A memo to airline passengers {Gadling}

Dec 1st 2009 3:35PM Thanks for the history lesson, Rick. I love your website almost as much as George's!

The way the industry is set up now, I feel like I have to get my game face on when I consider flying - research trends in prices, verify which airlines fly to all airports within 100 miles, cross off all airlines who have screwed me in the past, watch my airfarewatchdog emails for a few months and pounce on my ticket the second I see an option that seems reasonable. My understanding is that any airline will take advantage of me if I give them the tiniest option, so I have to armed and ready to do battle.

I would gladly pay a little extra for a comfortable, hassle-free experience. Really! There's been a lot of talk about whether returning to govt regulation would improve our situation. I can't help but think that we may as well be regulated now - the major airlines all offer the same (crappy) service on the same planes for the same prices. Some rules about stranding a plane full of passengers on the runway for days, or making arbitrary changes to someone's itinerary wouldn't hurt, but each time that happens to a traveler, that person's percieved value of a plane ticket changes. I snatch up George's $98 fares because that's what the experience is worth to me - I wouldn't be able to bring myself to pay more! Give me GOOD options!