The summer is in its final stretch, and after Labor Day weekend, you’d think you could say goodbye to overpopulated airplanes until Thanksgiving.
Take it from me, you can’t.
In fact, the opposite will probably be true. Most airlines are dramatically reducing capacity in an attempt to cut sky-high fuel prices. They are retiring their biggest gas guzzlers and reducing flights to unprofitable destinations in an attempt to stave off impending financial doom.
Ironically, while these moves may seem clever, they could end up costing more than they are saving, because of issues such as pilot seniority, re-training on different aircraft, less available aircraft as replacements for those with mechanical trouble, furloughs, and sick pay.
But that is the airlines’ problem; my goal is to help you navigate your way through the packed skies and ease your journey this Fall.
Imagine that the unimaginable happens and a flight cancels for whatever reason. The passengers from that flight will be booked on the next oversold flight, and when there is no room on that flight, it will spill over to the next and so on. This is called the trickle-down effect, but in this case the trickle will be more like a steady stream and eventually a raging river.
I foresee this scenario occurring this fall much more frequently than ever in the past. Are you ready for it?
Here are 10 tips for flying the crowded skies:
1. Don’t carry on. If you think that there will be plenty of overhead space for that second bag, you’re probably wrong. Full flights equal full overhead bins. If you have more than one bag, check your bulkiest item. If you have to pay a small nominal fee, it will be worth it, to avoid the hassle of finding a space.
2. Watch out for the bump. When there are too many people and not enough seats, the airline has to offer bribes for passengers to take later flights (getting bumped). If you are in a position where you could take a later flight and you want to get compensation for future tickets, you could volunteer. If you don’t want to get bumped, get your seat assignment ahead of time or show up early. Your chances of getting bumped dramatically decrease once you have your specific seat booked.
3. Score an upgrade. Say the airlines have 150 seats in economy and 20 seats in first class but 165 passengers show up. If there are seats available up front, the airline is going to upgrade as many people as there are seats. The biggest upgrade factors include being a member of the airline’s frequent flier program, being appropriately dressed, and it never hurts to be nice to the gate agent. Throw in a little, “If you need volunteers for upgrades, I would be more than happy to give up my economy seat.” It may sound cheesy but you would be surprised how many times that works. I know a business flier who always buys a bottle of water and gives it to the gate agent when checking in. They say that they don’t take bribes but he is upgraded about 35 percent of the time.
4. Get along. Many passengers get claustrophobic, grumpy or uncomfortable in crowded situations. You may be packed in like sardines, have an overweight person on your right spilling into your seat, and to the left you have a passenger who boarded with a smelly burger and fries, but try to make the best of it. Normally, you would try to find an open seat, but it probably won’t be available. Instead of fuming for the entire journey, laugh and thank the heavens that you’re not on a 16 hour flight to China, unless of course, you are on one.
5. Have a plan B. The future of many airlines is uncertain, so if you book far in advance and the airline you are scheduled on goes into bankruptcy or on strike, immediately book a refundable ticket on a different airline, as your options become dramatically less as your flight date approaches.
6. Miss your connection. If you have the option of flying nonstop to your destination and it doesn’t cost you dramatically more, pay the difference. Connections are generally a pain, as they risk cancellation, delays, and baggage loss.
7. Expect a few snags. It is amazing to me how many frequent fliers expect a hassle-free flying experience and are shocked when problems arise. We all know that flying is far from perfect so don’t be a negative Nelly. But maybe you should be pleasantly surprised if your experience proceeds smoothly.
8. Avoid space-available travel. Say you get a deal on a ticket, or you know an airline employee who offers you a pass. You are what the airline calls an SA, or space available. If there is no seat available, you are in store for a long wait, if you get on at all. Stay clear of space available tickets this fall at all costs.
9. Bring your own entertainment. Some airlines are removing video equipment in an attempt to save on fuel weight and the charges associated with onboard movies. Bring an extra DVD or two, a video iPod or — here’s a novel idea — a book. As always, I strongly recommend a pair of earplugs as a must-bring item if you value a nap.
10. Be patient with the impatient. Airline employees are being stretched even more these days. One person is attempting to do the job of four and getting paid less, I might add. While that is not your fault, be the bigger person and put yourself in their shoes if they seem a bit snippy or cold.
If you are flying this fall, I want to wish you good luck and encourage you to drop me an email telling me of your experience. Hope my tips help!
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I have an even better tip.
Take the money (and fees) an airline would have charged you to lose your luggage, strand you in a strange city because of a missed connection, or (if you’re lucky) jam you into a middle seat between the feverish sniffling man and the lady with the continually screaming baby– and treat yourself to a fantastic staycation in a nice local hotel. Eat in some nice local restaurants, and enjoy the sights of your home town that you overlooked in the days when air travel was reasonably pleasant. You’ll have a much more enjoyable time that way, and perhaps end your trip with reduced stress levels instead of airline-induced apoplexy.
Don’t worry about the effect this would have on the beleaguered airlines. Despite what airline executives might insist, you have no “patriotic” duty or obligation to help out a failing industry that expresses its gratitude by treating its customers like self-loading manure. And those executives are doing a great job of nose-diving their companies into the ground all by themselves — and possibly their airplanes as well, since the FAA’s “laissez-faire deregulation” ideology effectively encourages cost-cutting in maintenance.
So it matters little whether if you put yourself first and avoid the ordeal of flying. The employees are going to suffer the Death of A Thousand Cuts no matter what. And the CEOs are going to get their bonuses and bankruptcy-proof pensions because they’re divinely entitled to them, even if the taxpayers have to fund it.
In the long term, perhaps the best possible thing for the aviation industry is for the “legacy” carriers to continue their death spiral into oblivion. Maybe that will allow new airlines to rise from their ashes. And maybe those airlines will have executives who recognize that customers and employees are as essential to their success as efficient management.
Gee, Hap – I’m glad I won’t see you on any of my flights this fall! Talk about negativity – yikes!
I flew transcon first class last week and got a crappy sandwich! Not even a choice of what was on it!
Flying first is what flying coach was 10 years ago!
I hope the legacy carriers DIE because they SUCK and are just one giant codeshare anyway.
How can anyone not be negative about flying today, marge? Flying used to be fun. Now it’s an ordeal that’s deteriorating with each passing day as brilliant executives continually dream up new ways to devalue it. The best thing we can do is say “No thanks” (whenever we have a choice of destination and transportation, that is) and let the desperate “legacy” dinosaurs chew off and devour their own limbs.
I gather that you’re a flight attendant (or perhaps a pilot?). I feel very sorry for you. You’re caught in a vise as your bosses make you bear the burden of their mismanagement, while mistreated passengers have no other target but you for their outrage. It can’t be pleasant for anyone (except perhaps the CEOs who are entitled to award themselves bonuses and raises regardless of performance). Very sad.
You know, Hapgood, on my last four flights, things were just fine. I don’t fly a lot anymore, but although things have changed, they haven’t been that awful for me. Sure, I had to pay a little extra for food when I booked my wife’s and my tickets to LA. The cabin staff was pleasant,and we were pleasant back. We made efforts to be non-demanding quite passengers who took care of ourselves. The annoying thing was the woman who tried for 3 hours to squash my knees by attempting to put her seat all the way back. Yes, I would have loved to have bounced her head off the seat in front of her, but I didn’t.
We also went to the apparently much dreaded Heathrow airport. Our flight over and back were both delayed by about an hour as they took care of some safety concerns. Upon arrival, there were a whopping four people ahead of us at customs. On the way out, the lineup was a bit long, but everyone was polite and things moved just fine. Stark contrast to the TSA lineup in Los Angeles. It shows that there is a polite and a rude way to screen passengers.
I’ll tell you one thing. I don’t go there expecting the airline to babysit me every step of the way. I’ll make sure there is food and drink for myself and my wife. If they can’t fly us or there is a delay, I make sure that my wife and I are able to deal with it and not be dependant upon others. I don’t like how it is today with all the extra fees, but I know how to figure out how much everything costs, so I just add it in. James has good advice and I intend to heed it when I fly in a couple of weeks. I don’t expect things to be perfect, but I think there won’t be any problems we can’t solve. I’m sure things will go just fine with the car rental company and hotels too.
The airlines. hahahahaha.
Mr. Wysong, it must be hard working for an industry so hated by its customers.
Good grief, let’s be serious here: it’s not that common for things to be utterly horrific. For most people, the most you’re going to face is some inconvenience. It’s public transportation, and that’s always part of the equation.
If the airline gets me there safely and close to on time, I’m a happy camper. I won’t starve to death, go broke if I have to bring my own snacks, or expire because they’re not showing me a mediocre, dreadfully-edited movie.
Hap, I love to travel, and travel sometimes means inconvenience. I don’t get the thrill and excitement out of the town I live in that you do yours. I want adventure, new people, new places, and new things. If I have to endure a bit of discomfort to ge to those new places safely, it’s 1000% better than looking at the same streets, same restaurants, and same faces that I see every other day of the year.
I know my time is coming, but I haven’t had a bad flight this year, or even last year. I expect snags and surly flight attendants but have been greeted with smiles and respect. Heck, even the TSAs have been smiling and friendly lately. Maybe that extra training I read about is catching on.
In anticipation of the unexpected, I do follow the recommended interval between airport arrival and flight. Then, instead of going through the “elite” line as I am permitted, I find myself getting on the longer lines just to keep myself occupied.
My complaint about today’s flight from Toronto to Newark? I got to the Pearson “zoo” 3 hours before takeoff. You know how those customs officials can be! Well, everyone on the line was greeted with a, “Hello” and “How are you?” by the officers. Some of them were actually smiling! I was at my gate in 20 minutes. Then, on my full flight, the overheads were crammed and tempers were flaring at having to surrender wheelies to the FAs. Just the passengers’ tempers however. The crew handled each incident professionally and without anger. Flying may not be the fun it was before 911, bankruptcies and outrageous fuel prices, but it isn’t all horror stories either.
Amen, Carrie! And to Hapgood: No, I don’t work for an airline. I’m just a traveling fool and I love it! I echo Carrie’s experience. I live by the Golden Rule and I find when I greet the TSA, pilots, flight attendants – whomever – with respect and a smile, I receive the same in return. Life is too short for bitchiness!