More sardines per can
Ever since Ronald Reagan ordered the application of the almighty Free Market Principles to the U.S. airline industry, the experience of flying on a commercial jet aircraft has steadily declined in quality. Now you go hours without food, are lucky to get served putrid water, rise at 4 a.m. to make your flight, and endure ticket pricing that defies all logic. "Why should you have to pay for something you don't want?" was the dominant mantra.
For years, I have said that by that logic, the next step will be to take out the seats and have you stand all the way to your destination. Why make you pay for a seat if you're willing to go without one?
I was kidding, of course, figuring that a seatless option would be too much of a safety risk. But never underestimate the ingenuity of the selfish Free Marketeers -- lo, it is coming to pass. You'll strap yourself to a board.
| Posted at 12:26 AM | Permalink |
|
Comments (9)
Just yesterday, on a flight from St. Louis to Portland (via Atlanta?!) I was thinking "Soon, they'll have us sitting on wooden stadium benches...." Here it comes.
Posted by Kari Chisholm | April 25, 2006 1:27 AM
Do you remember how expensive it was to travel by air in the 1970's 1980's? Those Free Market Principles may have eroded away the perks, but it has also made air travel affordable for everyone. Can't have your cake and eat it too.
Posted by Tom Scrip | April 25, 2006 9:28 AM
Calling the airline industry free market after all the government bailouts is a bit of a stretch.
Posted by Bill McDonald | April 25, 2006 9:39 AM
Ah, the good ol' days of airline travel.
I longlingly recall flying Braniff daily from Flint to Redmond, reclining in my Barcalounger whilst Twiggy fed me figs, Easy-Cheese and sidecars. I was the only passenger--indeed, the only person--on the plane because the air traffic controllers Reagan later fired were flying my plane remotely using pixie dust, as mandated by their collective bargaining agreement.
Plus my tickets were free courtesy of Milton Friedman, as were the Swanson salisbury steak TV dinners he gave me for lunch everyday. Where for art thou, frozen apple cobbler?
Posted by Anahit | April 25, 2006 1:02 PM
I suspect that if corrected for inflation those economy class tickets of 30+ years ago would be a couple grand for cross-country flight today. Cleaning out the files the other day I found an old travel agency voucher for an economy round trip from PDX to Miami in 1985 - right at $500. True, the government bailouts do compromise a purely "free market" environment but then doesn't every regulation, tax or fee? I suspect anyone who has decided to purchase a Chrysler product would appreciate the government's bailout back in the '80's.
But, if they ever do get this idea through I think I'd rather be packed in gelatin than strapped in - not only a convenient in-flight snack but if the plane went down there's some cushioning and fire retardent. Plus frequent fliers would soon have wonderfully strong finger and toe nails.
Posted by Ronald M | April 25, 2006 1:24 PM
I suspect that if corrected for inflation those economy class tickets of 30+ years ago would be a couple grand for cross-country flight today.
As well they should be.
Posted by Jack Bog | April 25, 2006 1:27 PM
While it is great sport to blame Reagan for all perceived ills, I believe Carter was the president whio proposed airline deregulation. The bill passed in 1978 and Alfred Kahn was the brain behid the concdept. Reagan came along, if memory serves, in 1980
Posted by Steve Atchison | April 25, 2006 2:23 PM
from cnnmoney.com "a spokeswoman for Airbus flatly denied the report Tuesday, going so far as to call it "crap."
Posted by haha | April 25, 2006 3:47 PM
Love the thread and glad the airline is backing down. As for inflation, a round-trip ticket from Detroit to San Juan on good old Eastern Airlines was $450 in the year 1975. Non-stop. Half-empty too, so you could sleep if you could find three empty seats in a row.
I'm guessing it's gonna cost you a little more than $450 these days, so air travel is cheaper than ever, which is why it sucks so much.
And if I get pulled out of line at PDX and "wanded" one more time just because I am olive-skinned, well, I think I'll just scream. Or go Greyhound.
Posted by Daphne | April 25, 2006 4:31 PM