Air Travelers Association Names the Top Ten Airline Passenger Trends and Issues for 2008:
David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, today provided the Association’s assessment of the top ten airline passenger trends and issues for 2008.
1. The Battle with the Government over Delayed Flights versus High Fares will Continue.
2. The Airline System will Continue to Operate at or Near Capacity.
3. The Start of the Next Generation Air Traffic Control System will continue to be Delayed.
4. There will be More Reports of Near Collisions in the Air and On the Ground.
5. The Battle Over the Passengers’ Bill of Rights versus Passengers Rights to Get to Their Destination Will Continue.
6. Watch for Domestic Airlines to Merge or Accept Foreign Carrier Investments.
7. Expect More Regional Jets in Our Future.
8. There will be Continued Service Problems with Airlines with Labor Problems.
9. The Competition Between the Super-Jumbo Airbus A380 versus Super-Nonstop Boeing 787 will begin in 2009.
10. The Battle Between Residents on the Ground over Noise and Airline Passengers in the Air will Continue.
And higher fuel cost is where, exactly, on that list…?
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December 31st, 2007 at 9:51 am
I had an opportunity to travel to nyc around solstice this year. I got on the train in richmond, va and took it to penn station in new york. The train ride was peaceful, spacious (even in coach where I was for the trip up) and comfortable. It took 5 hours to get from richmond to nyc, but I was neither searched, scanned nor molested. I was able to take my pocketknife (The pocketknife is a tiny little thing no more dangerous to anyone than a sharpened pencil.), a bottle of shampoo big enough for my actual stay and whatever food I wanted. In my case 2 oranges, a bag of peanuts and an apple. I had a power outlet at my seat and I got to use my computer, talk on the phone and read on this trip. When I was feeling a bit cramped I got up, walked to the cafe car, got a drink, and stretched my legs.
The train was 100% full, not an empty seat in any class. I know it’s not an option in every case but if it is an option, take the train. It was the same cost or cheaper than flying. It was much more comfortable and you don’t have to put up with the privacy violations. Not to mention it’s a better use of energy. It ended up taking about 2 hours more to go by train than it would have to fly, once I factor in getting to the airport an hour early, fiddling around with getting on the plane, waiting to get off the plane and traveling from the airport to my actual destination. And since I could be on the phone while on the train I wasn’t disconnected from the world at all.
Take the train, and write your congress person about why we should support and rebuild our train infrastructure.
December 31st, 2007 at 9:58 am
seth: I’ve only had a chance to travel by train a few times in my life, but I agree 100%. And as the costs, both monetary and otherwise, of flying continue to rise, I have to think that even more people will take trains when possible.
For a real treat, people should try train travel in Europe. When my wife and I were in France in the 1980’s, we took one train trip and loved it.