I was once assigned to footnote a speech by a member of Reagan's Justice Department to turn it into a law review article. I took joy in many footnotes referring to contrary authority, many of which were opinions by Justice Brandeis. Among the most memorable quotes from the Reagan assistant's speech went something like: "We need to get rid of old antitrust policies that can be characterized as having too much misplaced sympathy for the inevitable loser." What these "free" marketers don't realize, or are unwilling to accept, is that unchecked, everyone will be an "inevitable loser" except for the one big fat cat that owns it all.
I suspect Air Travel was flimflam from the start. Look at the stultification of railway track proliferation in the U.S. compared to Europe. Now, we pay an exorbitant amount to sit like a sardine. The merging and acquisition behavior appears to follow the same pattern as with the telecoms.
I needed to go to the toilet on a United flight from NY to LA.
I was in coach class my husband was upgraded to business. I told them I had Colitis and could not get passed the drinks being handed out. I crapped on the floor in Business Class and got an enormous fine.
I got out of the fine after my Doctor wrote a letter.
Here in France now we cannot take local flights, they have been banned. SO no Marseille - Paris etc.
The trains are doing well but you in the US have no fast trains which would be the answer. The richest country in the World!
The Alaska acquisition of Hawaiian does not reduce competition in any measurable sense - something like 2% of their city pair markets overlap. However, Alaska competes with three of the big four, Delta (Seattle markets), United (along the West Coast and to Hawaii) and Southwest (along the West Coast and to Hawaii). Hawaiian competes with United to Hawaii and now Southwest in all of their interisland Hawaii markets. Hawaiian is an unprofitable airline with a big fleet of widebody aircraft flying and on order, and Alaska is very profitable without any widebodies. The plan is to keep both brands in the marketplace, although Alaska will be the operating airline. Merging to two airlines does not change Alaska as the fifth largest US airline. Antitrust laws have been nearly nonexistent until recently which has led to the Big Four controlling 85% on the Industry. This merger enhances competition, not reduces it.
Does Pete Gooteridgr, or whomever is the name of our transportation secretary, know about this outrage?
Antitrust laws don’t apply?
It is now totally impossible to get
A nonstop flight to smaller airports I just spent $600 to sit in large airport four hours each way, along with so many other passengers
We were then put on their subsidiary airplanes, too small to allow use of bathrooms both times!! But obviously not using these planes for direct one to two Hour flights
As a retired Alaska Airlines Captain I wish you would not tar and feather with such a broad brush, particularly when you have a limited knowledge of my neighborhood.
The proposed Alaska/Hawaiian merger you obliquely disparage is welcomed here, as both companies have histories spanning nearly 100 years, with very similar personalities, but sure, stir up your faithful to try to put a fork into mergers, including the ones that make sense.
Please, if there are facts to back up your assertions, please state them. I'm not close-minded, so I'll read them and even think about them. But 100 years of 'histories' and 'very similar personalities' do not and will not convince me. I request facts. Thank you.
Also, an after thought... it is totally true about train service in this country.
All the 36 years I worked international flights I would come back from countries all over the world that had incredible train systems. I would tell people about taking the train or subway in Russia or in Japan. I didn’t speak those languages, but I could get everywhere on the trains. And Europe was marvelous with train service.
I have lived in the DC area for almost 50 years and that is how long it has taken Metro to get a short train connection from Va.to Dulles airport.
Any country that pretends to be great never is. When it is great it is because it caters to the needs of success. Not to the needs of the greedy.
I was once assigned to footnote a speech by a member of Reagan's Justice Department to turn it into a law review article. I took joy in many footnotes referring to contrary authority, many of which were opinions by Justice Brandeis. Among the most memorable quotes from the Reagan assistant's speech went something like: "We need to get rid of old antitrust policies that can be characterized as having too much misplaced sympathy for the inevitable loser." What these "free" marketers don't realize, or are unwilling to accept, is that unchecked, everyone will be an "inevitable loser" except for the one big fat cat that owns it all.
I suspect Air Travel was flimflam from the start. Look at the stultification of railway track proliferation in the U.S. compared to Europe. Now, we pay an exorbitant amount to sit like a sardine. The merging and acquisition behavior appears to follow the same pattern as with the telecoms.
It's unpleasant in the US..yes.
I needed to go to the toilet on a United flight from NY to LA.
I was in coach class my husband was upgraded to business. I told them I had Colitis and could not get passed the drinks being handed out. I crapped on the floor in Business Class and got an enormous fine.
I got out of the fine after my Doctor wrote a letter.
Here in France now we cannot take local flights, they have been banned. SO no Marseille - Paris etc.
The trains are doing well but you in the US have no fast trains which would be the answer. The richest country in the World!
I will never travel American Airlines again.
Air travel, once exciting and fun, is now dreary. Anybody who tries to fly over or near the Holidays is crazy. Send a card.
AIRLINE TICKET PRICES ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS AND OVER THE TOP
Really important post. We have to find a way to activate, and strengthen as necessary, anti-monopolistic laws.
Dean,
I am a retired Pan Am purser. When we worked there were all kinds of regulations that the airlines heeded.
Competition came from the need to be better than the rest so they would attract clients( pax).
No competition equals lousy!
Don't fly! Take buses, ride bikes, walk.
I no longer need to do air travel, thank God.
The Alaska acquisition of Hawaiian does not reduce competition in any measurable sense - something like 2% of their city pair markets overlap. However, Alaska competes with three of the big four, Delta (Seattle markets), United (along the West Coast and to Hawaii) and Southwest (along the West Coast and to Hawaii). Hawaiian competes with United to Hawaii and now Southwest in all of their interisland Hawaii markets. Hawaiian is an unprofitable airline with a big fleet of widebody aircraft flying and on order, and Alaska is very profitable without any widebodies. The plan is to keep both brands in the marketplace, although Alaska will be the operating airline. Merging to two airlines does not change Alaska as the fifth largest US airline. Antitrust laws have been nearly nonexistent until recently which has led to the Big Four controlling 85% on the Industry. This merger enhances competition, not reduces it.
Does Pete Gooteridgr, or whomever is the name of our transportation secretary, know about this outrage?
Antitrust laws don’t apply?
It is now totally impossible to get
A nonstop flight to smaller airports I just spent $600 to sit in large airport four hours each way, along with so many other passengers
We were then put on their subsidiary airplanes, too small to allow use of bathrooms both times!! But obviously not using these planes for direct one to two Hour flights
As a retired Alaska Airlines Captain I wish you would not tar and feather with such a broad brush, particularly when you have a limited knowledge of my neighborhood.
The proposed Alaska/Hawaiian merger you obliquely disparage is welcomed here, as both companies have histories spanning nearly 100 years, with very similar personalities, but sure, stir up your faithful to try to put a fork into mergers, including the ones that make sense.
To the retired airline captain, you're a perfect example of the fox telling the hen house he just wants to borrow a couple of eggs.
Please, if there are facts to back up your assertions, please state them. I'm not close-minded, so I'll read them and even think about them. But 100 years of 'histories' and 'very similar personalities' do not and will not convince me. I request facts. Thank you.
Are you going to be deciding on this proposed merger? I think not. So then, try doing your own research if you don't like my experience.
We travelled Alaska airlines to Cabo in Mexico. circa end of the 90's. It was shit.
Ryan Air and Easy Jet are not dissimilar but they never pretended to be any other than a bus that flew!
Also, an after thought... it is totally true about train service in this country.
All the 36 years I worked international flights I would come back from countries all over the world that had incredible train systems. I would tell people about taking the train or subway in Russia or in Japan. I didn’t speak those languages, but I could get everywhere on the trains. And Europe was marvelous with train service.
I have lived in the DC area for almost 50 years and that is how long it has taken Metro to get a short train connection from Va.to Dulles airport.
Any country that pretends to be great never is. When it is great it is because it caters to the needs of success. Not to the needs of the greedy.
Yes Jean.
Not to mention China's bullet trains..awesome.
Still holding the same grudge 25 years on? Move along.