Hint to the Airline Industry – When you are part of an industry that is in trouble, best not to irritate your existing customers.

It is so much easier and less expensive to keep your current customers happy and not irritated than attracting new ones AND then irritating them as well.

I travel a lot, both for business and for pleasure – and a good deal of that traveling occurs in an airplane. I have absolutely no fear of flying. I believe that I am far more likely to die by my own hands behind the wheel of my own car than I am in an airplane. I generally like air travel, as long as I am not overwhelmed with irritations.

Of course air travel does have its share of potential irritations. Rushing to the airport in traffic, having to deal with heavy baggage, de-shoeing, de-belting and ridding your person of all metals and fluids while waiting on a long slow-moving queue, flight delays, shuffling down cramped aisles to even more cramped seating, fighting for room in overhead storage and dealing with crying children and, far worse, obnoxious fellow fliers are just some of the possible irritants. But, even with these, it still beats multi-day car trips or ocean liners.

So, the airlines, recognizing that they are in trouble have decided in their infinite wisdom, that it is far better to adopt further irritating policies for the sake of a few more dollars, than focusing on positive customer experiences.

Firstly, they have eliminated thousands of employees and greatly reduced the number of flights between destinations. This has caused increased inconvenience to passengers’ schedules and increases to the already unacceptable amount of flight delays.

BUT, these geniuses of transportation have not stopped there. Oh no, they felt compelled to try and take every last penny from those who were still not irritated enough to discontinue flying the formerly friendly skies.

Their solution – let’s irritate them even more.
Most irritating irritant – MORE FEES!!
Less revenue from ticket sales – Try making that up in FEES!!!

Baggage fee
Seat reservation fee
Re-booking fee
Food Fee
Sitting inside the plane fee
Landing at the right airport fee
Awake and sober pilot fee
Planes that have been recently inspected and properly maintained fee

I just read that American, Delta, United and US Air will all be adding a $10 surcharge if we book flights between Thanksgiving and New Years. Why? No reason, just because they want to get $10 more from each of their passengers.

So, for the holiday, can anyone recommend anything really lovely that is driving distance from New York?

THANKS!