Last I spoke about airlines I discussed the fact that we are seeing such problems is because we consumers are what folks often call “greedy.”
Now I’m sure that we’re gonna get the usual hand-wring about greedy airlines and all sorts of nonsense about corporate profits. But what we DON’T point out is the insatiable greed of the consumer. It’s the consumer that has this never ending desire to find the absolute cheapest fare on the internet. What with Orbitz, Amazon, Expedia and everything, the consumer is driving the airlines to produce the lowest possible basic fare so that they appear near the top in search windows.
Airlines are trying to make a buck in the same way that all companies are trying to make a buck. Your company tries to make a profit. The company you work for tries to make a profit. Heck, even you as a family unit tries to make a profit. You hope that your income is more than your expenses. And one way to do this is to reduce your expenses.
Turns out that airlines are doing just that. Doing that by getting rid of the old and ushering in the new: via Carpe Diem
Singapore-based Scoot Airlines is ripping out aircraft entertainment systems weighing more than two tons to save fuel, and instead offering Apple iPads to passengers, loaded with movies, music, games and television shows. It eventually intends to have users access content via a wireless system onboard planes.
Offering iPads helped the carrier cut 7% off the weight of planes and cope with fuel prices that have jumped about 36% in two years. The budget carrier will offer the iPads free to passengers in its business-class seat and will charge economy passengers $17 per trip to rent the tablets.
By saving money the airline is actually saving the consumer money AND increasing their inflight experience.
Great idea. I wasted twenty euros on defective wifi for my phone on a first class pond hop with Lufthansa last week. I would gladly skip the B flicks for wifi freedom!
Great idea. I wasted twenty euros on defective wifi for my phone on a first class pond hop with Lufthansa last week. I would gladly skip the B flicks for wifi freedom!
The market shall set you freeeeee!
Great. Now the average traveler is going to “expect” iPads, and we’re going to see them all scratched up and trashed eventually because they won’t care about anyone else’s stuff. Call me cynical, but I find the average leisure traveler in an airport to be one of the most arrogant, rude, and immature types of people around. I literally had a guy in front of me one day trying to chew out an agent because his flight was ON TIME – they had suggested he arrive 2hrs before his flight to mitigate any potential security delays. Turns out he had got through in about 15 minutes and now wanted to chew them out for having wasted 1.45 of his precious time. This is the kind of guy that will now expect and “deserve” a laptop? Good God.
Yay for Capitalism, but we’re spoiled enough. As Louis C.K. explains very well in “Hilarious”, these people should just shut up, be thankful for what they have, and appreciate the miracle of flight. 🙂
Now the average traveler is going to “expect” iPads, and we’re going to see them all scratched up and trashed eventually because they won’t care about anyone else’s stuff.
Well, there is that. Tragedy of the Commons.
Call me cynical, but I find the average leisure traveler in an airport to be one of the most arrogant, rude, and immature types of people around.
As I get older I am beginning to hate people.
As Louis C.K. explains
I love him.
A personal note, sometimes I wish that competion on other than price was a little more successful. That is I miss better meals. I think a lower fare tends to trump meals for selling tickets and as such: meals are small or non-existent.
That is I miss better meals. I think a lower fare tends to trump meals for selling tickets and as such: meals are small or non-existent.
Yup. They don’t give out peanuts any longer. All for the sake of ticket fare. Maybe there’s too many airlines?
So bring back the the CAB, and bring on the peanuts!!!