What is wrong with the airlines...

[MYFpilot]

The people who founded Southwest figured this out 30 years ago. Forget first class, fancy meals, in-flight movies, and all that jazz. Just take a bunch of people from Point "A" to Point "B" as quickly, cheaply, and hassle free as possible.

Just a small point often overlooked... Actually PSA figured it out in 1949. Herb and Rollin came out to San Diego in 1969 to learn what made PSA so successful and make it work in Texas. They emulated every aspect of PSA's operation by just inserting "Texas" for California and dropping the "Pacific" from any reference to Pacific Southwest Airlines.

That is what the vast majority of people want today in their airline. Simple, easy, hassle free.

I couldn't agree more. Flying should be fun. The last thing the flying public needs after putting up with all it takes just to get on the plane, is poor service and being charged for movies and meals once on board. Now more than ever I think we need airplanes with smiles, flight attendants (preferably female) in hot pants, and a jovial cabin environment encouraged by the crew.

 

[furloboy]

There was some discussion about the "good old days" of commercial aviation.... People (myself included) have a tendency to remember the good stuff. But, the good old days weren't always so good. I can remember flights during the '60s when the cigarette smoke was so thick you could barely see from the rear to the front (okay, in the DC-8 it was tough to do regardless of smoke). Smoke so thick my sister puked. People so rude and careless they burned other passengers. Drunks were worse too, I remember.

And people dressed more formally because casual clothes weren't so widely in fashion. Sure they had collars on their shirts--but it might have been the third day they wore that shirt.

It was more of an awe-inspiring experience because most people rarely flew. They sat their inspired a$$es down, shut up and paid attention and behaved themselves because it was all new to them.

Accident rate was worse. People died more often.

I don't think the pilots were as well trained (someone who was a pilot then might want to correct me--but oooh, some of the stories I've heard).

It cost a relative fortune back then. I can remember a student discount ticket from ORD to ANC costing $480. And the meals were $hit. Tin foil TV dinners.

The "good old days" by and large weren't always better.

Good luck.

 

[Dieterly]

As for systems mangement. You don't need all the help you can get. Try planning the descent using the 1/3 ratio. Do the mental math in your head.

So true. Just last week I talked to a old friend of mine that is a IOE check airman at a large regional. I amost fell of my chair when he told that a MAJORITY of his "students" does NOT know how to figure out a TOD, or how to monitor a descent, using simple math. If you are one of them and you read this, PM me and I can send you the 3 times table...