Are Cheap Ticket Prices All That Matter?

[Draginass]

Now that we've established what ticket pricing is. What's the "value" of a pilot.

We'll, I'd submit that the "market value" of a pilot is exactly what one is willing to work for. If a pilot is willing to fly a 767 internationally for $35k a year, then that's it. If a qualified pilot is willing to fly the right seat in a CJ for $18k a year, then that's also it.

Better get used to it for quite a while. With the gross oversupply of pilots, where you are is likely where you're going to stay for a long, long time. Oh, and BTW, you're compensation is going down.

 

[wickedpilot]

I think the average (and lets say by AVERAGE airline passenger, I mean fly's 3-5 times a year) has one goal in mind when it comes to planning a trip and purchasing tickets. That goal being, get from point A to point B in the most cost efficient way. And Depending on the individuals' personality and patience level, a possible point C, D etc. The things that are important to us in the industry don't carry a grain of salt to the "Wal-Mart-type passengers."

More avid travelers who are flying for business purposes and such, have a more heighten view on what they're actually paying (the one's who DO shell out their own $$$ for a seat) for due the fact that their flying more frequently than the "AVERAGE" person.

Different classes put different emphasis on what they want - but if we get no impression of service, then only the time and the money matter.

I concur. This is an issue that deals with a spectrum of different social classes. On a case-to-case basis, who's to say which is the right way to go about the whole process? I'm glad GoldenEagle mentioned SONG, because I believe they'll get ball rolling for selling their image as an airline. The new high-tech seats will be installed Mid-May and that should give them an edge as a LCC.

Rather than delving into every classification of the traveling man/women, I have this comment to offer:
-50-60 years ago when the airlines had first begun carrying passengers for revenue, I can bet you there weren't price shoppers. People back then respected what the airlines had to offer. It was a royal event to participate in the service the airlines provided. Passengers dressed up in their Sunday best and traveled with class and manors.
-50 years before that, if you wanted to travel somewhere, you'd jump in the fastest wagon you could get a hold of.
-And 50 years before that if you wanted to travel...well you were just SOL.

Don't forget how far we've come. I think most passengers take for granite that they are actually AIRBORNE...DEFYING GRAVITY... FLYING!!!!

To the passengers out there, Thank your Captains/FO's and Crew.

 

[enigma]

Here's something to ponder

Actually,some questions.

Here's a question for ya'll to ponder. Why is Spirit, the LCC with the lowest (by a significant margin) labor costs, the weakest carrier of the LCC group? If paying diddly squat gave an airline a significant advantage, Spirit should be a world beater airline. Spirits financial performance is secret, but management continually represents its fortunes as fading. (According to USATodays front page article of a few weeks ago, NK has by far the oldest fleet, and charges the highest price for tickets. A planned expansion has been put off, and put off, and put off, ad nauseam. The company is effectively shrinking.)

Another question, Someone inferred that SWA was taking customers away from other carriers. If so, then why are the load factors at SWA not 100%? I personally doubt that SWA has had any real affect on the other majors. The difference is this, SWA's customer base still exists while the profit base of the legacy carriers is gone. SWA didn't take them, the legacy carriers drove them away.

Last question, Does anyone really know where the money goes at any of the legacy carriers? Seriously, are they in the same situation GM found itself in twenty five years ago when GM realized that it had no real idea of how much it cost to produce any specific car?

regards,
8N

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

I flew SWA for the first time last week and this past weekend. Three separate flights. All were 100% full. Good sign since I'm a shareholder!!

The last flight however had the human element some have described already. Before the plane even backed away from the gate the Captain had to come about halfway back thru the cabin to very sternly (yell might be a bit much but there was no doubting his message) admonish and warn some idiots toward the back that their behavior (they were giving the flight attendants a hard time) would not be tolerated. I had purposely avoided the back of the plane when I saw these people moving towards the back. Halfway thru the flight the two guys behind me discussed their sleep patterns with one saying he had six hours sleep on the bus and the other replying "yeah, but you got to smoke some before hand". Lastly, a lifetime barfly, there was no doubting by his looks that this guy had spent a ton of time imbibing, jumped up to take a leak as we were on the taxi to the gate. The FA had to tell him to sit down via the PA and this guy was yelling back thru the cabin that he "had to go real bad".

I'd never been on one flight with so many 'scenes'. I'll still fly SWA but given the choice between they and another airline with direct flights and similar pricing (it's always very similar if you book in advance) I'll choose the other airline. Great service by everyone on the flight despite the difficult conditions.

It would be nice to see some better service by the non-LCC majors. For me it's really about fares and convenience. I had to drive an hour to get to the airport SWA serves. 10 minutes to my prefered airport. Was worth it though for the less than $300 price at a week and half's prior booking.


Mr. I.

 

[cointyro]

When I fly, price is virtually everything.

All this talk about what airlines SHOULD do, etc. etc. I think is a lot of very hypothetical conjecture.

In the free market, they will do whatever they think is best to make cash. That's it. SWA has figured it out. United et. al. has not. They'll adjust, or they'll go bankrupt. That's how capitalism works.

I think many people will say they want better service, bigger seats, higher quality meals. But what people say is virtually worthless. It is what they DO that matters. The true test of a person's convictions is in their wallet, not in their verbal claims.

As a pro-pilot individual, I wish pilots were paid more (or at least could hold their collective ground against management). But as a capitalist, I understand why they are not... especially at this junction in history.