Comments on: Travelocity poll: 63 percent of air travelers would avoid flying — if they could http://www.elliott.org/blog/travelocity-poll-63-percent-of-air-travelers-would-avoid-flying-if-they-could/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tanya http://www.elliott.org/blog/travelocity-poll-63-percent-of-air-travelers-would-avoid-flying-if-they-could/comment-page-1/#comment-6102 Tanya Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:24:48 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/travelocity-poll-63-percent-of-air-travelers-would-avoid-flying-if-they-could/#comment-6102 I hate to fly but love to travel (except for the flying part). Currently, anything less than 12 hours driving is a road trip, though last year I did do a 20-hour road trip. Unfortunately, anything on the East Coast (I live in the western half of the U.S.) is too far for a reasonable road trip, so I have to fly, and trips overseas obviously must involve a flight. Still I keep it to a minimum. Business trips often get combined, or I try to find another option. Vacations are less frequent just because it's too much of a hassle to deal with reaching the destination. I would fly at least twice as much as I currently do if it wasn't such a hassle. I despise the security theater. I hate the mystery of wondering if my luggage will be joining me on the trip and in what condition. I hate being crammed into the tiny seat for hours. I hate the suspense of wondering if any legs of my flight will be canceled, or hopelessly delayed. So I've already cut out so much flying. I hate to fly but love to travel (except for the flying part). Currently, anything less than 12 hours driving is a road trip, though last year I did do a 20-hour road trip. Unfortunately, anything on the East Coast (I live in the western half of the U.S.) is too far for a reasonable road trip, so I have to fly, and trips overseas obviously must involve a flight. Still I keep it to a minimum. Business trips often get combined, or I try to find another option. Vacations are less frequent just because it’s too much of a hassle to deal with reaching the destination.

I would fly at least twice as much as I currently do if it wasn’t such a hassle. I despise the security theater. I hate the mystery of wondering if my luggage will be joining me on the trip and in what condition. I hate being crammed into the tiny seat for hours. I hate the suspense of wondering if any legs of my flight will be canceled, or hopelessly delayed.

So I’ve already cut out so much flying.

]]> By: Leslie http://www.elliott.org/blog/travelocity-poll-63-percent-of-air-travelers-would-avoid-flying-if-they-could/comment-page-1/#comment-6091 Leslie Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:22:41 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/travelocity-poll-63-percent-of-air-travelers-would-avoid-flying-if-they-could/#comment-6091 I always drive if there's enough time. I used to love flying, but not in the last several years. I drive to Philly, New York, or Washington DC from the Detroit area several times a year. I flew once last fall, and although it wasn't awful, it was pretty annoying all around. I started opting out of flying after 9/11, when the security measures started becoming increasingly intrusive, annoying, and unnecessary (seriously, 5 oz of shampoo is dangerous, but 3 oz in a ziptop bag is not??). I always drive if there’s enough time. I used to love flying, but not in the last several years. I drive to Philly, New York, or Washington DC from the Detroit area several times a year. I flew once last fall, and although it wasn’t awful, it was pretty annoying all around. I started opting out of flying after 9/11, when the security measures started becoming increasingly intrusive, annoying, and unnecessary (seriously, 5 oz of shampoo is dangerous, but 3 oz in a ziptop bag is not??).

]]> By: Mike http://www.elliott.org/blog/travelocity-poll-63-percent-of-air-travelers-would-avoid-flying-if-they-could/comment-page-1/#comment-6066 Mike Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:11:49 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/travelocity-poll-63-percent-of-air-travelers-would-avoid-flying-if-they-could/#comment-6066 I have flown 6 segments in the last 8 days. On one DFW-SFO segment, on a wide-body aircraft, we had an outstanding crew. They were up and down the aisles all flight offering drink refills, etc. In first class, they addressed me by name every time. Yesterday, heading back to DFW, the crew served everyone, made a clean up pass, and then went in the galley to talk for an hour! It is so hit and miss these days. I have flown 6 segments in the last 8 days. On one DFW-SFO segment, on a wide-body aircraft, we had an outstanding crew. They were up and down the aisles all flight offering drink refills, etc. In first class, they addressed me by name every time.

Yesterday, heading back to DFW, the crew served everyone, made a clean up pass, and then went in the galley to talk for an hour!

It is so hit and miss these days.

]]> By: Jasper http://www.elliott.org/blog/travelocity-poll-63-percent-of-air-travelers-would-avoid-flying-if-they-could/comment-page-1/#comment-6061 Jasper Sat, 03 Nov 2007 02:30:34 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/travelocity-poll-63-percent-of-air-travelers-would-avoid-flying-if-they-could/#comment-6061 And what makes you think travelers aren\'t already not flying, if they can avoid it? I already do. If it\'s less than say 8 hours driving, I drive. I\'ve commuted in the weekends between Columbus and Washington for three years. Let\'s compare driving and flying. Driving: travel time: about 7h cost: about $60 (long live the mileage on my Civic) departure time: flexible, any time - Fr night, Su night atmosphere: lonely, sure, but also with my music as loud as I want view: the Apalachian mountains comfort: my car chair in whatever position I want, with noone complaining food and beverages: as many as I want, whenever I want them Flying: travel time: about 4 h (including check-in, excluding delays) cost: at least $200, for a Thu night, Sa monring flight departure: inconvenient atmosphere: crowded, uncomfortable view: blank wall (if I\'m lucky and got the exit row) comfort: none food and beverages: two stupidly little plastic cups with ice and a coating of soda, plus of course old pretzels. Hmmmm, which one would I take??? And what makes you think travelers aren\’t already not flying, if they can avoid it? I already do. If it\’s less than say 8 hours driving, I drive.

I\’ve commuted in the weekends between Columbus and Washington for three years. Let\’s compare driving and flying.

Driving:
travel time: about 7h
cost: about $60 (long live the mileage on my Civic)
departure time: flexible, any time – Fr night, Su night
atmosphere: lonely, sure, but also with my music as loud as I want
view: the Apalachian mountains
comfort: my car chair in whatever position I want, with noone complaining
food and beverages: as many as I want, whenever I want them

Flying:
travel time: about 4 h (including check-in, excluding delays)
cost: at least $200, for a Thu night, Sa monring flight
departure: inconvenient
atmosphere: crowded, uncomfortable
view: blank wall (if I\’m lucky and got the exit row)
comfort: none
food and beverages: two stupidly little plastic cups with ice and a coating of soda, plus of course old pretzels.

Hmmmm, which one would I take???

]]> By: Angelina http://www.elliott.org/blog/travelocity-poll-63-percent-of-air-travelers-would-avoid-flying-if-they-could/comment-page-1/#comment-6060 Angelina Fri, 02 Nov 2007 23:19:31 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/travelocity-poll-63-percent-of-air-travelers-would-avoid-flying-if-they-could/#comment-6060 I don't fly much, and I used to. The rude and indifferent service, the losing or mishandling of my luggage on the last five consecutive flights all have me either driving or not going anywhere. This year I am staying put for Thanksgiving--the first time in ....ten or fifteen years. Last year was such a disaster and my eight year old daughter was unable to sit next to or even near me or my husband (we were all separated) even though we had booked seats together (aircraft change....) The airlines know that they can deliver bad service because they will be bailed out. They all spend a lot of money on lobbyists and that's all that matters these days. I just wish the government would say to all airlines that they will not get bailed out again and that if they go under from people not flying (more and more of my friends are not flying, either...), then tough. I don’t fly much, and I used to. The rude and indifferent service, the losing or mishandling of my luggage on the last five consecutive flights all have me either driving or not going anywhere. This year I am staying put for Thanksgiving–the first time in ….ten or fifteen years. Last year was such a disaster and my eight year old daughter was unable to sit next to or even near me or my husband (we were all separated) even though we had booked seats together (aircraft change….)

The airlines know that they can deliver bad service because they will be bailed out. They all spend a lot of money on lobbyists and that’s all that matters these days. I just wish the government would say to all airlines that they will not get bailed out again and that if they go under from people not flying (more and more of my friends are not flying, either…), then tough.

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