Airline Woes Make Unfriendly Skies for Travelers

By Anastacia Mott Austin

This year, U.S. airlines will carry a record 143 million passengers, who will be in the air 382 hours,
during which they will be fed an estimated total of four peanuts. ~ Dave Barry

Add to the above quote that the peanuts will cost $2 each.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that it costs an arm and a leg to drive the soccer carpool. Now our plans for getting away from it all might be just too much to handle, too.

With airlines starting to charge extra for checked baggage, along with the existing hassles of long security lines, reduced services and more crowding on flights, it’s enough to make the thought of a weekend getaway feel more like "ugh, why bother?"

In fact, more and more people are deciding just that. A recent survey released by the Travel Industry Association showed that the more frequently people traveled, the less satisfied they were with the overall experience of flying. A reported 29 million leisure trips and 12 million business trips were canceled or not taken at all during the past year, due to travelers’ frustrations with "travel hassles, long lines, flight delays and cancellations," according to the survey.

This unfortunately is impacting not only the airline industry, already reeling from soaring jet fuel prices, but the overall economy as well. The cost to the travel industry in lost income was approximately $26 billion from those canceled trips: a $9.4 billion loss for the airline industry; $5.6 billion for hotels; $3.1 billion for restaurants; and $4.2 in lost tax revenue.

As much as folks might want to travel, they’re getting fed up with the extra fees and aggravation involved. In addition, amenities once offered for free on airline flights have become more and more scarce, with some major airlines planning to charge for each one.

Most major airlines began charging more for fares in general earlier this year, to offset rising fuel costs. But since then, several of them have also begun charging for extras, such as seat preference, snacks, or even pillows. As a result, travelers are feeling "nickel and dimed" to death.

According to airline industry experts, it’s all the airlines can do, with rising fuel costs destroying their profits and pushing them into the red. They’re just trying to recoup their losses, says David Castevelter, a representative from the Air Transport Association of America. "They’re doing everything they can to survive," he said to reporters.

More than one airline started charging $25 for a second checked bag this year, and now American Airlines has announced it will charge $15 for the first checked bag.

What that translates into for Joe Traveler is that more people will decide to cram a week’s worth of packing into their carry-on bags. Their luggage will not fit under the seat, they’ll try to bring on more "illegal" substances like fluids in containers of more than three ounces, and you might as well plan on extra time in security lines while people are forced to either dump some of their stuff or pay extra to check their bags.

Those who remember the halcyon days of air travel will tell you that meals used to be included on flights – free. Now you have to pay $10 for the snack box that contains a mini-Snickers and three cheese crackers. Air industry representatives will point out that sodas and other non-alcholic drinks are still free. Maybe, but try asking that cranky flight attendant for the entire can of ginger-ale you need for your upset traveler’s tummy.

And it’s not your imagination that the seats seem more crowded. Airlines added extra seats years ago to help save costs. And be careful deciding whether that aisle seat is worth the extra $5 that some airlines will charge for it. You may lose it anyway if the flight is overbooked, an increasingly common practice.

In addition, woe is you if the flight is delayed. In the last year hundreds of passengers were essentially held hostage in their planes for as long as 11 hours during flight delays, with no food, water, or working toilets.

No wonder people surveyed by the Travel Industry Association (TIA) reported that the airline flight was consistently the worst part of their travel experience, beating out renting a car, going on museum tours, and hanging out with obnoxious relatives.

So what are we to do? Some passengers have decided to get angry and get active, pushing for a passenger’s bill of rights. Recently California passed such a bill requiring airlines to supply stranded travelers with food, water, and bathrooms. What is not certain is whether a California law can affect airlines not based in the state.

Many people are deciding to not travel as often, because the flight experience is just not worth it.

"The air travel crisis has hit a tipping point — more than 100,000 travelers each day are voting with their wallets by choosing to avoid trips," said TIA CEO Roger Dow.