United hits post-Super Bowl travelers with fee | Crains Chicago Business.
(Posted while flying using GoGo on Delta) I understand the economy is tough but enough is enough, quit with surcharges and just raise the price!?!? Everyone around me, when I travel all says the same thing, CHARGE MORE but in the fare.
Surcharges are a peeve of mine, Baggage surcharge okay, but coming from Revenue Management in Hotels, when we have high demand, we raise rates, reduce discounts, to yield out the best mix of sales. While in theory this is increasing the overall ticket price, I find it a slap in the face when airlines hide them in Surcharge. An example would be air fare alerts for Europe, $455+ RT, you add in the tax and surcharges and that is now a $900 ticket! I researched several travel options for my trip next week and this was a constant “oh wait, have to add in all the fees”.
The comment that consumers need to get used to surcharges just leaves me feeling no sympathy for such a poorly ran business and optimization model.
“Parsons said consumers should expect higher prices next year, whether they’re called fares or surcharges. ”
Airines are believed to have pioneered Yield Management, now known as Revenue Management but the most recent tactics are anti-customer, and are in no ways taking anything to a new level.
All too often I hear “I fly SWA more, it’s just easier and just as good”, unfortunately ATL is locked by AirTran for discount and Delta for legacy carrier.
When I think “Legacy”, as?a Pilot (Capt Chamberlain of United, 777 fleet, Flight 3 to ORD from KOA in June 2005) told me, “because you passengers are not willing to pay enough for your tickets, the legacy carriers have had to take cuts. Look at your f/a, look at the mechanic, they all took paycuts because of you”. When I think back to that statement, “Legacy” means old, and should be left to ride off into the sunset.
Agreed!