3 ms·
> deregulating the airline industry has led to higher costs I guess I would need to read the book to see his argument, but on the surface this is quite the cla
by MattGaiser 3y ago
> deregulating the airline industry has led to higher costs
I guess I would need to read the book to see his argument, but on the surface this is quite the claim and challenged by the vast increase in flying and flying for quick weekend trips.
Sure, if you add up all the fees and assume that everyone is paying those fees costs may not have declined as much, but that is not the case. Basic economy is a very popular product.
He is right on why flying is miserable, but the trade off is that flying can be extremely cheap. I have purchased plane tickets for less than commuter train tickets.
- mytailorisrich 3y agoDeregulation lowered ticket prices. Flying economy is miserable because people are looking for the cheapest possible tickets so airlines have to squeeze everything they can.
- cratermoon 3y ago> people are looking for the cheapest possible tickets Some are, but the real reason airlines are rolling out these fares is to reduce costs.
- cratermoon 3y ago> the vast increase in flying and flying for quick weekend trips. Is this vast increase in absolute terms, or relative to the population? In 1978 the US population was 222.6 million, it was 331.9 million in 2021. That's a pretty significant increase, but has the number of people flying increased proportionally? > Basic economy is a very popular product. Only about a third of economy flyers choose the no-frills basic economy fare. I'm not sure that makes it "very popular". Airlines that cut basic economy to the level of only allowing a small personal item have reversed that decision and now allow full-size carry-ons. Overall the effect of basic economy is to sell the seat at rock bottom price, then charge for additional services, bringing the total price back up to as much or more than a regular main cabin fare.