Monday, April 10, 2017

My Thoughts on Air Travel

I fly a lot and I enjoy the air-travel experience.  These days, I mainly travel by air for leisure and conferences, so I know of that which I blog.

April is spring break. So, lots of folks are traveling by air. Currently there is a lot of chatter this month about air travel.  Travelers  have been complaining about the big southern carrier Delta Airlines. They cancelled many flights during spring break due to horrible weather, Folks- please give Delta Airlines a break! There have been so many tornadoes in the south during April.  Delta had to reschedule flights. Safety First!!!  Listen up... you really do not want to fly in severe turbulence. That is a nasty experience!  Remember... Safety First!!!!!! 

Apparently spring break has United Airlines busy.  Right now, there is a viral video of a passenger being dragged off a flight due to overbooking.  Has United Airlines lost there minds?????? I have never witnessed a passenger being forced off a flight due to overbooking.  United Airlines messed up this situation BIG TIME!  Southwest Airlines has never done this before.

I have no issue with overbooking. Air travel is expensive, so I know, ever seat has to be filled.  I cannot recall any recent travel on Southwest where flights were not 100% filled. So, I understand why flights are overbooked.  But, overbooking should be managed BEFORE the boarding process.  No passenger should ever have to deplane due to overbooking!

Southwest Airlines offers nice incentives for passengers to give up a seat BEFORE boarding starts. There have been instances where I consider grabbing such an offer, but usually others grab it before I can get to it.  If I am traveling for leisure, no problem.  But, the early birds... usually have strategically  positioned themselves right at the Gate Desk... grabs the offers fast.  But that is the right way to manage overbooking.

United Airlines has a LOT TO LEARN about the business of air travel.