American Airlines To Phase Out Complimentary Cabin Pressurization

[underfire]

FT. WORTH, TX—Explaining that the costs of the service have grown too high in recent years, American Airlines announced Tuesday that it will no longer offer free cabin pressurization to passengers starting March 15. “Unfortunately, to stay competitive as a legacy carrier in today’s air travel market, it no longer makes economic sense for us to provide breathable air at altitude,” said American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, noting that despite the cutbacks, air pressurization would still be available to first- and business-class travelers as well as those willing to pay an additional fee. “While we regret any altitude sickness, blood problems, dimmed vision, or hyperventilation that may result from air pressure less than a third normal levels, we remind our customers that such effects will diminish as soon as the aircraft descends below 10,000 feet.” Parker added that the company is also planning to discontinue complimentary landing gear on flights under four hours.

American Airlines To Phase Out Complimentary Cabin Pressurization | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

[NG_Kaptain]

Maybe should be under Jet Blast.

[underfire]

ahhh, but the irony of it all bears discussion.

The Onion, which has a huge following, decides to poke fun at airlines charging execeesive fees for what used to be just a part of flying, such as luggage, taking it to extreme charging for cabin pressure.

It is more a preception of the general public towards airlines, and in reality, no one is happy to fly these days... airports, aircraft, aircrew, its all a big downer..

Hence, perhaps some meaningful discussion.

Its funny, but in a very ironic way.

[jrmyl]

I am happy to fly these days. Of course, I don't fly in the US anymore. Thankfully.

I do hate having to transit through ORD on my way home though as a passenger. What a crap hole that place is.

So I guess you should just say that no one in the US is happy to fly these days.

[lifeafteraviation]

I noticed AA won't let you select seats in advance pretty much at all unless you pay a fee now....automatically assigned at check in.

USAirways was up selling somewhat but not to this extreme.

It's not the up sell so much that bothers me but the fact they deny it so... They just pretend there are no seats left and imply that unless you pay the extra fee you may not get a seat assigned at all. Meanwhile if you check the loads the plane is only half sold or something.

AA had the worst customer service in my experience...USAirways used to hold that honor back when they started charging for a drink of water but they had actually improved in recent years.

We'll see what happens but it looks like this merger will make both airlines worse, not better.

[NG_Kaptain]

When I go home Jet Blue is my first choice Delta is my second. Hated transiting JFK and ORD due to their congestion at customs, that is moot now as I work for an unnamed UAE airline so now I get to pre-clear at AUH which is so much easier.
I avoid American as their customer service has been awful in my personal travel with them.

[underfire]

I was not referencing any particular airline, just the experience of air travel in general in the US.
The traffic getting to an airport, TSA security lines, search/scan, smaller seats and fatter people, baggage fees, flight delays, full flights, rude people flying, etc....

I would pay much more for a ticket to weed a bunch of this out.

[tdracer]

I would pay much more for a ticket to weed a bunch of this out.

Underfire - it's called Business/First Class

If the flight's going to be under ~3 hours, I figure I can deal with close to anything. But longer than that I start seriously looking at ways to upgrade.

Alaska used to have a TV ad (before they too morphed into a LCC) where they pointed fun what other airlines charged for - including pay toilets on airplanes - had some poor guy trying to get change for the pay toilet ($5 for 2 quarters??? Please?)

I don't think anyone has actually taken the step of pay toilets on their airplanes, but I bet some are thinking about it

[lifeafteraviation]

Underfire - it's called Business/First Class

All that does is get you a wider seat...same terminal, same TSA, same annoyed to be there flight attendants....in fact you get a more senior and even more annoyed to be there flight attendant.

I don't think anyone has actually taken the step of pay toilets on their airplanes, but I bet some are thinking about it

haha!!! check out Scoot. Ryan was doing standing room only flights...not even going to let you sit down. (not in the US though).

I liked the way Southwest did it until they started "refining" the first come first serve method with the boarding pass....now they charge for the privilege of being first. Herb is rolling his eyes in disgust.

In the US I like JetBlue for the TV and decent service but they are almost as bad as AA when it comes to upselling the "extra legroom" seats by not letting you select a seat in advance otherwise----almost as bad as AA---if you keep clicking every day eventually a window or aisle opens up but it's a PITA. I find USAir personnel are pretty friendly at the gate and check in. United crews are the coolest when it comes to professional courtesy of colleagues at other airlines. I always look out for them when I see them in appreciation.

Delta is cool if you get the old NW crews...otherwise...ugh!

Yeah...I'm waiting for the (old)Delta and AA crews to come in here and justify why they are the way they are.

Pretty much all the time I buy a ticket because it's cheap and I don't get bumped. Sometimes I won't even identify myself as a pilot and hide my crew tags.

[shroom]

Ha ha! I remember all these old Alaska ads. They certainly had some of the funnier ones:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...A0178498E69917

[BNEA320]

successful Ryanair model . pay to use toilet . would u like toilet paper with that ? water ? soap ? hand towel ?

have u paid to use the stairs ? (what r airbridges ?) or Will the boarding rope suffice ?

the mind boggles with extra options