6 ms·

Ways to make flying less miserable

26 points by RickJWagner 6y ago

amelius 6y ago
But to help save the planet, flying should be as miserable as possible.
- olah_1 6y ago
  Only for the proles. The priest class must be able to fly private jets to maintain peace and order. /s If one really wants to make a difference, focus on industry/corporations and not regular people just trying to get by. Otherwise it’s just an excuse for more control and consolidation of power.
  - tonyedgecombe 6y ago
    regular people just trying to get by Regular people don't fly that much, even in America half of the population don't fly in any one year. This report [1] Finds that 1% of world population emits 50% of CO2 from commercial aviation. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378020307779 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095937802... Climate change is a product of wealth.
- criddell 6y ago
  At some point I think countries will start mandating airlines offset their greenhouse gas emissions. Flying shouldn't be miserable, but more externalities should covered by the fare.
voisin 6y ago
I think too often “common sense” refers to a superficial understanding of a more nuanced, complicated issue. This is a good example - have they done any robust analysis as to whether telling people the weather at their destination actually reduces anxiety? What percent of people didn’t have this information on their phone prior to boarding? And it is preposterous to state they save 10 minutes of loading time by lifting the armrests up - the vast majority of manipulating the armrests (that 2 or 3 seconds he refers to) happens in parallel. How much time did they actually save once they implemented? I bet far less than 10 minutes.
- wccrawford 6y ago
  Actually, I would bet that most people have no clue what the weather will be like when they land. They probably just don't think about it. But having said that, it's too late now. That information was a lot more useful when they were packing their bags.
  - viraptor 6y ago
    It also rarely matters. You're most likely about to catch a taxi/bus/train, spend the next hour under cover/indoors getting to your accommodation, then either go to sleep or start work. Unless I need to find a hurricane shelter, the weather outside at landing time is very likely useless.
    - 4ggr0 6y ago
      I hope the plane does not even start, if the arrival destination is affected by hurricanes ;)
- toyg 6y ago
  > the vast majority of manipulating the armrests (that 2 or 3 seconds he refers to) happens in parallel Maybe, but holding up the queue at the wrong time (e.g. in the early stages of boarding) can have an outsized impact on the overall result. Keeping armrests up is one of those things I always wanted from an airline. I thought there might have been some reason why they effectively inconvenienced everyone as standard, but apparently not. I wonder if bringing them down is a leftover from the times armrests included an heavily-used ashtray.
- falcolas 6y ago
  A couple of notes: 1) Knowing is better than not knowing. Even if the information is outside of your control, you now know what to expect. Knowing gives us a feeling of control over a situation, even if we don’t. 1a) Things change in the time you’re in the air. You also have to be proactive to get that information ahead of time, as opposed to passive to hear it from the captain. 2) Little inconveniences add up. Sure, an armrest being down is probably not a thing at all. But it’s annoying when I’m trying to get past it, and I always have to put it up. It’s another straw on the camel’s back. 3) Not having to put the armrests down probably helps with their cleaning times. Again, not a huge amount, but a few minutes for each cleaning job.
rco8786 6y ago
> 40 minutes before the plane lands the captain comes on the loudspeaker. In addition to supplying gate numbers, he tells you how long the wait times are at Customs and Immigration, he gives you a weather report, and he provides an estimate for how long it will take a taxi or car service to reach the city. Aargh this is so annoying. I’m just trying to rest and watch a movie, then the captain comes in and drones on and on about stuff I don’t really care about. Then the flight attendant comes in after and repeats everything the captain just said. The worst
- viraptor 6y ago
  Worse: When the announcement happens the movie stops and the unchangeable volume of the announcement is ~100x louder than what you were watching. Then if you're on a cheap flight, you get another announcement about last chance to buy something from in-flight duty-free. Some Airlines don't care about satisfaction, just maximising profit where you have no other options. The most annoying things are often those that have been explicitly added by the airlines. Added: My hack for the volume issue - take your own short audio cable with inline volume control. Set the system playback to max volume and turn down your own analog dial.
  - ElKrist 6y ago
    Yes when they hijack your earphones the sudden volume increase hurts. I once flew through Saudia Airlines and fell asleep with my earphones on (I was listening to some music from their system). Getting suddenly woken up by the start of the prayer "Allahu Akbar" with a deep loud voice straight in my ears was an experience I'll never forget
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
- frombody 6y ago
  Worse, you're on an international flight to or from a place that has multiple national languages and they have to do all the announcements 3x.
olah_1 6y ago
This[1] is a blog post about airlines that you will find very illuminating and enraging. The gist is that airlines are not anything like what you assume they are. Massive stock buy backs, zero innovation, record high salaries for C level leaders, no competition. They’re run as utilities. [1]: https://www.epsilontheory.com/do-the-right-thing/ https://www.epsilontheory.com/do-the-right-thing/
- plorg 6y ago
  Maybe it's because I'm cynical, but I assume that's how lots of American industry is run.
  - webmaven 6y ago
    > Maybe it's because I'm cynical, but I assume that's how lots of American industry is run. It largely depends on the degree of regulatory capture (which, contrary to the views of many, isn't directly dependent on the amount of regulation per-se). Different sectors vary considerably. Passenger rail and agriculture are, IMO, the worst examples in the US.
m463 6y ago
I haven't flown post-pandemic, but... I think it would be nice if something held my head and neck straight so I could doze off. and I think boarding order might be better -- so I never have to climb over someone to get to my seat.
- DoofusOfDeath 6y ago
  > I think it would be nice if something held my head and neck straight so I could doze off. Have you ever tried one of those inflatable around-your-neck pillows that are sold at airports? I've always wondered if they were worked.
  - UI_at_80x24 6y ago
    I have, but I find they work best if you don't use them as is usually shown. I have best results if the 'open' part of the C shape is at the back of my neck. That allows the pillow portion to support my chin instead of the back of my head. Disclaimer: I'm fat, with a big head. Results may vary for skinny people.
  - webmaven 6y ago
    > > I think it would be nice if something held my head and neck straight so I could doze off. I've come across headrests that have adjustable height and 'wings' that can be folded forward to support your head somewhat (most people don't seem to know they are there unless they happen to notice another passenger adjust one). > Have you ever tried one of those inflatable around-your-neck pillows that are sold at airports? I've always wondered if they were worked. They work, though I don't like the inflatable ones much and prefer those filled with microbeads like a bean-bag even though they're less portable. I haven't yet tried one with memory foam and an inflatable core or the even fancier types since I tend to lose them while I'm stumbling bleary-eyed off the plane (I've also lost books, hats, scarfs, & sweaters this way, basically anything that might not be stowed in the carry-on bag). BTW, don't buy a neck pillow at the airport, the options are very limited, the prices high, and you probably won't be able to return it if necessary (poss. even if you kept the receipt).
- jpmattia 6y ago
howlgarnish 6y ago
Anxiety is complicated. For example, having airline crew on Ebola-grade hazmat suits emblazoned with biohazard logos would probably reduce COVID transmission by some fraction of a percent, but it would also increase anxiety for most of us. If you take the LA Blue Line (which goes through some of the worst neighborhoods in the city), the constant announcements about your safety being important and occasional patrols by jackbooted commandos are the opposite of reassuring. Basically, it's difficult to show you care about a problem without making the problem appear worse.
sandworm101 6y ago
>> I needed to figure out the real reasons why repeat passenger levels had dropped and why the airline ranked #18 for on-time arrivals. WTF? They gloss strait over those two facts as if they are not related. Covid anxiety? Armrests? You know what makes me anxious? Missing my connection because the airline is late AGAIN! I'll suffer through any number of in-cabin discomforts. I'll get out and pull the aircraft back from the gate with a rope. I'll climb in and out via ladders. I'll shovel snow off the runway by hand. I'd even pay a premium on if doing so meant the flight arrives at the time indicated on the ticket. Want to know what really makes passengers anxious when flying? It isn't the flight. Few really care about the actual flying part of the journey. It is that in-seat time before and after the flight. It is rolling the dice to see if your plane will be allowed to take off without mechanical issue or delays due to baggage problems. It is not knowing whether there will be a gate available for your aircraft once you land. It is knowing that you will often spend more time in the plane on the ground than actually flying. Fix that before talking to me about my armrest preferences.
- DoofusOfDeath 6y ago
  It sounds like different people have different concerns then. I only fly on business, and it's rarely a big deal if I have a several-hour delay because of a missed connection. However, I'm tall, and have a bad back and knees. So legroom and elbow room are very important to me. I also had one important trip ruined because (I suspect) I picked up a bad cold during the flight.
  - sandworm101 6y ago
    Then you are working for nicer people than I was. My clients, when I was in the private sector, really did not appreciate me missing meetings because the airline was late. Nor were many of my delays measured in hours. Flying SF-Vancouver or Vancouver-NY/DC, if an afternoon/evening flight was canceled we wouldn't fly until the next day.
    - DoofusOfDeath 6y ago
      > Then you are working for nicer people than I was. Maybe. I also rarely meet with actual customers, and I'm sure that helps too.
alisonkisk 6y ago
Title violates HN rules, but is a good indicat that the article is BS junk (it's an excerot from a pop pseudoscience book).
goda90 6y ago
The anxiety I feel about flying primarily comes from anticipating the things I know will make me miserable. The cramped seats where no position is comfortable. Knowing that every movement I make to try to get comfortable is bothering the person next to me. Getting sweaty because of how high the heaters are running. Trying to sleep while every seat, empty or not, has bright flashing advertisements that no one bothers to turn off(they don't exactly make it obvious how to). And when you do have a tight connection, everyone ahead of you on the plane goes so incredibly slow.
sulam 6y ago
Considering that COVID is most commonly spread through airborne droplets (this is why masks work), focusing on hand sanitizer and seat belts and saying the plane is the safest part of the trip is both misguided and flat out wrong.
billpg 6y ago
How about making sure that whoever is in the chair in front of me does not recline it at any point in the journey.
- llimos 6y ago
  I was absolutely delighted to discover that on EasyJet (European budget airline) the seats do not recline! Not reclining my own seat is a very small price to pay for not having the guy in front recline his. I couldn't believe more airlines don't do that, it's so freaking obvious.
  - billpg 6y ago
    I wish some transatlantic airlines did this. Really annoys me when the (redacted) in front of me decides their right to recline their seat is more important than my right to be comfortable.
ethagknight 6y ago
This article is not great and does not live up to the clickbait headline. He lampoons airline execs for thinking the problems are welcome screens and harsh lighting. He then points to bad delayed flights ranking and poor customer satisfaction. He then gives a solution of wet wipes, armrests, and more audio announcements. I hope the book is better than the article.
skocznymroczny 6y ago
For me, the COVID isn't as much of an issue as its restrictions. To travel internationally right now you have to get a test for most countries (which needs to be done 2 days before flight and costs a lot of money), make sure to have the results on time, and even then, when you arrive you are likely to get quarantined for weeks. Or you get quarantined when you return back from your trip.
JackC 6y ago
"Common sense" isn't really a helpful frame here, though it's an interesting story. The way I'd frame the story is: if you can do human-centered design at a professional level (a skill you can teach but that most people don't have) _and_ you can solve the problems leading to institutional inertia, the actual changes to make your product a lot better are going to feel startlingly simple.
csours 6y ago
Isn't it commonly claimed that consultants are hired when someone knows how to fix things but can't get the organization on board?
doitLP 6y ago
Sounds like all of this and more would be solved by more competition at the carrier level.
tgsovlerkhgsel 6y ago
For me, the worst part is the booking. Dozens of websites promise tickets, only to tack on random fees, suddenly increase the price, or (most popular) randomly fail at the last step. The official airline website will make you pay at least $30 more than the next alternative, and there's no guarantee that it'll be any better/more reliable either - but if you book through a third party, you'll be extra-screwed if something goes wrong. The airport comes second. You spend at least 30 minutes if you're super lucky and know the airport rushing through a crowded, annoying environment, often while carrying stuff, having either tight deadlines or a mind-numbing wait at the end, and until you reach your gate you may be forced to wait but never in a way that you could use the time productively. Also, you need to get rid of your water, then re-acquire water after security, while carrying your hand luggage (because checked bags now cost money). The flight itself, once I've stowed my luggage, settled into a seat, and set up my tablet? I don't care. I can sit and watch movies for hours. I'm even doing it voluntarily at home!
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
kylecordes 6y ago
To improve airline performance and reduce customer anxiety, align the incentives: Automatic partial ticket refund based on when the flight actually arrives versus the published arrival time. Sure, there are factors beyond an airline's control; but an airline, far better than random passengers, is in a financial position to model the risks and hedge against them appropriately. Automatic full ticket refund if the passenger doesn't receive a published amount of legroom and width. Oh, the airline would rather sell the same spaces to 2 people, hoping they will work it out and fit? Sure, but then only collect money from one of them, not both. Automatic partial ticket refund if the luggage isn't at the carousel within N minutes of arrival. Thus an incentive to keep a few more baggage handlers on shift, making their work more better also.
underseacables 6y ago
Something I didn’t realize until recently is that the decision to force all passengers to wear a mask throughout the flight was not made by the airlines, but by the flight attendants union. Everything you hear is that the airplane is the safest, most sanitized, place to be, but yet we have to wear a mask. Some airlines have also chosen to block off the middle seat, but that didn’t last long. On my recent flight from San Diego to Seattle all the seats were full.
- EForEndeavour 6y ago
  > Everything you hear is that the airplane is the safest, most sanitized, place to be, but yet we have to wear a mask. Even the cleanest armrests and high cabin-air turnover rate won't prevent droplets reaching you from someone speaking or sneezing next to you or behind you.

26 points by RickJWagner 6y ago

amelius 6y ago

But to help save the planet, flying should be as miserable as possible.

olah_1 6y ago
Only for the proles. The priest class must be able to fly private jets to maintain peace and order. /s If one really wants to make a difference, focus on industry/corporations and not regular people just trying to get by. Otherwise it’s just an excuse for more control and consolidation of power.
- tonyedgecombe 6y ago
  regular people just trying to get by Regular people don't fly that much, even in America half of the population don't fly in any one year. This report [1] Finds that 1% of world population emits 50% of CO2 from commercial aviation. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378020307779 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095937802... Climate change is a product of wealth.
criddell 6y ago
At some point I think countries will start mandating airlines offset their greenhouse gas emissions. Flying shouldn't be miserable, but more externalities should covered by the fare.

voisin 6y ago

I think too often “common sense” refers to a superficial understanding of a more nuanced, complicated issue. This is a good example - have they done any robust analysis as to whether telling people the weather at their destination actually reduces anxiety? What percent of people didn’t have this information on their phone prior to boarding? And it is preposterous to state they save 10 minutes of loading time by lifting the armrests up - the vast majority of manipulating the armrests (that 2 or 3 seconds he refers to) happens in parallel. How much time did they actually save once they implemented? I bet far less than 10 minutes.

wccrawford 6y ago
Actually, I would bet that most people have no clue what the weather will be like when they land. They probably just don't think about it. But having said that, it's too late now. That information was a lot more useful when they were packing their bags.
- viraptor 6y ago
  It also rarely matters. You're most likely about to catch a taxi/bus/train, spend the next hour under cover/indoors getting to your accommodation, then either go to sleep or start work. Unless I need to find a hurricane shelter, the weather outside at landing time is very likely useless.
  - 4ggr0 6y ago
    I hope the plane does not even start, if the arrival destination is affected by hurricanes ;)
toyg 6y ago
> the vast majority of manipulating the armrests (that 2 or 3 seconds he refers to) happens in parallel Maybe, but holding up the queue at the wrong time (e.g. in the early stages of boarding) can have an outsized impact on the overall result. Keeping armrests up is one of those things I always wanted from an airline. I thought there might have been some reason why they effectively inconvenienced everyone as standard, but apparently not. I wonder if bringing them down is a leftover from the times armrests included an heavily-used ashtray.
falcolas 6y ago
A couple of notes: 1) Knowing is better than not knowing. Even if the information is outside of your control, you now know what to expect. Knowing gives us a feeling of control over a situation, even if we don’t. 1a) Things change in the time you’re in the air. You also have to be proactive to get that information ahead of time, as opposed to passive to hear it from the captain. 2) Little inconveniences add up. Sure, an armrest being down is probably not a thing at all. But it’s annoying when I’m trying to get past it, and I always have to put it up. It’s another straw on the camel’s back. 3) Not having to put the armrests down probably helps with their cleaning times. Again, not a huge amount, but a few minutes for each cleaning job.

rco8786 6y ago

> 40 minutes before the plane lands the captain comes on the loudspeaker. In addition to supplying gate numbers, he tells you how long the wait times are at Customs and Immigration, he gives you a weather report, and he provides an estimate for how long it will take a taxi or car service to reach the city. Aargh this is so annoying. I’m just trying to rest and watch a movie, then the captain comes in and drones on and on about stuff I don’t really care about. Then the flight attendant comes in after and repeats everything the captain just said. The worst

viraptor 6y ago
Worse: When the announcement happens the movie stops and the unchangeable volume of the announcement is ~100x louder than what you were watching. Then if you're on a cheap flight, you get another announcement about last chance to buy something from in-flight duty-free. Some Airlines don't care about satisfaction, just maximising profit where you have no other options. The most annoying things are often those that have been explicitly added by the airlines. Added: My hack for the volume issue - take your own short audio cable with inline volume control. Set the system playback to max volume and turn down your own analog dial.
- ElKrist 6y ago
  Yes when they hijack your earphones the sudden volume increase hurts. I once flew through Saudia Airlines and fell asleep with my earphones on (I was listening to some music from their system). Getting suddenly woken up by the start of the prayer "Allahu Akbar" with a deep loud voice straight in my ears was an experience I'll never forget
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
frombody 6y ago
Worse, you're on an international flight to or from a place that has multiple national languages and they have to do all the announcements 3x.

olah_1 6y ago

This[1] is a blog post about airlines that you will find very illuminating and enraging. The gist is that airlines are not anything like what you assume they are. Massive stock buy backs, zero innovation, record high salaries for C level leaders, no competition. They’re run as utilities. [1]: https://www.epsilontheory.com/do-the-right-thing/ https://www.epsilontheory.com/do-the-right-thing/

plorg 6y ago
Maybe it's because I'm cynical, but I assume that's how lots of American industry is run.
- webmaven 6y ago
  > Maybe it's because I'm cynical, but I assume that's how lots of American industry is run. It largely depends on the degree of regulatory capture (which, contrary to the views of many, isn't directly dependent on the amount of regulation per-se). Different sectors vary considerably. Passenger rail and agriculture are, IMO, the worst examples in the US.

m463 6y ago

I haven't flown post-pandemic, but... I think it would be nice if something held my head and neck straight so I could doze off. and I think boarding order might be better -- so I never have to climb over someone to get to my seat.

DoofusOfDeath 6y ago
> I think it would be nice if something held my head and neck straight so I could doze off. Have you ever tried one of those inflatable around-your-neck pillows that are sold at airports? I've always wondered if they were worked.
- UI_at_80x24 6y ago
  I have, but I find they work best if you don't use them as is usually shown. I have best results if the 'open' part of the C shape is at the back of my neck. That allows the pillow portion to support my chin instead of the back of my head. Disclaimer: I'm fat, with a big head. Results may vary for skinny people.
- webmaven 6y ago
  > > I think it would be nice if something held my head and neck straight so I could doze off. I've come across headrests that have adjustable height and 'wings' that can be folded forward to support your head somewhat (most people don't seem to know they are there unless they happen to notice another passenger adjust one). > Have you ever tried one of those inflatable around-your-neck pillows that are sold at airports? I've always wondered if they were worked. They work, though I don't like the inflatable ones much and prefer those filled with microbeads like a bean-bag even though they're less portable. I haven't yet tried one with memory foam and an inflatable core or the even fancier types since I tend to lose them while I'm stumbling bleary-eyed off the plane (I've also lost books, hats, scarfs, & sweaters this way, basically anything that might not be stowed in the carry-on bag). BTW, don't buy a neck pillow at the airport, the options are very limited, the prices high, and you probably won't be able to return it if necessary (poss. even if you kept the receipt).
jpmattia 6y ago

howlgarnish 6y ago

Anxiety is complicated. For example, having airline crew on Ebola-grade hazmat suits emblazoned with biohazard logos would probably reduce COVID transmission by some fraction of a percent, but it would also increase anxiety for most of us. If you take the LA Blue Line (which goes through some of the worst neighborhoods in the city), the constant announcements about your safety being important and occasional patrols by jackbooted commandos are the opposite of reassuring. Basically, it's difficult to show you care about a problem without making the problem appear worse.

sandworm101 6y ago

>> I needed to figure out the real reasons why repeat passenger levels had dropped and why the airline ranked #18 for on-time arrivals. WTF? They gloss strait over those two facts as if they are not related. Covid anxiety? Armrests? You know what makes me anxious? Missing my connection because the airline is late AGAIN! I'll suffer through any number of in-cabin discomforts. I'll get out and pull the aircraft back from the gate with a rope. I'll climb in and out via ladders. I'll shovel snow off the runway by hand. I'd even pay a premium on if doing so meant the flight arrives at the time indicated on the ticket. Want to know what really makes passengers anxious when flying? It isn't the flight. Few really care about the actual flying part of the journey. It is that in-seat time before and after the flight. It is rolling the dice to see if your plane will be allowed to take off without mechanical issue or delays due to baggage problems. It is not knowing whether there will be a gate available for your aircraft once you land. It is knowing that you will often spend more time in the plane on the ground than actually flying. Fix that before talking to me about my armrest preferences.

DoofusOfDeath 6y ago
It sounds like different people have different concerns then. I only fly on business, and it's rarely a big deal if I have a several-hour delay because of a missed connection. However, I'm tall, and have a bad back and knees. So legroom and elbow room are very important to me. I also had one important trip ruined because (I suspect) I picked up a bad cold during the flight.
- sandworm101 6y ago
  Then you are working for nicer people than I was. My clients, when I was in the private sector, really did not appreciate me missing meetings because the airline was late. Nor were many of my delays measured in hours. Flying SF-Vancouver or Vancouver-NY/DC, if an afternoon/evening flight was canceled we wouldn't fly until the next day.
  - DoofusOfDeath 6y ago
    > Then you are working for nicer people than I was. Maybe. I also rarely meet with actual customers, and I'm sure that helps too.

alisonkisk 6y ago

Title violates HN rules, but is a good indicat that the article is BS junk (it's an excerot from a pop pseudoscience book).

goda90 6y ago

The anxiety I feel about flying primarily comes from anticipating the things I know will make me miserable. The cramped seats where no position is comfortable. Knowing that every movement I make to try to get comfortable is bothering the person next to me. Getting sweaty because of how high the heaters are running. Trying to sleep while every seat, empty or not, has bright flashing advertisements that no one bothers to turn off(they don't exactly make it obvious how to). And when you do have a tight connection, everyone ahead of you on the plane goes so incredibly slow.

sulam 6y ago

Considering that COVID is most commonly spread through airborne droplets (this is why masks work), focusing on hand sanitizer and seat belts and saying the plane is the safest part of the trip is both misguided and flat out wrong.

billpg 6y ago

How about making sure that whoever is in the chair in front of me does not recline it at any point in the journey.

llimos 6y ago
I was absolutely delighted to discover that on EasyJet (European budget airline) the seats do not recline! Not reclining my own seat is a very small price to pay for not having the guy in front recline his. I couldn't believe more airlines don't do that, it's so freaking obvious.
- billpg 6y ago
  I wish some transatlantic airlines did this. Really annoys me when the (redacted) in front of me decides their right to recline their seat is more important than my right to be comfortable.

ethagknight 6y ago

This article is not great and does not live up to the clickbait headline. He lampoons airline execs for thinking the problems are welcome screens and harsh lighting. He then points to bad delayed flights ranking and poor customer satisfaction. He then gives a solution of wet wipes, armrests, and more audio announcements. I hope the book is better than the article.

skocznymroczny 6y ago

For me, the COVID isn't as much of an issue as its restrictions. To travel internationally right now you have to get a test for most countries (which needs to be done 2 days before flight and costs a lot of money), make sure to have the results on time, and even then, when you arrive you are likely to get quarantined for weeks. Or you get quarantined when you return back from your trip.

JackC 6y ago

"Common sense" isn't really a helpful frame here, though it's an interesting story. The way I'd frame the story is: if you can do human-centered design at a professional level (a skill you can teach but that most people don't have) _and_ you can solve the problems leading to institutional inertia, the actual changes to make your product a lot better are going to feel startlingly simple.

csours 6y ago

Isn't it commonly claimed that consultants are hired when someone knows how to fix things but can't get the organization on board?

doitLP 6y ago

Sounds like all of this and more would be solved by more competition at the carrier level.

tgsovlerkhgsel 6y ago

For me, the worst part is the booking. Dozens of websites promise tickets, only to tack on random fees, suddenly increase the price, or (most popular) randomly fail at the last step. The official airline website will make you pay at least $30 more than the next alternative, and there's no guarantee that it'll be any better/more reliable either - but if you book through a third party, you'll be extra-screwed if something goes wrong. The airport comes second. You spend at least 30 minutes if you're super lucky and know the airport rushing through a crowded, annoying environment, often while carrying stuff, having either tight deadlines or a mind-numbing wait at the end, and until you reach your gate you may be forced to wait but never in a way that you could use the time productively. Also, you need to get rid of your water, then re-acquire water after security, while carrying your hand luggage (because checked bags now cost money). The flight itself, once I've stowed my luggage, settled into a seat, and set up my tablet? I don't care. I can sit and watch movies for hours. I'm even doing it voluntarily at home!

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

kylecordes 6y ago

To improve airline performance and reduce customer anxiety, align the incentives: Automatic partial ticket refund based on when the flight actually arrives versus the published arrival time. Sure, there are factors beyond an airline's control; but an airline, far better than random passengers, is in a financial position to model the risks and hedge against them appropriately. Automatic full ticket refund if the passenger doesn't receive a published amount of legroom and width. Oh, the airline would rather sell the same spaces to 2 people, hoping they will work it out and fit? Sure, but then only collect money from one of them, not both. Automatic partial ticket refund if the luggage isn't at the carousel within N minutes of arrival. Thus an incentive to keep a few more baggage handlers on shift, making their work more better also.

underseacables 6y ago

Something I didn’t realize until recently is that the decision to force all passengers to wear a mask throughout the flight was not made by the airlines, but by the flight attendants union. Everything you hear is that the airplane is the safest, most sanitized, place to be, but yet we have to wear a mask. Some airlines have also chosen to block off the middle seat, but that didn’t last long. On my recent flight from San Diego to Seattle all the seats were full.

EForEndeavour 6y ago
> Everything you hear is that the airplane is the safest, most sanitized, place to be, but yet we have to wear a mask. Even the cleanest armrests and high cabin-air turnover rate won't prevent droplets reaching you from someone speaking or sneezing next to you or behind you.