Why are we letting airlines get away with canceling flights and losing luggage at unprecedented scales when they are making billions in profits (not revenue)? They are complaining about being understaffed. So pay more, hire more, and don't lose my luggage.
www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/JBLU/jetblue-airways/gross-profit
www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/DAL/delta-air-lines/gross-profit
Is it because they are enjoying being an oligopoly without any alternative? Or something else?
I suppose the question is how we let airlines get away with losing luggage and canceling flights.
If we don't want to impose government regulation on the airline industry, then the only way to force airlines to provide better quality service would be to only fly on airlines with impeccable service, including no lost luggage.
However, I think that doesn't work for most people as there are limited airlines flying to the segments we need/want, therefore our ability to find better service through competition is limited. This would suggest that governments should step in to penalize airlines for canceling flights and losing luggage (which is the case in Europe and Canada)
We also need people to get the word out about the regulations and policies that do exist. If you pull your luggage off the carousel and it’s damaged, in certain cases the airline has to pay you (take before pictures when traveling and go immediately to customer service desk to make a claim before leaving the airport if there is damage). If your flight is delayed for more than a couple hours they have to pay you if you make a claim (check terms and conditions for the airline). Also if they have to bump someone from a flight and are asking for volunteers you can negotiate a cash payment, bigger gift card, free hotel, first class upgrade, etc. Problem is someone usually volunteers for a low amount so we need people to know they can get more.
@Author. For a damaged bag it could be thousands especially if contents is lost or damaged also (always take a pic before you leave). Hundreds per passenger if your flight is delayed significantly and a hotel room.
With certain credit cards you are covered also, so if you have to buy new clothes, cosmetics, etc. because your bag is delayed for a day that is covered.
When bumping people it depends on what people accept, they will keep going higher until someone agrees to be bumped. My husband just got $500 Delta gift card to take a different flight that actually left earlier, but was to an airport that was 40 mins. farther away. Well worth the Uber ride and he got home at the same time he would have anyway. But if everyone had held out instead of lining up to take the offer it could have been more.
Rising Star
After my experience yesterday, I would certainly like to see more of the EU-style penalties. The four different people I spoke with at Delta - because I kept getting disconnected or routes to the wrong people who couldn’t help - could not have cared less.
The EU compensation benefit is about half of what US pays luggage wise. For delayed flights sure but you can make out a lot better in the US I’m pretty sure - they don’t follow the dollar maximum
It's because you are buying tickets based mostly on lower price, and unwilling to pay significantly more for better service.
Would help if you backed your viewpoint up with something
Why are we looking at gross profit and not operating income or net income? Theres more to airline than just literally flying ppl around.
Can you educate me please? I thought profit was earnings revenue - costs already
I’m not the best at financial definions but it has to do with direct costs vs indirect costs so there are lots of different versions of “profit.” Airlines have a lot of expensive fixed costs they have to pay regardless of how many passengers they are flying.
Pro
Please keep in mind that I am not defending the airlines. Pilots takes years of training and most pilots are cleared to only fly certain planes. Flight attended also takes years of training as they are also responsible for passenger safety. Most airport workers also require security clearance. COVID did not help the situation and most found other career and passenger temper flair-ups more frequently in recent years deter younger generations from choosing this as a career. Most foreign airlines has work-training programs for high-school graduates who wants an airline career. My high school buddy got into one of these program (Singapore Airlines) and company train him to be a pilot. He is now a captain and still works for SIA.
I don't want to misunderstand your point. Are you suggesting that airlines are raising their fares, cancelling flights, and losing luggage because they need money to pay flight attendants?