you would really hate being locked in the flight deck for hours at a time. And the Captain is in control of the aircraft but not the personalities of the crew.
The price of fuel has increased over 500% in the past 20 years. Airfares have not increased...subsequently, neither have airline employee's salaries. Retirement and pension are gone, forcing workers to remain employed for the income. After getting "beaten up" for years: taking pay cuts, taking the brunt of passengers discontent with rules and fees, being forced to commute from one coast to the other, being unappreciated by, well, everyone, it's bound to show. It's sad that it has come to this.
WOW Mosesmalone, sorry you are an unhappy pilot... sorry you have to be paid crappy wages like the rest of us. Be thankful you have a job, regardless what it is, I am. We are being taxed to death in this country, we are electing dumb azz into office and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Gripe all we want, makes us feel good for a moment, then it is back to reality and work. Until this entire country stands up and say enough and boycotts everything that is wrong with this country, nothing will change. Remember what the forefathers did to England.. may come to that again, you think ?
As long as they don't do an emergency climb while that cart's in the aisle, I won't gripe.
I'm so dfisgusted with all that's been going on in the airline industry that I refuse to get on a plane unless it's absolutely necessary. I used to be a frequent flier. Now I'm an "almost-never" flier. As far as I'm concerned, they can all starve.
@Moses
I am always bathed, respectable and polite. 99% of those I see on any plane are. I don't like alcohol. I am polite on a bus or a plane. Or anywhere for that matter. I respect the job of a pilot. It's difficult, high pressure and meaningful. I am thankful for a pilot's care. I've never met a rude pilot before.
I don't ask the plane to go faster. I'm aware of travel times when I purchase my ticket.
I detest luxury. I think we should all live equally.
I spend between $1500-$2000 on every overseas air ticket I buy. Plus baggage. I make less than you. College educated, I prefer to live a life teaching and helping others. I live in a country where rest is rare at work, and educated people make $350 a month average.
As polite as I am, I must say: You picked a career you don't like. Get a new one or suck it up. It's not society's job to put a smile on your sour face. You definitely put an exclamation mark on the comments about rude airline staff. Respectfully, screw you!
Define luxury? Internet access is not a need, it's a want. As for equally, as someone who maintained a 4.0 GPA, why should I give the spoils of my labor to someone who goofed off in school?
Luxury, to me, is the spoils of living in a marketed society where products are meant to wear out. Profit is king. Souless corporations rule. It's extravagance and waste. It's haves vs. have-nots. It's making yourself look good at the expense of others feeling left out. It's men acting like spoiled kids, wasting money on expensive cars and restaurants while others have nothing. It's inequality, leading to crime, loss of morality and degradation of society. I'm an avid follower of the Zeitgeist Movement.
In the pilot's opinion, the one I responded to, I assume it's big massage chairs that lie flat. Maybe some flowers. Extra attention. Basically his way of saying we expect more than I really do. I just need a flight.
In your opinion, I guess it's the fruits of your labor? Others are lazy, you deserve the spoils? Selfishness. You deserve more than those who are poor or not so bright. They are just here to serve you...? Anyway, good luck with that :)
For further definitions please check your dictionary~
First, I have a set amount that is taken out of every paycheck that goes to United Way. I donate to the Red-Cross on a monthly basis. Please, don't confuse those that have had trouble in life due to no fault of their own, and those that are too lazy to pick-up a fishing-pole and yet expect others to feed them. There is a difference.
Fruits of my labor? I have spent the required time to achieve my Masters, while some would rather sit in their lazy-boys and play games all day. But then again, I have a six figure income while they have...?
Sure, I agree. Working hard has its rewards. But not all who are poor are lazy. And those who are lazy still deserve sympathy. I would argue that most who are lazy and poor are without hope, feel left behind by society, or didn't have the experience of the proper role models that we had. Judging others is never a wise thing.
Luxury is a different entity. It's the debauchery and waste bred from the inadequacies of the monetary system. It's the cream skimmed from the backs of the working poor. My comments had nothing to do with you. They are my personal opinion. I detest luxury. You're free to love it. Work hard, suck up as much as you can. Buy 3 ferraris and an island, I won't stop you. But I'll not agree that it's a good thing for some people to own more than others.
Anyway, glad to hear you're socially conscious :)
One of the biggest problems North American (and many European) airlines face, that results in high fares and poor customer satisfaction, is.............UNIONS.
Yes, Unions. Those people that won't lift their finger an inch unless it's clearly in their contract. That will drop whatever it is they are doing at the very instant it's quitting time, regardless if another minute would finish the job. The people that, whenever their company dares to post even the smallest of profits, will go on strike demanding higher wages and benefits.
I could go on and on, or just note that many of the top airlines in the world share something in common. Non Unionized work forces. Ever see the Japan Air ground crew bowing to the plane as it is being backed away from the gate ? Try getting a North American ground crew to do that (all you'd hear is "Strike ! Strike !").
Snarly, self-centered attendants or crew ? Fired. Plenty of willing replacements lined up and ready to go. Try that with a North American airline ("Strike ! Strike !"). 10 minutes to quitting time and can't be arsed to (load/unload/clean/fuel/service/etc) the plane ? Fired. Hundreds, nay, thousands more willing workers available to take your place. Try that with.......never mind, you know the drill ("Strike ! Strike !").
I fly on a regular basis on various Middle East/Asian airlines, and wherever possible, avoid North American airlines like the plague. The absolute worst flights, with the poorest service have been on airlines like Air Canada. Even Ariana Afghan Airlines has better service (though I admit, the food is crappier). Airlines like Emirates, Gulf Air, Thai Air, Malaysian, China Air and Japan airlines kick butt compared to most, if not all North American airlines. (Add other airlines like Qatar and Cathay Pacific to the butt-kicking list as well.)
I have paid more, and will again, to fly on airlines that offer better service (I usually pay for business class, which unsurprisingly enough, is considerably cheaper on the ME/Asian airlines than on NA airlines.)
I just shake my head when trying to book a NA airline ticket, like one I did recently.
Do you want to collect Frequent Flyer miles ? Add $3 to the ticket price.
Do you want to select your seat on the flight ? Add $15 for each leg of the flight.
Checked baggage ? Add $$$ to the price. No checked baggage ? Deduct $3 from the fare.
What a joke.
Unless the NA/Euro airlines (and governments) start making some major improvements (in pricing and customer service), they are going to find themselves going down the drain faster and faster. And seeing as most unions don't give a crap about the companies they are driving into the ground, I can't see the airlines being able to stay competitive for very long against their international competition, without Government intervention (i.e. by restricting the number of flights from those international competitors, thus forcing the public to fly on their domestic/national carriers, at substantially higher rates, with the already noted poorer service. Doesn't exactly sound like a win-win situation to me.)
Before you go off blaming the unions for every problem in the airline industry, how about you check your facts? My cousin works for Southwest and I work for American. Which of these 2 airlines are heavily unionized? It's not American. I am a station agent and I am not represented by a union. In fact, just a few months ago we won the battle to vote for union representation. I don't know if it will ever happen, but who knows?
On the other hand,
And yet, somehow Southwest is the most profitable airline in America. It's really sad what those unions have done to this poor corporation. Jeez. /sarc
And then there is American. I love this company for many reasons, but union members have a good reason to be angry at management. Back in 2003 the company was on the verge of filing bankruptcy, but Don Carty, then president of AA, demanded and received concessions from the unions representing the employees of AA to stave off bankruptcy. At the same time, Carty gave huge bonuses to executives in the company. This angered the workers so much that they no longer trust management at AA. I can't say I blame them. When a company demands wage reductions from it's hourly employees, then top management needs to do without their millions of dollars in bonuses. Aren't bonuses suppose to reflect how well the company is doing? Not in this case.
Now, when you go and blame the unions for the world's problems, do me a favor, please remember the following:
Southwest-heavily union-very profitable
American-partially union-no profit, huge losses
It is sad how unions have ruined the airline industry. /sarc
Unions! Bah on the 40 hour work week!!! And we need to get those children back to work!!! Anyone older than 6 is old enough to hold a full time job!!! Workman's compensation? Who needs it? If the employers kill the employees through negligence, no big, there's enough people looking for work that they can be replaced. What about their families? Well, the spouse can work, the kids over 6 should be working anyway, and any younger can go whomever they can get. They're still cute at that age, so someone will take them in.
mtwa...REALLY people are so nostalgic for a past that ground workers into the ground!!
? r we still supporting ww2? *(income Taxes) taxes r causing many of our best commercial people to leave to leave the usa for an income tax wage they stay put of t country and work for a foreign goverenment and make 50,100 or more thousand dollarars and then come back to the states tax free. come on u stupid poiliticians *congress,* reps and *senators wake up * income taxes was created to support WW2. that war has ended over 67 plus years ago.do away with income taxes and you won't be losing all the good helpand experienced people. oh well another 1812 deal comming soon* IE the revelotion of 11812 will look lioke childs play come the next* 1812 deal. i'm a retired union