Take a look at this old airline commercial and then read on....
The friendly skies are not so friendly anymore. Coffee and chocolate milk in fancy glasses are a thing of the past when flying coach. Moreover, passengers now have to pay for their luggage and make sure to grab a bite to eat before the flight. Meals on domestic carriers are nonexistent.
Airlines have blamed the September 11th terrorist attacks, the high gasoline prices last summer, and the recent economic crisis for negatively transforming costumer service onboard American carriers.
While most airlines are taking away the services that once made the skies so friendly, Southwest and JetBlue are changing the game. Both airlines offer costumers low fares, a younger fleet, state of the art entertainment systems, and popular routes. With all these services, wherever these airlines arrive, their presence makes a great impact.
Southwest is not new to New England. The airline has been flying daily flights from Manchester, New Hampshire and Providence, Rhode Island. However, they recently started daily flights from Boston to Baltimore and Chicago. The Southwest effect in Boston is already obvious. The airline flights to Baltimore and Chicago at a price of $49 each way.
As Southwest arrives to Boston Logan, JetBlue has recently lowered its fare from Boston to Baltimore to $39 each way, increasing the competition. Delta Airlines has dropped the Boston-Baltimore route completely, as they can no longer compete.
It is a new world up there. The fancy glasses have been replaced by soda cans. Pillows and blankets with your airline’s logo are a thing of the past. Affordable fairs and decent service is definitely the new way of flying the friendly skies.
2 comments:
You've been added! :)
I live in Missouri, by the way. Not too far from Illinois. I have a lot of family there though (in Chicago). Did you like it out there?
You have another good blog topic. The only luxuries I can remember from plane rides are when planes used to have pillows/blankets and music. That seems like ages ago. My parents remember the good stuff as seen in the commercial. I wish I had been able to experience a lot of that too...flying must have been so nice back then. Sigh. I hate flying these days because of all the security hassles.
But yeah, I only fly Southwest these days. It's so cheap and much more friendlier than the other airlines.
I remember flying on a plan when I was younger, I had the whole pillow/blanket thing. Not to mention, an actual meal..
The first time I went back on a plan a few years ago (after being 9), I was surprised by how much had changed.
Great blog.
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