Comments on: I’d happily pay extra to an airline to treat me like a VIP. Would you?

By: Ben Allen

Ben Allen — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:12:53 +0000

I think what you are referring to is called 1K status.

By: Mark Prus

Mark Prus — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:11:26 +0000

The “high service” business model has failed several times in the airline industry. While I agree that being treated like a human being is something I would pay a premium for, apparently not enough of us exist to make a business of it!

By: ED ROACH

ED ROACH — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:09:06 +0000

No, they should be treating all customers as VIP's. Airlines have no control over security restraints that is making flying stressful and frustrating, but they should be doing more to making non-exploding customers love them. A smile shouldn't cost any extra!

By: Charles Snyder

Charles Snyder — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:05:59 +0000

I would pay for personalized service in the terminal, no lines for check in or security and a better trained, friendlier staff.

By: Gigi Ballester

Gigi Ballester — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:02:46 +0000

I would pay for all the first class amenities provided on Singapore Airlines or Emirates Air and other similar service-oriented carriers.

This is a reply to a similar topic on another LinkedIn discussion which you can see on this link – http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuesti…

“In my opinion, regulation may be the salvation of the airline industry. As Dee stated, regulation does not mean “government run” – it only sets rules and guidelines for the industry to adhere to. Deregulation has contributed to the depreciation of service. Another example is the breakup of the telephone company. It is true the prices have gone down but service and competition has also diminished.
Affordability for the masses was not what kept the airline industry afloat – it was and it still is the business traveler. Back in the days of regulation, travel agents were able to sell vacation packages that were all inclusive (air fares, ground transportation, hotels, etc.) but deregulation destroyed the travel agencies. The airlines that offer the business traveler first class/business class choices and actually have inflight services for tourists, are still flying and they are all foreign operators. Most corporations and wealthy travelers opt for private jets rather than US airlines. That was not the case back in the day when airline travel was regulated.
And, please, don't get me started on the “hubs”.

By: Graham Harrison

Graham Harrison — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:00:31 +0000

As a non US resident if I want to hire a car in the US I find that most of the car hire companies now offer me an “all inclusive” rate. Instead of having a rate for the car plus CDW, and blah blah blah extra fees I just get a single cost.

The airlines in the meantime are moving the other way. What used to be an “all inclusive” rate is now fare plus baggage plus blah blah extra fees.

I wonder who has it right?

By: Karen Dansby

Karen Dansby — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:58:41 +0000

a room inside a room with seperate ventilation maybe? Hmmmmm…. sounds good to me. No babies allowed of course.

By: Pam Williams

Pam Williams — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:52:13 +0000

I'm with Sheila ~ give me an airline that gets me from point A to point B safely and on-time. As for the rest of you… Really smoking? How would we do that without impacting the rights and health of others. Babies? Come on! We ask WAY too much of our air travel providers!

By: Stacey Dougherty

Stacey Dougherty — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:50:21 +0000

Isn't it funny how much air travel has changed in 20 years? Flying used to be an event but now that more than 650 million passengers take to the skies worldwide every year it has become as mundane as a Greyhound bus ride, and sometimes as stressful as riding the NYC subway during rush hour.

Like it or not, the planes are smaller, the extras reduced to a bag of peanuts or a cookie, and an alcohol-free beverage. Baggage fees add to the fare and now we have to pay for our choice of seat. We're paying extra for everything that has long since disappeared from the standard service of most airlines and to suggest that we pay for a smile is going a tad too far. And besides, if the airlines charged for what you suggest, do you really think that they'll deliver?

How do you tell a plane full of passengers who have sat through a 3-6 hour flight with a screaming baby onboard to please wait for those who have paid extra to exit the aircraft? Good luck with that!

By: Karen Dansby

Karen Dansby — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:48:29 +0000

Everything seems geared towards cutting costs and what additional costs can we pass on to the consumer next? As for how much am I willing to pay for something extra? I'll pay up to a certain dollar amount more for a nonstop flight vs a connection. My time is valuable. I'll pay extra to take a different flight where I am not stuck in the uncomfortable middle seat. Yea, I hate middle seats. A real disservice. How about wider seats & First class for coach prices.