I agree with this - fares should increase by 3x at a minimum, more room given to passengers, and way way way more focus on customer service.

While what’s going on is terrible, personally I’m much happier that I don’t need to get on a flight every couple weeks. We’re finally realizing that being in the same room for certain meetings offers little value when compared to the cost of personal and environmental health incurred by a flight.

Remember 3 months ago when everyone was worried about global warming? We really need to take this as a forced opportunity to actually do something about it. We should not return to “normal” because normal was disastrous for the environment.

What you say sounds more like "to hell with those beggars who can barely afford current fees. Air travel should become a luxury as it used to be in the past". Go buy a ticket in business class if you want a better service and leg room. It also goes with that warm "I'm better than the tramps several rows behind" feeling.

Flying on planes isn't a right.

If planes are going to be empty anyway, and the ticket prices have to go up anyway, the airlines may as well differentiate themselves with better customer service.

Sheesh. I'm a lefty too but not everything has to be class warfare.

Food isn't a right. Let's produce only organic super healthy food for 3x the price and save the planet from the global warming, pollution and everything. Everyone would win, right?

No, that's stupid and does not follow from the above discussion.

No, that's not what I'm talking about at all. I'm talking about the fact that most flights are useless or vain. Global warming is real. Increasing the fare would discourage needless trips, while also improving customer service for those who need to get on a flight.

Who's going to decide which trip is useless and which is not? The market has clearly decided that it is more profitable (hence useful) to offer cheap flights in not-so-great conditions for mere mortals than elite service for few. And those with money can get better service if they need it anyway. Mass killings of useless people would help stop global warming as well. Why don't do that and leave only those worthy of living. Great idea, isn't it?

>I fully expect to see of the room to come back ( even if it is with a fee ).

Is that really a good thing? The market has spoken: people clearly prefer money in their pockets than a few inches of extra space for a few hours.

I honestly do not recognize MBA business decisions as a market decision. It is hard for me to accept that the imposition of those decisions on a captive audience qualifies as 'market has spoken'.

So to answer your question. I don't know. Time will tell.

Are you suggesting that many/most people don't buy airline tickets primarily based on price? Airlines would be happy to fly all business class planes if that's what customers wanted. (And it's been tried but mostly isn't what people are willing to pay for.)

Price has always been a factor. It is a non-trivial amount for any international travel. The old country business travel can easily reach beyond what is reasonable. And I evaluate my trips based on cost and comfort ( I am way too old now to travel 12+ hours squashed ).

But you are, overall, wrong. The goal is, and always has been, milking. Extracting maximum of milk with a minimum of moo. The current breed of travellers are docile and compliant ( I honestly don't know my parents would have been able to pull some of things they did today ).

Consumers are idiots. I sometimes wonder if they even saw how things could be.

The success of Ryanair is the market decision.

I am willing to give you that. My opinion might be tinged by Frontier experience ( never again ). That and I don't really want airlines approach something along the lines of New Delhi and Rajasthan train. It is possible my personal preference is blinding me a little. Would you accept that Frontier and Ryanair lower the bar and make decision makers at 'established' airlines wonder why can't they do the same?

>Frontier and Ryanair lower the bar

Absolutely. Over the past few decades budget airlines have made it obvious that there's a certain (fairly large) class of passengers who will endure significant inconvenience and discomfort is it saves them a couple of dollars.

The traditional airlines certainly have the option to say "Nah, we're not going there." But, for example, business class-only airlines and routes generally haven't worked out for airlines.

There are going to cut routes and make us drive further to fly. Consumers aren't going to accept higher prices to fly and airlines aren't going to continue to fly at a loss.

I flew last week. Except for airline lounges being closed and a lack of beverage/snack service on the plane, it was one of the most pleasant trips I've taken.

There were no lines at security. Three of the 4 airplanes I was on were nearly empty, there was a minimum of crowding around the boarding area, and due to middle seats being blocked there was plenty of overhead bin space on the one flight I had that wasn't empty. All in all, it was fantastic.