Struggling Airlines Issue Urgent SOS to Customers

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News

Twelve airline CEOs came together on Wednesday to point fingers in the fuel crisis that is crippling their businesses.

In an open letter to airline customers, the leaders of the major carriers ask travelers to stand by them in trying to prevent oil speculators from trading oil futures that raise the price of fuel with each trade.

Many carriers have recently announced that thousands of their employees will soon lose their jobs as the airlines scale back their operations. With the airlines doing all they can to afford to do business as the cost of fuel rises, they tell travelers, "This pain can be alleviated, and that is why we are taking the extraordinary step of writing this joint letter to our customers."

The letter asserts that there is "another side to this story because normal market forces are being dangerously amplified by poorly regulated market speculation."

The Air Transport Association, the group that represents the airlines, has been making noise about oil speculators for weeks and speaking up about how critical their business is to the overall health of the U.S. economy. But this is the first time they've teamed up to make such a loud statement directly to the nation's travelers.


Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/e_scapes/2008/07/struggling-airl.html

---

Even though you guys treat us like cattle, I'm with them on this. Now why don't you all think about treating us with more respect!

[madrchsod]

1. the oil speculators?

it`s about time a major industry that is essential to this country and in fact the world decides to call out the speculators...

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

13. uhh... most airlines are oil speculators themselves

some more competent at it tham others,

[roguevalley]

71. Our senate troll, ted stevens acknowledged that speculators are

the problem and then proposed this 'cure': drill.

[HiddenCSLib]

77. Why cant we drill in the US

Everyone is screaming about the oil prices and yet we cannot even drill or explore for resources here in the US? There is a lot of complaining about the oil prices but NOTHING is being done.

[NuttyFluffers]

78. you are sadly behind the curve on the oil business

but that's OK, there's a lot of resources here, often with links, to bring you up to speed.

for a start be aware that the oil companies are already sitting on the lion share majority of offshore drillable contracts, roughly around 79%. they already have access, the all-clear, the go-ahead, the ability to drill those areas and start processing. but they don't. ask yourself why.

further, you have to understand how a global market of oil and the processing of a refined good works in an economic system to be aware how such a "solution" is really NOT a solution.

and more still, there is awareness about a marketing loophole that allows this sort of market speculation to occur outside the realm of regulation. this is the single most important source for the problems we have today. when you are ready to really understand this beyond the frightfully criminally inept bumper sticker sound bite pitched regularly by the media, this will be the area most important to study.

but that's if you really want to know what's going on. which i am assuming you do. i think you do want to understand this and i wholly encourage you to go look for more information. best of luck and welcome to DU!

:hi:

[bemildred]

2. I'll say it first, F**k the airlines.

It's like slaughterhouses appealing to the cows to support them.

[Bluebear]

11. And the hundreds of thousands employed by them?

[bemildred]

21. I think unions are great. Employee ownership is even better.

Are you trying to imply that the airlines and the employees are the same thing? I am sure the airline management will strenuously disagree with you when contract negotiation time comes around.

[Bluebear]

26. 'Are you trying to imply that the airlines and the employees are the same thing?'

Depends on the carrier. But a simple "fuck the airlines", and sentiments that don't care if the airlines go out of business, sometimes ignore the fact that many people depend on the industry for their livelihood.

[bemildred]

28. And I'm just clarifying that "fuck the airlines" does not mean "fuck the employees".

OK? There is no better way to make the airlines go out of business than the persistent pattern of fucking the customers that has become so prevalent in the industry lately.

[Freddie Stubbs]

92. United Airlines is the largest employee company in the world

[bemildred]

95. And one of the best run too. nt

[ixion]

15. yep, I agree

f**k them and the plane they flew in on.

[ann_american2004]

20. yes perferably

when you are on board. bad-dah-boom ching

[eridani]

57. Why? Why not take advantage if they are on our side on this issue? n/t

[bemildred]

65. They are not on my side on any issue.

There is not even a statement as to what my "support" would consist of, if I wanted to give it.

But even so, they are not on my side on any issue, and I don't care a fig if all those corporate weasels get thrown out on their asses at the earliest convenient moment. Whatever chance there remains of the US airline industry remaining viable depends on it, so the sooner the better.

[bluestateguy]

3. They can start by re-emphasizing customer service

That goes a long way, even when the customers are annoyed by the expensive ticket prices.

Make the flight attendants attractive again, and that goes for men and women.

[RamboLiberal]

9. I don't care if FA's are attractive as long as they do a good job

especially if there is an emergency.

[PassingFair]

10. Are you JOKING?

They can wear bags over their heads for all I care.

Who CARES what they look like.

My waiters and waitresses don't need to look
like models, either.

[Bluebear]

12. "Make the flight attendants attractive again" --- I bet you're no oil painting either.

Once again, you reveal yourelf to be a real progressive hero. :eyes:

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

14. I don't care what they look like, but...

the storm trooper stewardess attitude has to go!

[girl gone mad]

30. that's just dumb.

[devilgrrl]

41. Yes, acting like a perpetually pissed off bitch does make a flight attendant less attractive

The airlines should treat their flight attendants better, maybe they wouldn't be such ugly assholes to the passengers.

:popcorn:

[ima_sinnic]

83. shallow much? I can see you know what's most important in life.

I'm sure you yourself are a Playgirl centerfold. Something also tells me you worship yourself as an example of perfection, spending hours in front of your mirror admiring your gorgeousness. And I'm sure you associate only with people who are as vapid, superficial, and shallow as you are, trying to one-up each other in ostentatiousness and tackiness.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. They have more clout than we do.

So, grudgingly(Because I think that airlines are run by some of the most rapacious fools on the planet), I welcome them to the team.

They are quite correct on the speculation. Just another thing Congress must address forcefully. I was reading today that Congress interest in this matter is already starting to give oil speculators some pause.

[ann_american2004]

19. yes how silly they are

The least they could do is employ shamans and weather witches. You'd think.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

29. Excuse me?

What are you on about?

[Indenturedebtor]

34. Yes I expect a strongly worded letter folded 15 times any day now

The 15 folds are a coded message signaling this Congress's unflagging commitment to doing fuckall about our major problems.

[Donnachaidh]

5. Why don't these CEO's Go to WASHINGTON?

Perhaps they should start calling in the markers they paid for in the last elections? The only people who CAN do something about the speculators are CONGRESS.

I'm cynical -- this is just PR before the start adding more fees and charges to fares for all those customers. See, we're in such a bad position due to thos bad specualtors that we need to charge you much, MUCH more than ever before.

[Amonester]

38. Then they'll have a LOT less customers than they currently have.

The spiraling to the ground (figuratively) will not be stopped.

Maybe if SOMEONE COMPETENT could "clean-up" the stupid neocons' "no fly lists" they could have a chance to fly again...

[villager]

6. Had a great $38 r/t bus trip between L.A. and S.F. over July 4th....

n/t

[EconomyCollapsesInUS]

16. What Bus Service Did You Use?

Megabus used to have service between LA & SF, but they stopped service last month.

[villager]

18. Right! Found out about these guys in the collapse of Megabus:

http://www.cashuttlebus.com/

Fare is contingent on how far in advance you book... showing up on the bus itself is about $45 each way...

[ann_american2004]

22. yes how pleasant! and in this country

passengers arent allowed to carry live chickens on buses...yet

[villager]

23. 'twas! There was much napping and reading and more leg room...

...and well, you could bring a *chicken sandwich* on board, if you wanted...

And liquids weren't seized!

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. How about that $10 sandwich American Airlines offers?

[mikelgb]

25. My $10 Virgin America sandwich was good but not worth $10

but the $99 LAX-IAD rate was

[YankmeCrankme]

8. How about if they give back the outrageous bonuses over the last thirty years...

and put the money in the flight attendants, pilots, mechanics and service people's pension funds they looted. Maybe then I'll give them some respect and give a shit about what they want.

[AwakeAtLast]

58. My thoughts exactly!

When are they going to take a pay cut, too?

[ccinamon]

87. I agree with you!

I worked for USAir...management was all about take from the workers and give that money as bonuses to management who MADE. STUPID. DECISIONS.

Sometimes, you just have to throw everything away and start over...our Founding Fathers did!

[Phred42]

17. Maybe the bastards should give up the Solid Gold Toilets

in their private Jest and Office suites.

[Nihil]

24. Aww ...

Must be about time to introduce a tax on aviation fuel and do something good for
the planet (for a change) instead of just the CEOs and other profit-takers ...

[Q3JR4]

27. I believe I speak for

well myself, mostly, when I say, "Go fuck yourselves."

Q3JR4.

[LuckyLib]

31. The average American has been issuing an SOS to Congress about outrageous

CEO salaries, and the airline industry is one of the worst. Millions to "bring the company out of bankruptcy," while employees suffer major pay cuts (40 percent at several carriers). Criminal bastards each and every one. And now you want help.

[sendero]

32. The fact is....

..... that some portion, might be 20%, might be 50% of the airlines will be bankrupt within a couple years unless oil drops significantly.

And speculators or not, I don't see that happening.

[rcsl1998]

33. Let The Airline Ceo's Set An Example With Pay Cuts For Themselves...

...and cutting all related compensation packages (also) for themselves...

[Indenturedebtor]

35. Seriously though. A cry for help without any action is typical of the Welfare Queen CEO class

I welcome their pointing the finger at the speculators, but they are part of the problem. If they, like most other CEOs, had distributed their wealth a little more our economy wouldn't be so fucked.

[lostnfound]

55. One that did

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080606/BUSINESS/806060487/1003

Kellner and Smisek said they will not take salaries or incentive pay the rest of the year. In a regulatory filing, the company said Kellner, who was paid a salary of $712,500 last year, would get $296,875 this year, and Smisek's salary would be cut to $240,000 from $363,300.

Kellner's total compensation last year was valued at nearly $6 million, according to an Associated Press analysis, although about one-third was in stock and option grants that are now worth far less than they were when granted in February 2007 because of the slump in the company's stock.

..........

[BreweryYardRat]

70. That's impressive.

Nice to see a few of them can get the message, if you hit them over the head with it enough.

[tanyev]

36. Oh, now they want regulations.

On another industry. Now that it's hurting their own profits.

[sarcasmo]

37. The Airlines own way of begging for a handout, screw them, no Airline bailouts.

[Supersedeas]

39. nothing to see here -- feed them the latest on Madonna and ARod

[KansDem]

40. "Now why don't you all think about treating us with more respect!"

That will cost you an extra $15, please... One way...

[Peace Patriot]

42. It appears to me that the Bush Junta is destroying the U.S.A.

The only sense I can make of it is that the global corporate predators, whom the Bushites and complicit Democrats represent--and who have now locked themselves into power with the Bushite corporate controlled 'TRADE SECRET,' PROPRIETARY programming code throughout our vote counting system (with virtually no audit/recount controls)--are so fearful of the great progressive American majority that they are intentionally busting us, in every way possible, so that we never recover.

I first noticed this unusual phenomenon--unprecedented in history--of a ruling elite's DELIBERATE, methodical, pointed destruction of the society that bred them--back a couple of years ago when the alarms were going out about Bushites creating a nazi state--what with Bush's assumption of tyrannical powers and Congress not giving a fuck, in fact, helping him in every way. I could see the dangers of the Patriot Act and the "unitary executive," etc. It did seem to be leading straight to Hitler II. But while the tyrannical powers certainly fit, and the aggressive resource war (with every goddamn lying excuse in the book--Bush paralleling Hitler), and the cultural war as well (scorning leftists and liberals--i.e., democrats with a small d--as degenerate), nothing else makes sense. Hitler was building a great war machine to dominate the world. He took a broken Germany, after WW I, and created a manufacturing powerhouse--and, in the old phrase, he "made the trains run on time." He made things work again. He nationalized major industries and put them back on their feet. His was a SOCIALIST program, in fact--and, economically, it was a miracle. The Bushites are doing the opposite. They are outsourcing and off-shoring all our jobs. Our manufacturing base is nearly gone. They are privatizing everything, looting everything, and letting the super-rich loot and profiteer in every way imaginable. They are destroying government agencies essential to civil order (emergency services, national guards, local police/fire, etc.) They are destroying the U.S. military. They are neglecting and destroying the country's infrastucture. Hell, they tried to sell our port facilities to the sheiks of Araby! The country has actually long been bankrupt--with a $10 TRILLION deficit projected over the decade, and Bush/Cheney (and our Congressional fuckwads) continue to pour billions and billions of dollars into securing oil contracts for Exxon Mobil & co. in Iraq, while Exxon Mobil & co. gas gouge at home, destroying the airline business, the trucking business, every big and little mail order business in the country (including many big internet mail order businesses), the tourist business and numerous other enterprises that are especially dependent on oil.

The airlines and trucking are ESSENTIAL to the big corporate globalisation juggernaurt. And I particularly don't understand this. Destroying the airlines and the trucking industry DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, even in their greedbag terms! Then there are the bankrupt citizens, losing their homes, unable to afford medical care or put food on the table, up to their ears in credit card debt--most often to pay for essentials. What is the purpose of this? How can this be to anyone's benefit, even the super-rich? If you destroy peoples' ability to pay for both essentials and non-essentials, what happens to your investments in companies that provide those things? What happens to your investments in the airlines, in trucking, in tankers bringing goods over the oceans, and all all sorts of businesses, if people can't pay for services and products? I know there are burgeoning new markets in China, India and other places. But the U.S. is still a big market, and if it collapses--as it is showing every sign of doing--some of the super-rich won't care, but many others could be gravely affected, financially and as to civil order.

The Bush Junta (and complicit 'Democrats') seem to me to be a wrecking crew. They are not building anything. They are looting and plundering, and turning the U.S. into the biggest "Banana Republic" on earth. Hitler led Germany to ruin, in the end, but that was not his discernible intent, nor that of his Nazi cabal. They took a destroyed economy and created full employment and a booming economy for a time.

This is not to excuse Hitler's insane genocide against the Jews and others, of course, nor any of the horrors of the war that he waged against the western allies. I'm just saying that the parallel with the Bush Junta breaks down on this crucial point. At least at first, Hitler was BUILDING something--a restored Germany. The Bush Junta has done the opposite--from the beginning. They seem to have been intent, from the beginning, on DESTROYING the U.S.A., even for the purposes of world domination and aggressive war. They have not built a platform for those purposes. They have taken a potential platform for those purposes and torn it down-- plank by plank, brick by brick, until we are a ruined hulk!

So, somebody explain this to me. Why would they do this? Because to me it looks punitive, and preventive--that is, they hate and fear the American people, they really do. They set out to destroy us, and they did. And the ONLY beneficiaries I can see, from this, are global corporate predators out to destroy us as a progressive force, capable of leading the world, for instance, in regulating globalisation as to its labor, environmental and social justice impacts. They set out to break us. They set out to destroy our democracy, and making wads of money off this destruction was a secondary motive.

[paparush]

44. Bush is fulfilling the legacy of his grandfather Prescott Bush, who plotted to overthrow FDR

Alleged plot to overthrow FDR

Main article: Business Plot

On July 23, 2007, the BBC Radio 4 series Document reported on the alleged Business Plot and the archives from the McCormack-Dickstein Committee hearings. The program mentioned Bush's directorship of the Hamburg-America Line, a company that the committee investigated for Nazi propaganda activities, and the alleged 1933 attempt, supposedly led by Gerald MacGuire, to stage a military coup against President Franklin D. Roosevelt aimed at forcing Roosevelt to resign (or, failing that, to assassinate him) and at installing a fascist dictatorship in the United States. <11>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescott_Bush

[defendandprotect]

48. GOP's "third world America" . . .

Absolutely agree with you and your questions . . .

The Bush Junta has done the opposite--from the beginning. They seem to have been intent, from the beginning, on DESTROYING the U.S.A., even for the purposes of world domination and aggressive war. They have not built a platform for those purposes. They have taken a potential platform for those purposes and torn it down-- plank by plank, brick by brick, until we are a ruined hulk!

So, somebody explain this to me. Why would they do this? Because to me it looks punitive, and preventive--that is, they hate and fear the American people, they really do. They set out to destroy us, and they did. And the ONLY beneficiaries I can see, from this, are global corporate predators out to destroy us as a progressive force, capable of leading the world, for instance, in regulating globalisation as to its labor, environmental and social justice impacts. They set out to break us. They set out to destroy our democracy, and making wads of money off this destruction was a secondary motive.

Basically, it's the insanity of patriarchy carried to its extreme ---

I think you have to look at the amazing cruelty, brutality and violence of these people ---

Keep in mind we are still in the same gene pool which gave us GENOCIDE against the native
American and enslavement of the African in America and which continued the war on women.

These are the people who arranged the rearmament of Germany, financed money for weaponry;
ran front companies to raise money from elites all over the world and in America shipping
gold to Hitler and the Nazis. These are the people who brought Nazis into America and
used them to found the CIA and moved them into the FBI./Operation Paperclip.
These are the people who gave us the McCarthy Era.
Perhaps the first attacks on the United Nations in the death of Dag Hammarskjold.
They brought us Nixon. The 1963 coup on the US government. The assassinations.
And the continuing effort to prevent any new leadership from arising to lead women,
or African-Americans, nor anti-war movements.

These people have no allegiance to America -- and will collapse as much as possible in
their own global interests -- harnessing slave labor.

We've had an opportunity since '06 to at least try to stop these people --
to return the nation to a basis of law and Constitutional rights.

[nodehopper]

56. no, I think they set out to make profits, and destroying democacy is a side effect

also the trains running on time was said about Mussolini, not Hitler, and wasn't true in any case.

[dixiegrrrrl]

43. Dear Northwest Airlines

Remember when I booked a flight with you to go to a job interview?
And when I got to Memphis you cancelled the connecting flight for no reason, refused a refund, refused to help me catch another flight, and I missed my interview and lost the job.

Remember.????

Dear United Airlines...
Remember when my son was critically injured on the West Coat and I had to fly from Fla. to be with him?
My son !!!!!!!!!

And you overbooked the flight and gave my reserved seat away and I had to wait 18 hours to get to the hospital, not knowing if he was alive or dead?

Allow me to say, from the deepest recesses of my heart....

Eat Karma and die.

[neuvocat]

45. Gave your seat away???

Yeah, I've got a harder time having any sympathy for the airlines after reading that.

[dixiegrrrrl]

51. Common practice

They deliberately overbook, then "bump" some people.
Airlines often pay people to give up their seats for a later flight, too.
I got 300.00 for doing that, in 1999.
But- they can and will "bump" you even if you have a reserved seat.
Watch the tv series "Airline" sometime.
( also on dvd, Netflix).

I last flew 1999.
NEVER again.

[Fiendish Thingy]

46. Divide and Conquer 101; get the corporations to fight amongst themselves

and in the end, we will win (the battle, if not the war).

Airlines have lobbyists; Airline employees have lobbyists; travel agents/websites have lobbyists; so do auto makers and their employee's unions...perhaps some contributions could be sent to legislators who might draft some strict regulations to reign in the oil speculators? Does the banking/investor lobby really have that much clout? Hasn't anybody thought of this?

You'd think the Republicans would go along, at least quietly behind the scenes...if the price of oil & gas were to drop (or collapse if strict regulations popped the speculative bubble) it could only be good for everyone in Congress...would probably raise their approval rating at least into the 30's ;-)

[go west young man]

47. It's called business.

Adjust like the rest of us.

[defendandprotect]

49. Capitalism isn't about competition, it's about killing the competition. . .

[go west young man]

50. They're killing themselves with the business practices

they use these days. Case in point: the last time I went through La Gaurdia airport. What a horror show that place is.

[defendandprotect]

52. It's the end result of unregulated capitalism . . which is why

some of them are calling for regulation for self-protection now ---

We have to rid ourselves of capitalism and the myth of it ---

It' a ridiculous "King-of-the-Hill" system . . .

[Fumesucker]

53. But they are calling for regulating SOMEONE ELSE..

I hear no calls from the airlines to regulate themselves, it is someone else they want to regulate.

[defendandprotect]

72. True . . . but I think some of the financial firms involved in

banking joined with investment/speculation are calling for reregulation?

[krispos42]

54. Fewer flights with larger planes would be nice

Fewer airport fees, less airport crowding, higher efficiencies. If, for example, each major airline flew a single 747 from NY to LA every day instead of two or three smaller ones, that would help quite a bit.


And get lots of these:



http://www.easyjet.com/EN/News/easyjet_ecojet.html

[CrispyQ]

59. Could this be the beginning of corporations going to war with each other?

The corporations have profited from deregulation & screwing the people - whether customers or employees. There has been plenty to go around. But now the airlines are appealing to the people, who they have not given one hoot about in the past. :eyes: Watching the corporations go after each other could be interesting.

[Tindalos]

60. Couldn't afford to fly before oil prices skyrocketed.

With all the extra fees they've added, I'm not going to be flying any time soon. Plus, all the inconveniences with airport security, customs, etc., are they really surprised people aren't flying as much?

[snooper2]

61. Um, people are not flying because the economy is in the shitter

The company I work for has clamped down on travel...

If you can do it via webex, don't fly

[wryter2000]

62. "Thank you, travellers"

"Now, would you please stick out your foot so I can put this taser bracelet on your ankle?"

They can cry me a freaking river. I'm on Amtrak for the duration.

[Psephos]

63. Schumpeterian creative destruction n/t

[petronius]

64. I assume those 12 CEOs have taken voluntary pay cuts and given up expensive perks, right?

And they've encouraged the rest of their management to do likewise, of course?

Otherwise, it would just be tacky to encourage the rest of us to passively accept the consequences of their inability to deal with market forces...

[Redstone]

66. Just raise your fucking ticket prices! Christ, didn't you learn in Business School

that you can't stay in business when you sell your product for less money than it costs you?

Why does everyone think it would be the end of the world if it was expensive to fly on an airliner like it was for decades before deregulation?

Air travel was a fucking luxury, people, not a right or a necessity, during the decades when the world had the most growth in prosperity, ever.

Why should we EXPECT it to be different now?

Vacation's over.

Redstone

[Taverner]

67. For once, I agree with the Corproations

Wow - I'm going to check outside to see if any pigs are flying

[ForrestGump]

68. Just got something in my e-mail. I don't like US airlines -- like 'em less and less

with every passing kick in the figurative groin that they deliver (and they sucked, compared to those of many other countries, even years ago), and I don't believe they started adding all of these fees and cutting levels of service because of fuel prices. Having said that, if these lying, greedy corporate mofos can help stop the uber-greedy oil-speculator mofos in their tracks then I'm all for it. Not that I expect to see the airlines suddenly axe some of the more draconian changes they've made in the past few years if they succeed...

***

An Open letter to All Airline Customers:

Our country is facing a possible sharp economic downturn because of skyrocketing oil and fuel prices, but by pulling together, we can all do something to help now.

For airlines, ultra-expensive fuel means thousands of lost jobs and severe reductions in air service to both large and small communities. To the broader economy, oil prices mean slower activity and widespread economic pain. This pain can be alleviated, and that is why we are taking the extraordinary step of writing this joint letter to our customers. Since high oil prices are partly a response to normal market forces, the nation needs to focus on increased energy supplies and conservation. However, there is another side to this story because normal market forces are being dangerously amplified by poorly regulated market speculation.

Twenty years ago, 21 percent of oil contracts were purchased by speculators who trade oil on paper with no intention of ever taking delivery. Today, oil speculators purchase 66 percent of all oil futures contracts, and that reflects just the transactions that are known. Speculators buy up large amounts of oil and then sell it to each other again and again. A barrel of oil may trade 20-plus times before it is delivered and used; the price goes up with each trade and consumers pick up the final tab. Some market experts estimate that current prices reflect as much as $30 to $60 per barrel in unnecessary speculative costs.

Over seventy years ago, Congress established regulations to control excessive, largely unchecked market speculation and manipulation. However, over the past two decades, these regulatory limits have been weakened or removed. We believe that restoring and enforcing these limits, along with several other modest measures, will provide more disclosure, transparency and sound market oversight. Together, these reforms will help cool the over-heated oil market and permit the economy to prosper.

The nation needs to pull together to reform the oil markets and solve this growing problem.

We need your help. Get more information and contact Congress by visiting www.StopOilSpeculationNow.com.



Robert Fornaro
Chairman,
President and CEO
AirTran Airways

Bill Ayer
Chairman,
President and CEO
Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Gerard J. Arpey
Chairman,
President and CEO
American Airlines, Inc.

Lawrence W. Kellner
Chairman and CEO
Continental Airlines, Inc.

Richard Anderson
CEO
Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Mark B. Dunkerley
President and CEO
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.

Dave Barger
CEO
JetBlue Airways
Corporation

Timothy E. Hoeksema
Chairman,
President and CEO
Midwest Airlines

Douglas M. Steenland
President and CEO
Northwest Airlines, Inc.

Gary Kelly
Chairman and CEO
Southwest Airlines Co.

Glenn F. Tilton
Chairman,
President and CEO
United Airlines, Inc.

Douglas Parker
Chairman and CEO
US Airways Group, Inc.

***

Could've been written better, though, given that it speaks for all the bigwigs signing on to it. For example: "Since high oil prices..." ("since" is an abomination!)

[AndyTiedye]

69. Even a Stopped Clock…

…tells the right time twice a day.

[pokercat999]

73. I call bullshit, this is just capitalism at work. They

(airline ceo's)wanted deregulation in their industry but let a commodities speculator try to earn an honest buck like any red blooded capitalist and what do you know, they cry like babies.

Strip a row of seats out of those planes, enlarge the remaining seats to fit an average size adult, run some movies, serve some drinks and snacks and RAISE THE PRICE! The cost of TRANSPORTATION is rising for everything......airlines should be exempt? WTF?

[WriteDown]

75. I agree with you....

but why strip a row of seats? I don't think they are that bad now. The airline industry has changed quite a bit over the years. I remember when flying was prohibitively expensive and there were many people who had never flown before. I remember when flying from NYC to LA was several thousand dollars. Now flying is relatively cheap and you rarely find anyone who has not flown. Seems like we will have to return to the time of high-price flying though.

[pokercat999]

76. Guess I might be width and height challenged when it

comes to airline seats. My back is hurting by the time the wheels leave the ground and by touchdown I'm ready to cry. First Class, now that's a seat....can sleep all the way, but I only fly first class when using frequent flier reward points.

[KurtNYC]

80. you are arguing that speculators and market gamers like Enron

are trying "to earn an honest buck" ?! WTF indeed.

[pokercat999]

85. It's their system and the airlines are part of it. They pay

lip service to competition while always seeking a monopoly. They criticize others for using any legal means to make a profit while gutting service to prop up their profits in an essential industry that treats their customers like cattle. They scream about taxes and regulation, but seek government help at the first sign that they may have some industry wide financial problems.

Nothing like having your cake and eating it too.

PEOPLE need freedom, corporations need regulation. Both the airlines and the commodities markets need heavy regulation. This whine by the airlines is BULLSHIT and I called it!

[Tight_rope]

74. "Even though you guys treat us like cattle, I'm with them on this.

Now why don't you all think about treating us with more respect!".

I totally agree with you on that remark. I use to be an avid airline traveler. And not for business. But just refuse to pay the prices of those airline tickets. Not when I use to get a 2 way tickets + a room at a 4 star hotel and a rental car for the same price that they are charging for one way airline tickets today. Forget it. I'll sit my ass at home. :beer:

[customerserviceguy]

79. Took a round trip to Portland OR last weekend

and I'd gladly pay 10 or even 20% more for a seat in a child-free section of the aircraft. If they put the half-price and free (lap children) riders in the back, and charged extra for seats in the front half of the coach section, they'd find a lot of people taking them up on it.

[Buns_of_Fire]

81. *sigh* Sure thing, guys. I'll get right on it.

You wanted deregulation?

You got it.

[LSdemocrat]

82. Screw the airlines and let's build a comprehensive, nationwide, high-speed rail network

[Tesha]

84. My reply to the airline's "Begging" E-mail...

Dear United:

Perhaps my memory is defective, but I'm pretty sure that most
of the airline industry (including the corporations themselves
and certainly the more-highly-compensated portions of their
employee and executive base) has enthusiastically supported
the Republican party since at least the days of Ronald Reagan
and his penchant for deregulating everything and cutting taxes
on the corporations and the wealthy.

This support certainly extended to George W. Bush and Dick
Cheney, two gentlemen who were known to be oil-industry
folks well before the 2000 Election. And once in office, they
of course did exactly what one might have expected: they
managed to vastly enrich their oil industry friends while
impoverishing you, me, and a whole lot of other people.

But this should have come as no surprise to anyone, and
remember, *YOU SUPPORTED THEM*.

So please don't come crying to me now about how awful
they and their market-manipulating cronies have made
things. This is what you wanted and now you can just
suck on it.

Next time there's an election in this country, assuming you
still exist as a corporate entity (which, frankly, looks
pretty doubtful these days), make smarter choices about
whom you support. Next time, remember that not everyone
who promises to cut your taxes or hand you even more
deregulation is your friend. And not everyone who tries to
run the government and our country on a stable economic
footing is your enemy.

Tesha

(address and phone removed)

[MadrasT]

86. Whoot!

Dang, Tesha, you sure have a way with words! :bounce: Well done.

:woohoo:

[Tesha]

90. Thank you! (NT)

[Freddie Stubbs]

93. Actually, United Airlines employees have split their donations pretty evenly between the parties:

http://www.politicalbase.com/groups/united-airlines/13302/

[Tesha]

94. Pilots and executives? Unlikely! Baggage handlers? Probably yes. (NT)

[Snarkturian Clone]

88. Dear airlines: IT FUCKING SUCKS TO FLY!!

That's the real reason less people are flying. It's a massive pain in the ass just to walk through the airport and go through security let alone get on a hot stinky broken plane in a seat meant for a 90 lb 5'2" person.

Last time I flew, it was on a red-eye and they make a point of telling you that they only need half as many pillows as necessary. What a crock. The hell with them.

[marshall]

89. I just hate to fly these days

When I was growing up they always let people with children and others who needed help board early. Now that I've got a two year old and must travel with him cross country it is dog eat dog, stand in line as he scream and struggles, and then fight my way down the aisle and struggle to get my luggage in the overhead bin before the person behind knocks me over.

[high density]

91. A little honesty from the airlines would be nice

We expect the fares to go up, but do not hide fare increases by telling people it's going to be $15 for checking the first bag.