Report: Airlines Are Just Going to Get Worse For Non-Cronies

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by Micah J. Fleck

The United Airlines incident where the doctor was beaten and dragged off of the flight he paid for was reportedly just the beginning. The rigged laws that made it legal for United to do what they did to that customer are also giving more and more freedom for airlines at large to shortchange average Americans and give perks to the high paying elites whose hands have been shook by their buddies in Washington.

According to a new report:

At a time when you would think the airlines would be a little more image conscious, you know because of that whole beating customers and dragging them off the plane thing that United did, they’re apparently doubling down on efforts to make “Flying The Friendly Skies” the most miserable experience ever.

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Airlines are getting ready to implement a whole new set of restrictions on their poorest customers.  So, for those of you who have grown accustomed to lavish perks like free overhead bin space, get ready for your new reality.

The Wall Street Journal also reported:

Battling it out with discount carriers, the world’s biggest airlines are rolling out ultracheap economy-class tickets, or cutting back sharply on basic amenities for their lowest-paying customers. At the same time, they are pulling out the stops to lavish their premium fliers with more perks.

 American, United Continental, and Delta all now offer super-low fares, dubbed “basic economy,” that strip out even once-standard allowances, such as carry-on baggage or a choice of seat before boarding. 

Those are now extra for these ticket holders, who also generally board last. But the fares are competitive with discount airlines such as Southwest Airlines Co. A United basic economy ticket between Washington and Minneapolis for travel in early May was recently listed as low as $128, $20 less than a regular economy fare. Some of the cheapest fares passengers can get on discount carriers are for seats so basic they don’t recline even an inch. 

“When we look at economy, we are looking at a commodity product, without a doubt,” BA Chief Executive Officer Alex Cruz said in November.

What do you think? Is this just good business? Or is it cronyism at its worst? The reports have said that the beating of the doctor on the United flight perfectly complied with the regulations currently in place on airlines. Seems that if said regulations actually had the customer in mind and not the ass of the owner of the airline, they would have been prioritized a bit differently.

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