Frequent criers: are elite fliers ruining air travel?
The last thing I want to do is start a class war at 36,000 feet. But enough is enough.
Several weeks ago, when I questioned the efficiency of airline boarding processes, I was deluged with e-mails from elite passengers who were furious that I challenged their right to get on the plane first.
Here’s one missive that landed in my inbox just this morning from reader Roy Gallucci. While waiting for his luggage in Los Angeles recently, he overheard a fellow passenger grumbling about premium passengers being allowed to board before everyone else, and having to buy a $5 lunch box while folks in the front of the plane dined on steak.
Gallucci, who was flying up in first class, turned to the unhappy coach passenger and suggested that if he wanted to pay an extra $2,000, then he, too, could board first and enjoy a steak dinner.
“That shut him up,” he said. “And maybe it will shut you up about elites boarding first.”
Maybe. Maybe not.
My problem isn’t the two-class cabins that draw a curtain between the have’s and have-not’s. That’s been a part of air travel since almost the beginning, and I think most passengers have made their peace with it.
No, what irks me are two important issues. First, it’s the way airlines today are adding amenities to their premium cabins while quietly removing basic services from their economy-class sections. Food is a good example, but such additions and deletions are taking place across the board, and it shows up in every aspect of air travel, from reservations to boarding.
Meanwhile, airlines disingenuously insist their economy class passengers “asked” to have essentials like in-flight meals and the ability to check a bag at no additional cost taken away from them. They do it every time they claim passengers are only interested in price. But that’s only half the story. Air travelers may be cost-conscious, but I have yet to meet one who wants to pay half a dozen extra fees, to wait in a long line and to be starved on a flight.
The other issue? The attitude of elites. I mean “elite” in several senses of the word: not just elite-level frequent travelers and the well-to-do who can afford to pay full price for the good seats, but perhaps in a broader sense, passengers who think they deserve preferential treatment. Some of these air travelers — and it’s important to emphasize it’s just some of them — are ruining it for the rest of us.
Here’s how:
1. Not minding their manners.
Whether it’s mile-high tantrums or clashes with other passengers, the antics of premium passengers are exhaustively documented. The latest case is British supermodel Naomi Campbell, who lost her temper after learning that British Airways lost her luggage. The 37-year-old TV star was hauled off her flight in handcuffs after allegedly spitting at a policeman and trying to punch and kick others.
An extreme example? Oh, maybe. But hardly an isolated one. Just a few weeks ago while I was patiently waiting my turn at a ticket counter in New Orleans, a passenger pushed ahead of me, waving his ticket. “I’m late for my flight,” he said. “Besides, this line is for first class.” (Was it the way I was dressed — in a Hawaiian shirt — that suggested I belonged in the back of the plane? I let him have his way even though I was in the right line.)
2. Behaving as if the rules weren’t written for them.
Airlines coddle their elites so much, it’s no wonder these passengers are left with the impression that the rules don’t have to be followed. Apparently, that’s what Thomas McSherry believed. His flight from San Francisco to New York last year had to be diverted to Salt Lake City after the first-class passenger refused to cooperate with the flight crew when he was told to fasten his seat belt and stop using his cell phone. According to the charges filed against him, McSherry used profanity, insulted a flight attendant’s nationality and made a threat of bodily harm.
McSherry isn’t necessarily a poster boy for the “rules-are-for-the-little-people” attitude that can infect groups of elite-level frequent fliers. If you want to witness a more common but no less disturbing variety firsthand, just visit one of the discussion forums for frequent fliers, like FlyerTalk. Or read one of the columnists often quoted on these forums, who, in a perversion of reality, seem convinced that elite-level frequent fliers are actually victims.
3. Insisting on special treatment — even when it’s unwarranted.
Elites can be demanding customers, but hell hath no fury like a card-carrying frequent flier bumped down to steerage class. I’ve seen it. Every time I snag a bulkhead or exit row seat with the other un-upgraded suits, I get a lesson on how to get a free drink from a flight attendant. It’s embarrassing.
Some travelers don’t even bother to ask. Consider the case of Bert Niepel, a German banker who was apparently unaccustomed to sitting in the cheap seats. So Niepel reportedly upgraded himself to a seat in the first class section on a recent flight from Berlin to New York. Then he refused repeated requests to return to his seat in economy class. Finally Niepel flew into a rage, forcing the pilot to lock the cockpit door and divert the flight to Manchester, England, where Niepel was arrested and fined. It could have been worse. Two years ago, passengers stormed the first class section of a Boeing 747 operated by Pakistan International Airlines after it sat on a hot Islamabad tarmac. More than a dozen would-be first class passengers were arrested.
So whose fault is this? Are more platinum-level passengers acting like spoiled children? Or have airlines enabled this destructive behavior and created a toxic and decidedly un-democratic culture of entitlement?
I think you know the answer.
Tom Signore does. On a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago, the executive recruiter from Oak Park, Calif., was sitting near the front of the economy class cabin when he stood up to use the restroom. The closest lavatories were in first class. But a flight attendant emerged from the galley and blocked his path to the head. “These are for first class passengers only,” she scolded.
“Do the math,” he told me. “Two bathrooms for 180 people. One bathroom for 12 people. Does that make any sense?”
No, and neither do red carpets at the boarding gate. Or over-the-top gourmet meals with all-you-can-drink booze, while the rest of the plane starves. You can’t blame airlines for singling out their highest-revenue passengers as VIPs. But something is wrong — very wrong — with air travel today when only some of us are treated like people and the rest are stowed away like cargo.
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30 Responses to “Frequent criers: are elite fliers ruining air travel?”
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In the defense of elite status-we are a family of four with average means who got the elite status based on mileage ,not first class tickets-and frankly i wouldn’t give it up with its extra perks and all.Actually at our last friends get together party i was trying to convince our friends to fly United because of the economy plus seating-i convinced at least 3 families..This year we were a few miles short of qualification and decided on an impromptu fight to Seattle JUST TO KEEP OUR PREMIER STATUS.To sum it up its about $$$$$$and the companies just treat you better when you spend-the same with hotel chains, gambling facilities and even cruise ships.
Playing the elite card, I suppose your are just jumping on the band wagon. Seems everybody wants to use the term these days. However there are bad players in both sections of the airplane. Painting with a broad brush doesn’t do anyone any good.
The fact is that I buy in bulk. Hundreds of thousands of miles. I get my quantity discount as a comfortable seat, and a cocktail. You want the same deal I’m all for it. You can buy in bulk also.
Given US Airways new “pay for drinks” policy in coach, I would rather give up the free drinks in 1st class so everyone can have free water (as an “Chairman” member on US Air I find myself receiving the free upgrade for all four of my flights each week, and frankly I would like spend 12 hours a week in a plane if it were in coach, I’d take the train).
I am an elite that travels at least 2-3 month. I do not throw a fit when I am not upgraded but it is nice that the airlines do recognize there frequent travelers. As everyone seems to want to complain about the Elites, we could also complain about the traveler who never flies and insists to carry on the largest bag and stuff it in the overhead so no one else has room.
Further more, I must be on the wrong flights in first class as I have never had a steak. More times than not I have had a frozen lettuce salad that was not fit to eat. So when your in coach and think we are eating a gourmet meal think twice. As far as the free alcohol drinks, I would gladly give them up so everyone can have a drink. So please do not lump all Elite passengers in one class. We are not all evil people who think they deserve the world handed to them.
Like Christopher says, it’s not about the fact that first class passengers get perks — that’s fine. It’s that the perks keep getting better for first class while the “little people” keep getting treated worse and worse. It’s just bad business. I get it that the airlines need to keep these “elite” passengers around in order for the rest of us to be able to get our tickets for such low prices, but the fact is, no one wants to sit in dirty seats and not have free access to water.
The airlines need to realize that it’s the little things that people remember — Jetblue’s option of having five snacks to choose from, for example, rather than just a small pack of pretzel’s (which of course we don’t get at all anymore on most other airlines). The coach passengers don’t need steak — water or coffee will do. We don’t need champagne — clean seats will make us happy. And we don’t need to board first — we’d rather have clean and plentiful toilets, thank you. And when these basic necessities are denied while others in plain sight are offered what seems like luxury in comparison, it can only make matters worse for an already struggling airline industry.
So many things come to mind. I’m an elite with American Airlines and will probably make their highest level this year.
I currently pay for many of my upgrades to business or first class. American awards a certain number of upgrade credits for free based on flight activity but I pay for the remainder. One reason that I am willing to do so is that I will get a meal. This comes in handy when connections are tight or when there are no good food options at the airport. If I make the top-level, I won’t have to pay for upgrade credits any longer.
I do not support US Airways decision to charge all coach passengers for soft drinks and even water. This is ridiculous. I think some level of beverages should be provided for everyone. I can hardly wait for a two hour hold on the taxiway in hot, humid weather and no free beverages. Ugh.
However, I have had many discussions with friends who are perfectly fine with the end of coach meal service. Many people don’t like the quality of the food and prefer to bring their own. I think people who fly once or twice a year really don’t care about it, but if you fly 20 round trips a year, you do start to care about food, beverages, etc.
Finally, there are jerks in all walks of life. Yes, it is annoying to have someone constantly reminding you how much they paid to sit in the front of the plane, most elite flyers just want to board the plane and get some work or reading done while traveling to their destination. Many of them hardly say a word and certainly don’t harass the flight crew.
My biggest complaint is the lack of a reasonable middle ground. Surely I’m not the only person who is sufficiently price-sensitive to refrain from paying for “first-class” seats on shorter flights, but who would happily spend some extra money to make my steerage class experiences less harrowing.
That said, perhaps their lack of a middle ground is a solid business strategy, since I pony up for first on anything over 6 hours, despite feeling like I’m pissing money away on a mediocre, over-priced product.
The back of the plane is a race to the lowest possible fair. Heck if US Air took out the seats and dropped the price 20 bucks people would still buy the tickets and complain for the whole flight. People vote for service with money. Until some of them start walking away it will only get cheaper and less comfortable.
Hi Chris
I respectfully disagree with the premise of the article. Its a free country. Anyone regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender,…. you get the picture, has the choice to buy a ticket in the cabin of their choosing and reap the benefits accordingly. Its no different than buying any other commodity.
IMO how the airlines treat elites is mostly a red herring. The only real issue is whether the coach passengers are being treated with respect and dignity.
it’s not always just the elites; a lot of it is common sense and common courtesy. neither of these can be legislated easily in society, and they’re pretty tough to control in airports, planes and shuttle buses, too. you want to learn about people and how self absorbed they are, just do some traveling. it stands out when you see someone give up a seat or do something that inconveniences them to be polite or considerate to others. as a regular traveler, it’s pretty easy to spot someone who is out of their element and could use a random kindness. travel is tough.
i still have status with united and it’s nice to be able to board when you feel like and settle in (maybe with an upgrade), but you still have to think of others.
i hate carrying a bag around an airport and wrestling it on a plane, so i seldom do. my choice. what frustrates me is what has typically been allowed through security as a “carry on” item. full size garment bags, huge gym bags, large roll arounds. all make it through to the plane and we all have to wait while someone tries to jimmy it into too small a place.
and to the travelers that put their stuff in the first overhead they see and move to the rear of the plane, you’re lower than life. all of the passengers near the front are then forced to work their way through the crowd somewhere behind their seat during boarding, then they have to fight their way back there again at destination, or wait for the plane to empty. i think the flight attendants have plenty to do, but it should be stated repeatedly as passengers board and if someone is caught, their bag should go with them to their seat, or into the belly of the plane.
you see much of the same behavior at hotels, but i suppose that’s another column.
All of these things make me cherish my Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards membership all the more. Nobody gets post treatment there. Get on the bus, and get your seat. Yeah, every now and then I’ve gotten screwed a bit (having to take a plane to Baltimore from Chicago when I was NY bound because they were understaffed at baggage check-in on the day before Christmas only to get to take a train to NY at my own expense comes to mind). But more often than not, they do look out for you when you ask them to.
Bottom line, the airlines do not care about their customers anymore. Period.
I’m one of the little people, and I think this is full of hooey. I have never flown first or business class, but I don’t begrudge those who do the extra perks that come with a higher price tag or frequent patronage. In may (admittedly limited) experience, I haven’t seen that bad behavior is particularly noticeable in one cabin versus another. Maybe you see more obnoxious “elite” passengers because you are flying with them more than I.
Sure, I am not thrilled that airlines are taking away or charging for previously free amenities, but then I miss the days when you could get free decks of cards and magazines. If these truly are bad business practices, consumers will vote with their dollars and go elsewhere. Airlines will either amend their practices or go out of business. Capitalism is a fairly good self correcting system for situations like this.
Class warfare may be called for in systems where the underclass are disenfranchised but this is not the case here. No one is forcing consumers to patronize airlines who treat them like unfeeling cargo and then charge them extra for the privilege. There are other options and consumers have the right to exercise them. As they always announce at the end of the flight, “We know you have a choice … thanks for choosing us.”
I’m with steve p on the carryon crap, and as a coach customer, that is the thing that irritates me the most, and airlines need to deal with it. I could care less what the 1st class people are eating or drinking, and if they want to get on the plane first and be stuck in their seat longer, so be it. I’ve sat in first a few times, and the extra leg room is nice (no better than united’s economy plus), but the seats were never really nice enough for me to have justified the cost difference.
Personally, I also tend to feel sorry for some of the guys in 1st class. You can always tell the ones who are on the road all the time, and I find that sad. I fly on occasion for my job, but I’ve intentionally avoided the positions where I’d be on the road 2/3 weeks a month. I’d rather make a little less salary wise (or in my field, make the same but travel less :) ) and spend more time at home with my family. Being on the road often enough to achieve top level status just seems like a lonely way to spend your time.
I don’t have a problem with perks on the plane. I’ve flown first class and it’s nice, but not worth the price.
I do have a problem with special security lines for first class passengers. The airlines don’t run security anymore (given how badly they botched it) - the Feds do. When it comes to bona fide security measures, there is no reason to discriminate based on ticket type.
As a psuedo-frequent flyer, but not usually first-class, I don’t mind the perks that the ‘elite’ get onboard, or that they can board first. Sure, they paid their dues (in either cash or flying so many miles that they are upgraded). But the things that irk me are when the first-class passengers, for whatever reason, come back to the cattle-wagon to use the restroom - the ‘use the facilities in your own section’ rule only applies to the cattle, apparently. Also, standing there in the aisle after the plane doors have opened, waiting for the first-class passengers to finally get their baggage down and deplane before I can get off is somewhat degrading - like I’m waiting for the king’s procession to finish or something.
And the biggie…. why is there separate TSA screening facilities for the ‘elite’?? We all pay the same ‘TSA security fee’, right?? So why is there a separate (and presumably faster) line for the elite??
I want to say thanks for all the great articles. I love how you like to keep the right people on their toes!
I do disagree with the statement elite travelers are the problem. The problem is the airlines and their elitist leadership. Stop and think a moment, where else do we have places that separate people by class? Bus’s? Movie theaters? Restaurants? The answer is pretty much no where else. That kind of thinking was woven out of the American fabric years ago as our country struggled to free itself of class and race distinctions. It was that kind of forward thinking by real leaders (unlike the elitist airline senior management) that has made this country united and strong.
Years ago people were segregated by color when they road the bus. Thankfully those days are long gone. Can you imagine a restaurant separating people by the expense of their meal? I’m amazed how we still let the airlines get away with this crap for all these years! Fortunately there are some forward thinking airlines out there that don’t adhere to the elitist philosophy (no first class) and I fly them whenever I can.
Just for the record, I travel just about every other week to someplace in the world and I always fly coach, even though I could easily upgrade to first class for nothing. I’d like to think it is because I learned long ago to follow the beliefs of good leadership.
Just wanted to comment on the TSA seperating the Elite from the non Elite. It is not a TSA thing. It is a airline thing. The airlines are the ones demanding for a special line for their Elite members. All TSA has come up with along this line is the Expert traveler line. There is no First class or coach class requirement for this line. Just that someone is a frequent traveler and knows the rules or is traveling very light. If you see an “EXPERT” traveler line anyone can go as long as they fit the requirements which have nothing to do with ticket price. Now if you see an “ELITE, GOLD, SILVER or whatever the airline calls their members that is something the airline fought for. Just a little clarification.
Maybe on International Flights do First and Business Class passengers get steak and lobster, but on US domestic flights? Please, tell which domestic carrier still serves steak or lobster on non-international flights so as I can start to fly with them.
It should also be pointed out that just because we either paid more for (sometimes almost 10 times the amount paid by some coach fliers) or earned a seat in First or Business Class doesn’t mean we are really treated all that much better. The staff can still be rude and obnoxious and the airlines can be downright stingy. (Case in point: I was flying US Airways First Class from PHX to SFO and all we got were a bag of nuts for our “snack”) and this is after paying $1400 round-trip for the “First” Class tickets.
I like the fact that I can board first, not because I “deserve” it, but because it allows me a few extra moments to sit back, relax (I really don’t care for take-offs) and maybe get a few pages read before take-off.
Why is it that the airlines are the only providers of transportation that feel a need to reward their regular customers? What? Are they gonna stop flying?
Everywhere else, if you want the goodies, you buy a first-class ticket.
I don’t have an issue with anyone who pays a high price for first class, but I do have an issue with anyone who expects to receive better treatment simply because he flies a lot.
Well Chris, I think you started a class war whether you wanted to or not. LOL. I carry on a 20-inch rollaboard. It fits nicely in the overhead, on its narrow side, wheels out. Plenty of room for the two other passengers’ luggage in that row. Just wanted to clarify that not all of us abuse the overhead space. I also carry a small tote that fits underneath the seat, without spilling over into the legroom area.
If people pay for first class/elite status, I might envy their perks a bit, but I don’t resent them, as a whole. However, it doesn’t make sense to deny economy class passengers water or clean seats. That’s the focus of this column. Laissez les bontemps roulez to the firsties, but just give the rest of us basic, decent service.
Business associate of mine who’s a Platinum Elite with Air Canada describes Economy as Roach Class - pretty much sums up the attitude of many Elite flyers ..
But even within the world of Elite some members are more entitled than others…
I fly Air Canada Exec on long haul business flights & roach class on short hauls and vacation, so my Air Canada Elite status is pretty much basement level. They’ve always awarded meal choice based on what Elite level you were, but on a recent flight back from Toronto the senior steward announced to the whole cabin that first choice would go to Passenger A who was a super platinum Elite [pause so we could all appreciate this] , then Passenger B who was a platinum Elite, and so on until he got to the non- Elite passengers, who by this point were pretty thoroughly humiliated and unsurpised to get the leftovers.
Remember, these were people who were paying $2 - 3,000 for the flight, not getting it as a free upgrade which many of the Super Elites were…
The whole experience can be avoided by ordering a special meal when booking - which also gets you better food - but it never ceases to amaze me just how far airlines will go to pander to their frequent flyers, and how otherwise adult human beings actually start to believe they are special & entitled to this nonsense…
You folks ought to fly Lufthansa some time from the US to Germany and back. . .
They have First Class TERMINALS in Frankfurt and Munich - and if you are going to Dusseldorf they have all first class FLIGHTS to Newark and Chicago with drivers at both ends.
Anyway, back to the terminal in Frankfurt - you arrive and there is a personal concierge to take care of baggage and customs formalities. A personal escort through security in a separate location. Customs comes to us to process the VAT refund form. No waiting in line.
There is a restaurant serving real food in case we want to pass on the airline fare, which was awesome if you ask me.
When the time came to board, there were Mercedes 560CL’s or Porsche Cayennes on the ramp - we were driven to the aircraft and boarded at our leisure. An airline employee carried our bags on board and there is a closet right by the front boarding door [this was 747] for First Class passenger carryons - you could have them carry it upstairs to the F cabin or leave the rollons there. I took my laptop case and left everything else right there. When we arrived and left the airplane by that door - there was a NY Lufthansa employee waiting there to make certain we were ok with carrying our own luggage.
Seats have an almost 8 foot [92"] pitch. There is a cooler between the seats with beer, soda and water bottles for each passenger.
Cost was the same a business class on American and Delta - and Delta had nonstops from JFK-FRA [using a 757]. I tell you, the upper cabin where there are only 16 seats [and 7 of us that day] is a darn nice place to spend 8 hours in an airplane.
That being said, those seven people paid about $25,000 together for the privilege of sitting in that cabin. An airline could put about 60 seats in that space. Assuming they got $300 a seat, and filled all of them, the F class passengers generated some $7000 more in revenue than those 60 coach seats. So the perks are understandable. $7000 a day, 3 flights a day, to JFK, LAX, SFO, etc, and that money starts to add up - - fast.
Ah, but Lufthansa does also have a decent economy class, or so says a friend who flew from Atlanta to London and back on that airline. She said the food was great, the service was delightful and the planes were spotlessly clean, including the bathrooms. She had no complaints.
Chris, some good points. Airlines are clearly addining amenities to their premium cabins. As you well know, this is where they make their money. It does make good business sense to invest in your products that make you the most money. I would do the same. But to disregard the majority sitting in the back is just ignorant. Having a happy few with an upset majority regardless of an airlines rate-of-return is bound to lead them to failure.
I have been a 1K with United for the last few years in addition to a Gold Member with British Airways, and I feel I’ve definitely put in my time. I now live in Europe and can plainly say that the travel experience is much more positive here. Frankfurt is the closest hub and I can vouch for Lufthansa’s and British Airways’ First Class experience. We even get meals on 45 minute Economy Class flights on Swiss Air. But elite status doesn’t make you exempt from the universal headaches of travel.
I average one long-haul every three weeks with multiple short-hauls in between. I’ve lost my luggage on multiple different airlines on 4 continents in the past 6 months. I’ve had greasy hot-pot dumped onto my bag in Shanghai, I’ve missed flights in over half dozen countries, and I’ve spent countless hours under the “delay” column. This happens to everyone, regardless of how much they paid for their ticket, place of residence, choice of airline or status level.
We don’t deserve special treatment anymore than the once-per-year traveler. It’s a numbers game. The more you fly the more chances for something to go wrong. I don’t deserve the pajamas on BA, or the herb-crusted steak on South African, or the rose on Lufthansa, or the bj on Singapore. I ‘appreciate’ having a quiet lounge to rest in while they find another aircraft, or the priority boarding line where the Check In process is completed in under 5 minutes. Those are the two things that help ease the never-ending hassles of living out of a suitcase and consistently shopping for toiletries in foreign countries. The rest is just superficial fluff which ultimately can’t replace a home-cooked meal and an evening on the couch in your drawers.
Yet I still see the humor in touring the Economy Cabin after a gas-inducing meal.
Someone asked ‘Where else do we have companies separating people by class’?
Well, try buying seats to a broadway show. The balcony seats are usually much cheaper than the first 7 rows, and the side sections are cheaper than the center sections. Ever complain to management that you’re both seeing the same show?
Rents on higher floor apartments are more than ground floor. Ever try saying that the square footage is the same?
At resorts ocean-view costs more than parking lot views.
On cruises inside cabins cost much less than verandas and definitely less than penthouses.
On some cruise lines certain dining rooms are for the high rollers only, though steerage no longer exists.
Ever travel on trains? Do you pay more for First Class?
Should every house sell for $50 a square foot?
Everything worth anything has a price. Do you go to the airport in your own taxi or a van making stops at 8 hotels or houses and sharing the ride with 10 other people?
Would you want to fly in a Dreamliner or Airbus with 800 people? Do you like RyanAir and are you unfazed by paying for anything other than the clothes on your back for your ‘cheap’ seat?
The fact is that if someone flies your airline every week, multiple times a year, for long distances, and pays 10 or 20 times what discount tourists might pay and thus contributes to your bottom line thousands of dollars each time, why would you not want to entice him to keep it up instead of going to another airline?
There are boors everywhere. But that doesn’t mean Elite status is bad.
Suppose we did away with Elite, Gold, Platinum, etc. What do we gain? What do the airlines gain? How long would it take (I know they exist now) for more startups to fly all business, or first, or enhanced seating planes?
How about we get rid of Gold cards, Platinum cards? How about we sell only one type of car? In one color?
Mixing boorish behaviour by some elite flyers with the existance of an elite program is a distraction from the main argument. By the way what about people with babies who scream throughout the flight, are they not boorish? Why do we even allow screaming babies on airplanes? Let them drive cars or buy second class train tickets.
And finally, think of the hours and days that Elite flyer has spent in that aluminum tube. He or she has paid a heavy price for Elite status. To paraphrase an old observation, do you think on his death bed he will think ‘Gee I wish I had flown even more so I could have spent more time in First, or made Platinum Level’?
I agree with the comment that not all Elites nor First/Biz Class passengers are the same–and it is not fair, or dare I say ignorant (in the true definition of the word, not the pejorative), to make a blanket statement about us. There are jerks and people who feel entitled to things in every strata and every situation (believe it or not, even on the NYC subway)–but airplanes are indeed prime examples–stilI I know and understand where Christopher E is coming from…the most extreme cases grate on ones nerves–its worse when you are sitting next to them in First. The ICK factor is high.
HOWEVER: For me sitting in 1st for a long flight, in relative comfort, with legroom, and sometimes with the option of reclining to a flat bed, being sort of pampered (depending on the staff), having a few drinks, a generally decent meal, a plug for the laptop, and then dozing off, is one of the few pleasures of (air) travel left, and it transcends the idiocy of fellow passengers. It is indulgent; perhaps self indulgent. Certain Asian airlines are amazing at making this the special experience that it is supposed to be. As stupid as some of you might deem this, I see a long flight in first class, it as a little mini vacation.
Or, on short full flights, sitting in first means that you save as much a 30 minutes (and certainly 10 or 15) in getting to and from the airport–which can be valuable on some trips. In those cases, like on a recent Alaska flight from SFO to LAX, the $50 to upgrade would have been worth avoiding the 30 minute wait (for me, but I understand that money has different value to individuals), that gave me 30 minutes less to get to the rental car place, and to the meeting.
I am elite on CO and generally upgrade a coach fare (sometimes I even pay for a more expensive fare) with miles–which is available to anyone. And as an Amex Platinum card holder, it is occassionally possible for me to buy 2-for-1 Biz or First class on international flights, which I see as a tremendous opportunity when the stars align for a long flight. Furthermore, the Amex Plat gets me into the airport lounges where I can also try to have a somewhat more dignified experience that is normally available at an airport gate, bar, or airport “restaurant”.
In summary, I do not feel entitled to sit in first or biz due to my elite status, but, being someone who covets the opportunity, I proactively create the best changcs for me to have it. First class on a flight from NYC-SFO or LAX is not worth $1000, but it sure is worth $500 + 30,000 OnePass miles. But that’s just me–and it’s my perogative to accrue and “spend” my miles (and money) that way.
So, maybe keep that in mind next time you feel envious of your fellow passengers up front–or just fly Jet Blue where, if I recall their early ad campaign, there is “No Second Class Citizens”.
My new dilemma, which I think has been addressed here before, is what to do if/when my new baby, who I plan to travel in Biz/First with, melts down.
Sorry, Chris - gotta disagree with you here.
MVP Gold on Alaska and Premier Executive on United in 2008, and probably MVP Gold and 1K in 2009. Before I flew enough to qualify for Premier, I purchased Economy Plus because the legroom in the 757s were horrible!
Most airlines should know that treating elites better keeps them coming back (with some exceptions but you’ve already addressed those in multiple columns!). Airline tickets, like hotels and car rentals, are price driven and unless the company has a specific business plan with an agency, most people look for the lowest fare. I specifically look for my primary airlines first when taking a trip, and this is what they count on. Plus, and I’ll admit to this, I enjoy boarding faster and finding a place for my overnight bag in the overhead compartment (I place the larger bag (laptop bag) under the seat to provide more room for others). This gives me more time to sleep when I take 6am departures. I also know which airports have priority lines and which don’t. If United or Alaska ended their perks program, I’d go to an airline that still has it and that’s a fact. I’m sure other road warriors would vote the same way.
For those who complain about the security lines, early boarding, and other perks, sorry. Even Southwest has business fares which give “A” priority boarding so you can’t point to the Southwest model.
What really irritates me is those travelers who bring the biggest bag possible onto the plane, spend minutes trying to cram it into the overhead compartment (while blocking everyone behind them), then throw their other bag into another compartment so they enjoy extra legroom. It’s not just the elites; many times, it’s the people at the very end of the line who expect a space for their bags and are angry when it has to be gate checked.
Chris, ever thought about doing a story about why flight attendants would ask passengers to allow those who have short connection times to depart first, don’t bother to identify them for the rest of us, and then let the free-for-all happen when the seat belt light goes off? What idiocy; all it does is give those poor people false hope!
Alright, I have some thoughts here on the matter. I certainly am one of those people who get annoyed with babies crying and toddlers acting badly on planes. I know that it’s not possible to section off families even though that would be a very good solution. I have an idea and I hope that the airlines will consider it. Now I think that this idea is a win/win for everyone aboard. I guess the only people who will be offended are the parents that let their kids run wild on a daily basis. C’est la vie!
We hear all the time how a baby and mother got kicked off of a flight for the child’s bad behavior. It is a safety issue people! A crying child can wrangle the nerves of everyone on board and can impact people’s health and their mental stability!
Here is my suggestion, why not have a mandatory class for all parents and their children before they are allowed to board a plane! You have to be at the airport early anyways, you might as well take a class that the airline would offer to help give suggestion on how to keep your child occupied during the flight. Also, there should be a separate class for older children where a certified pre school teacher teaches the children what is appropriate and what isn’t on a plane and also what to expect so they are prepared. If this mini 30 minute class is offered right before kids get on a plane, they will be more prepared for the ride.
I think this is a great idea, it would make kids more prepared and aware of their actions and the people around them. Sometimes parents can prepare the best way they know how, but honestly they themselves may not know what to expect especially if it’s the first time they’re traveling with their children.
I think that this idea would cut down the number of misbehaved children and make the flight peaceful for everyone involved. Besides, kids are more likely to listen to adults in uniform because they know that the airport is not their turf! I’m not saying this will be 100% effective, but I am saying that it would probably significantly help escalate these issues. Besides, their would be more job openings for teachers which we need so badly….you know for your child’s future!
You mean for Americans?? You serious? Or are you referring to a general parenting class on everyday child discipline? Something lacking in both the home and in public.
Not sure I see this in the budget for the airlines next year. Nonetheless, crying babies and running toddlers are just another part of the adventures of air travel. Like lost luggage and delayed flights. Personally, I find it easier to just smile at the kiddos. Their parents may be clueless or socially inept, and evolution will weed them out in due time. But it’s just another piece of the air travel journey that’s beyond our control. And certainly the long-term scars are nothing permanent.
[...] - bookmarked by 3 members originally found by surfarama on 2008-07-26 Frequent criers: are elite fliers ruining air travel? http://www.elliott.org/the-travel-critic/frequent-criers-are-elite-fliers-ruining-air-travel/ - [...]