The Price of Flying

Friday, June 20, 2008

Regarding Patrick Smith's June 14 op-ed, "Don't Hate the Airlines":

How dumb can the airlines be? We know they need to defray fuel costs, so why don't they just raise fares instead of charging annoying fees for services? The net result of charging itemized fees will be longer delays at ticket counters and more unhappy passengers.

JOHN P. DONNELLY

Reston

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Patrick Smith's op-ed touched on a crucial point regarding air travel. When you compare modes of transportation, airplanes would appear to be potentially the most hazardous way to go: Weather is a crucial factor, machines are complex, and pulling over is impossible. In spite of this, flying is by far the safest mode of transportation, and, as a bonus, you get to your destination in a very short time. It takes people to make this happen, and many of these people are paid very little. Complaining passengers have lost sight of what a great deal they have, preferring to stamp their feet like petulant children and insist on the Wal-Martizing of commercial aviation at a time when fuel costs are higher than ever. They should be happy for what they have and be grown-ups about paying for it.

DAVID ABRAHAMSON

Reston

The writer is an airline pilot.

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Nice try, Mr. Smith. "[S]elling passage at wholly unsustainable levels" was not the public's fault -- the airlines chose to do that. Today, the major carriers are trying to compensate for their bad business decisions by collecting even from those of us who already paid for our tickets believing that our baggage costs, etc., were covered. Imagine paying for a banquet in advance and upon arriving being told that it costs extra to get a plate, utensils and a napkin.

The airlines are once again failing to act sensibly. The only fair way to charge for the cost of a flight is by weight. And, yes, it can be done, but, no, the airlines don't have the courage to do it. Southwest Airlines will do it eventually, and then the biggest carriers will follow suit -- any that are still in business, of course.

Nickel-and-diming is a tactic for timid companies; the majors need to grow up and make that hard business choice now.

C.E. WRAY

Charlottesville

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No, Mr. Smith, safety is not just "an aspect of airline customer service" -- it's a core business function. If safety were as dispensable as customer service, planes would be falling from the skies.

But what else can we expect from an industry that charges its customers for everything from an inch of extra leg room to a bottle of water while offering nothing but endless delays and surly service?

And, Mr. Smith, it's not about allowing those who "desire certain extras to purchase them." I'm guessing most people desire not to be crammed in among four other people in a middle seat. But not everyone can afford the extra charge, especially when all of us, not just the airlines, are facing rising fuel prices

DARIA STEIGMAN

Washington