Steerage Class returns to America's airways

[dmcowen674]

10-14-2014

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/what-could-be-worse-than-economy-class-airline-100000108542.html

What Could Be Worse Than Economy Class? Airline Reportedly Considering "Economy Minus"



Can economy class get any more cramped? Yes, it can.

RGN says it spoke to an undisclosed airline at the APEX Expo in Anaheim, California.

Under the airline’s proposed plan, economy class would come in a three-tiered system: “Enhanced Economy,” with a seat pitch (the length between one point on an airline seat to the exact same point on the seat in front of or behind it) of 35-38 inches; “Regular Economy” at 30-31 inches; and the new “Economy Minus,” which would be at a knee-torturing 30 inches and below.

RGN points out other airlines — primarily budget airlines like Frontier — already have some form of Economy Minus. And another travel site, The Points Guy, recently reported Delta has quietly downgraded its Basic Economy class, with new measures that include no advance seat selection before your check-in window and no paid upgrades allowed.

Wall Street is rewarding airlines for the profit-boosting practice of cramming passengers on planes.

 

[dmcowen674]

I haven't been able to afford plane tickets for years so doesn't affect me but jeesh.

Sounds like everyone should Moo while on board.

 

[Victorian Gray]

Couple of years ago Irish airline, Ryanair proposed selling standing only tickets. So far it hasn't come to fruition.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/feb/28/ryanair-standing-only-plane-tickets-regulator

 

[Ns1]

And another travel site, The Points Guy, recently reported Delta has quietly downgraded its Basic Economy class, with new measures that include no advance seat selection before your check-in window and no paid upgrades allowed.

Well that's one airline I'm no longer flying.

 

[glenn1]

10-14-2014

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/what-could-be-worse-than-economy-class-airline-100000108542.html

What Could Be Worse Than Economy Class? Airline Reportedly Considering "Economy Minus"



Can economy class get any more cramped? Yes, it can.

RGN says it spoke to an undisclosed airline at the APEX Expo in Anaheim, California.

Under the airline’s proposed plan, economy class would come in a three-tiered system: “Enhanced Economy,” with a seat pitch (the length between one point on an airline seat to the exact same point on the seat in front of or behind it) of 35-38 inches; “Regular Economy” at 30-31 inches; and the new “Economy Minus,” which would be at a knee-torturing 30 inches and below.

RGN points out other airlines — primarily budget airlines like Frontier — already have some form of Economy Minus. And another travel site, The Points Guy, recently reported Delta has quietly downgraded its Basic Economy class, with new measures that include no advance seat selection before your check-in window and no paid upgrades allowed.

Wall Street is rewarding airlines for the profit-boosting practice of cramming passengers on planes.

Hopefully it means OP can't travel at all, and the remaining proles get to take the trains democrats so richly love. Enjoy your 70 hour cross country Amtrak ride.

 

[glenn1]

I haven't been able to afford plane tickets for years so doesn't affect me but jeesh.

Best news I've heard all week.

 

[Slick5150]

Well that's one airline I'm no longer flying.

Sadly, those of us in Detroit are stuck with Delta quite often as this is one of their biggest hubs. I do go out of my way to avoid flying them though.

 

[Ns1]

Sadly, those of us in Detroit are stuck with Delta quite often as this is one of their biggest hubs. I do go out of my way to avoid flying them though.

They've been gimping their frequent flyer program left and right too.

 

[doubledeluxe]

I haven't been able to afford plane tickets for years so doesn't affect me but jeesh.

Sounds like everyone should Moo while on board.

How can you not afford plane tickets? You can fly to South Africa for $500 rt when they have sales and South America for $300. I flew to Bangkok for $650. Not to mention if you're really flexible there are crazy good deals on price line.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally Posted by dmcowen674
I haven't been able to afford plane tickets for years so doesn't affect me but jeesh.

Sounds like everyone should Moo while on board.

How can you not afford plane tickets? You can fly to South Africa for $500 rt when they have sales and South America for $300. I flew to Bangkok for $650. Not to mention if you're really flexible there are crazy good deals on price line.

WWYBYWB?

Really?

I live check to check like most non 1%er Americans except those that post here like obviously you as well.

 

[doubledeluxe]

Get a job overseas then.

 

[Jaepheth]

At a certain point, I'd prefer padded travel pods over seats; sort of like "flying coffins" that they pack into the plane and just pump oxygen to each unit.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

At a certain point, I'd prefer padded travel pods over seats; sort of like "flying coffins" that they pack into the plane and just pump oxygen to each unit.

Economy+ they hit you with a brick before putting you into the pod.

 

[BUnit1701]

Economy+ they hit you with a brick before putting you into the pod.

Saves on the oxygen you know...

 

[dawp]

At a certain point, I'd prefer padded travel pods over seats; sort of like "flying coffins" that they pack into the plane and just pump oxygen to each unit.

Just think if the plane blows up mid-air. It ain't the fall that kills you, it's the sudden stop.

 

[Triumph]

When you look at all of the costs that the airlines don't pay - FAA/air traffic control, airport construction and maintenance, etc., it's pretty clear that flying as a purely consumer driven industry fed by ticket sales, simply isn't economically viable. The truth is we are all paying for it, whether you fly or not. Sorry, Dave.

 

[Sinsear]

Originally Posted by dmcowen674
I haven't been able to afford plane tickets for years so doesn't affect me but jeesh.

Sounds like everyone should Moo while on board.



WWYBYWB?

Really?

I live check to check like most non 1%er Americans except those that post here like obviously you as well.

Must suck to be poor

 

[Exterous]

RGN points out other airlines — primarily budget airlines like Frontier — already have some form of Economy Minus. And another travel site, The Points Guy, recently reported Delta has quietly downgraded its Basic Economy class, with new measures that include no advance seat selection before your check-in window and no paid upgrades allowed.

I should point out that Basic Economy only comprises about 5% of Delta's fares (E class) that are only offered on a few routes that compete with LCC airlines and is offered alongside the traditional U,V,X, S etc Economy fares. So basically if Delta is competing with an airline that doesn't allow seat selection, no upgrades, fees for printing a boarding pass at the airport etc but offers a lower fare Delta is now offering a comparable product and price

Oh and the lack of seat selection was done in 2012 so the article is more than a bit dated. Good thing Yahoo relies on Blogs for accurate information... Great reporting!

Wall Street is rewarding airlines for the profit-boosting practice of cramming passengers on planes.

Honestly if people didn't insist on being treated like sardines then airlines wouldn't do this. If people didn't search for airline ticket by price only then airlines wouldn't do stuff like this to show the lowest price. But since people keep flying airlines like Spirit these options are going to continue to exist

Its not even like air travel is expensive relative to past costs

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/02/how-airline-ticket-prices-fell-50-in-30-years-and-why-nobody-noticed/273506/

(That said I think we are in for another 1-3 years of higher cost. Airlines have reduced flights to deal with low capacity loads during the recession and there are long lead times to build capacity backup so we'll probably stay comperable to 2002-2003 costs)

Sadly, those of us in Detroit are stuck with Delta quite often as this is one of their biggest hubs. I do go out of my way to avoid flying them though.

Why? Delta is incredibly competent at what an airline is supposed to do with one of the best on time ratings despite two large hubs in areas often heavily hit by snow (DTW, MSP)

They've been gimping their frequent flyer program left and right too.

So have all the other airlines. United has jacked up the partner redemption rates like crazy and is moving to a revenue program in 2015. Southwest devalued their points this year. AA made massive changes with no notice removing Explorer Awards and numerous stop over awards completely screwing incredibly loyal people in the midst of planning massive and\or complex redemptions. What was valid one morning wasn't the next with 0 notice - that can really fuck your travel plans. I would expect many more changes to AA next year with dickhead in charge and the glut of 100k Citi AA promotions

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I haven't been able to afford plane tickets for years so doesn't affect me but jeesh.

LOL

 

[doubledeluxe]

Is he joking or is he serious?

 

[Sinsear]

Is he joking or is he serious?

He's a douche

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Really?

I live check to check like most non 1%er Americans except those that post here like obviously you as well.

I'm not a 1%er and I have no trouble affording airline tickets. Just got back from Europe on Saturday!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Is he joking or is he serious?

Dave is the resident illogical and irrational whiner with reading comprehension issues to boot. My advice? Ignore him or just point and laugh at him.

 

[K1052]

AA made massive changes with no notice removing Explorer Awards and numerous stop over awards completely screwing incredibly loyal people in the midst of planning massive and\or complex redemptions. What was valid one morning wasn't the next with 0 notice - that can really fuck your travel plans. I would expect many more changes to AA next year with dickhead in charge and the glut of 100k Citi AA promotions

In the realm of airline fuckery the ending of stopovers isn't the worst thing in the world. I'm surprised AA kept it for as long as they did anyway given the wholesale ass rapings people are accepting in United and Delta's FF programs.

We shall see what 2015 holds when the major stuff starts to merge. Some mileage devaluation is probably inevitable.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Might as well have us all stand up and strap us onto a board or pole. Or, knock us out and pile us on top of one another.

When an airline shows disregard for it's passengers, I distance myself.

I have put off trips this year, because there wasn't a flight with a company I like going to the place I wanted to go to.

Jet Blue was the best,.. for about 10 years. Now, it's crap.

The latest and greatest has been Virgin America so far. And, I was on a Delta flight to my destination where I did not fit,.. but coming back - no issues with the leg room.