On 8/14/13 11:02 AM, wrote:
On Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:26:43 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 8/13/13 9:28 PM, wrote:

Get off the extra money and fly first class. They still treat you nice
there.
Expedited TSA screening, boarding, quicker luggage (3 for free up to
75 pounds each), free drinks and food, bigger seats and they usually
know your name.


Flying first class isn't going to help if there are significant cuts in
the number of flights out of many airports, and airline service will
only deteriorate further if flight prices and fees go up a lot more,
because even more passengers will stay off the planes, causing more
cutbacks in service and higher fees.

We used to fly up to NYC several times a year for business and for
pleasure. Now, when we go, we take the train and when we go to the New
Haven area, we either take the train or drive.

The airlines have turned flying into misery, and I'm not referring to
the TSA antics, which usually only take a couple of minutes, even at
busy airports like National. Oh, and the food in first class? It's not
very good on US-flagged airlines.

They will have as many flights as they can fill up.
I agree the chances if empty seats is greater if you have more
airlines but I doubt the service will be any better. Just like Walmart
and IBM, the consumer has voted with their wallet and they are willing
to accept ****ty service or no service at all if they can get
something cheaper,
That is why you have baggage fees, bigger seat fees and no free food
in coach.
People still want to fly coast to coast for $99 and they don't care if
they have to fly in the cargo hold.


Nowadays, picking a domestic flight also includes consideration of which
airline, if you have choices, is the least lousy. Virgin is a bit ahead
of the curve. JetBlue was ok for a while, but has slid down into the
primordial soup with the rest of the crappy airlines. If you are heading
for Europe or the Orient, there are foreign-flag airlines that offer
better "rides" than the U.S. lines.

On our last pre-9/11 flight to Hawaii, we brought along a small cooler
with fruit, a couple of drinks we like and a couple of first-rate
sandwiches. Can't do that anymore.

On 8/15/13 4:32 AM, wrote:
On Wed, 14 Aug 2013 17:32:12 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On our last pre-9/11 flight to Hawaii, we brought along a small cooler
with fruit, a couple of drinks we like and a couple of first-rate
sandwiches. Can't do that anymore.

You can buy drinks and sandwiches in the sterile area of the airport
but they are probably not "first rate" at most small airports.


The sandwiches are not first-rate at the larger airports, either, and on
a long flight without a cooler, you can't keep them from deteriorating.

"F.O.A.D." wrote:
On 8/15/13 4:32 AM, wrote:
On Wed, 14 Aug 2013 17:32:12 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On our last pre-9/11 flight to Hawaii, we brought along a small cooler
with fruit, a couple of drinks we like and a couple of first-rate
sandwiches. Can't do that anymore.

You can buy drinks and sandwiches in the sterile area of the airport
but they are probably not "first rate" at most small airports.


The sandwiches are not first-rate at the larger airports, either, and on
a long flight without a cooler, you can't keep them from deteriorating.

In you are flying on really long flights they furnish food anyway. Some
may be crap, and some you may have to pay for, but is not expensive.

On 8/15/13 3:07 PM, Califbill wrote:
"F.O.A.D." wrote:
On 8/15/13 4:32 AM, wrote:
On Wed, 14 Aug 2013 17:32:12 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On our last pre-9/11 flight to Hawaii, we brought along a small cooler
with fruit, a couple of drinks we like and a couple of first-rate
sandwiches. Can't do that anymore.

You can buy drinks and sandwiches in the sterile area of the airport
but they are probably not "first rate" at most small airports.


The sandwiches are not first-rate at the larger airports, either, and on
a long flight without a cooler, you can't keep them from deteriorating.

In you are flying on really long flights they furnish food anyway. Some
may be crap, and some you may have to pay for, but is not expensive.


It's not very good food, not even in first class. Used to be far better.
Still pretty good on non US flagged airlines heading to Europe and Asia.

wrote:
On Wed, 14 Aug 2013 17:32:12 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On our last pre-9/11 flight to Hawaii, we brought along a small cooler
with fruit, a couple of drinks we like and a couple of first-rate
sandwiches. Can't do that anymore.

You can buy drinks and sandwiches in the sterile area of the airport
but they are probably not "first rate" at most small airports.

You can bring nice sandwiches from home. Just not drinks or gels. Bring
some nice cheeses and crackers, and drink the free non-alcoholic beverages
on the plane.