Fewer Amenities When You Fly... But Instead You'll Get A Lot More Ads!
from the can't-wait! dept
Have you flown lately? It's becoming less and less enjoyable by the day, it seems. Many airlines are dumping features, adding fees and making sure customer service is about as frustrating as possible. On top of all that, it appears that airlines are so focused on cost cutting that they're looking to do whatever possible to shave the slightest bit of weight from each flight (fewer passengers would be one suggestion) including one airline that discovered removing seatback magazines saved thousands of dollars by making the airplane lighter (yes, seriously).So, what do you have to look forward to on flights these days? Well, advertisements! There's a new startup that is promising to put contextual ads everywhere from your boarding pass to the check-in terminals and (we're sure) to the seatbacks in front of you on the plane. Now, of course, this idea isn't entirely new. Over in Europe discount airlines have been offering up cheap fares while making it up with all sorts of other fees and services. But, then again, no one's talking about cheap fares in the US either. In the meantime, if they're looking for ideas, I still think the flying casino may be the best idea yet. Get people to simply gamble away their money while flying across the country. However, until that comes to pass, expect worse service, fewer amenities, more fees... and tons of advertising.
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Filed Under: advertising, amenities, fees, flying
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I wrote about it in rant in my blog (linked above), titled "American Airlines unable to fly planes built while Ronald Reagan was President"
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Re:
Wow someone wrote a rant on their blog...how innovative....
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Amazing
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I haven't been on a plane since 9-11
Between TSA increasing fares, and cost cutting, flying has become just a faster bus. The bus probably would be much more comfortable.
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I've flown once since 9/11
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planes trains and buses
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Ads in flight
Was surprised there were not also ads shown on the back in the upright and locked position.
Also had TSA take my daughter's new snow globe as it contained liquid. Not worth even starting the rant on the uselessness of TSA and the blantant inconsistencies between airports that render the whole system worthless.
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Re: Ads in flight
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Overweight Charge
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Re: Overweight Charge
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more and more crap
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Ads in Flight
Also, Americans will have to change their mindset and adopt aircraft as a vehicle that takes from point A to point B.
There was another news about airlines not filling up full tank fuel because weight of fuel itself is troublesome.
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Airlines
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What percent of costs...
Why not let airlines handle such things themselves? FAA oversight is suspect anyway, and I think we can all agree that TSA is a giant waste of time and money. No wonder airlines are failing - the have to deal with expensive government regulation.
Now, I'm not saying that I think that security and maintenance are unnecessary. They certainly are. I think that private industry can probably do it better (or just as well) for less. And if they fail to maintain or secure their assets - let the market decide that they should go under.
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Re: What percent of costs...
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Techdirt hypocrisy
If anything, I would laugh at the airlines for taking so long to jump on board with this.
How can you criticize them when you do it yourself?
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Re: Techdirt hypocrisy
If anything, I would laugh at the airlines for taking so long to jump on board with this.
How can you criticize them when you do it yourself?
Cause this page is free Mr. Craig.
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Re: Re: Techdirt hypocrisy
I have a problem with paying for a service only to be innondated with ads. Listen, guys, CableTV was once ad-free too. (Now I have DVR to re-deliver on that promise) And 15 minutes of ads before a movie is insane.
This annoys people.
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Re: Re: Re: Techdirt hypocrisy
The Fact that you are paying for a flight to where ever is not that you’re paying for the flight itself; you are paying for the fuel to get there, the staff that give you your soda, the pilots flying the tin can, that’s what you are paying for. I am grateful that the airline is taking action on attempting to lower prices when they are faced with uncontrollable situation such as 9/11, the TSA, and raising Gas Prices.
If you let the ad’s bother you then you’re trying to fit in like a retarded mule at a petting zoo, trying to eat a pacifier that a baby dropped into the goat poop.
~ The Traveler
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Re: Re: Techdirt hypocrisy
So, the airline industry evolves, and uses a "captive audience model" to serve advertising.
That is exactly what TechDirt does as well.
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Re: Re: Re: Techdirt hypocrisy
Why do people continue to make this uninformed accusation? Techdirt does not rely on advertising as its revenue source.
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I have stopped flying too.
I have Sleep Apnea. I have to travel with my CPAP machine. This is highly personal medical equipment that I would rather keep under wraps because it's MY medical condition and it's nobody elses business.
I actually got yelled at by one of these rude TSA son-of-a-bitches last time I flew out of Seatac because I apparently didn't get the TSA memo that I was supposed to take it out it's carry bag and expose it --and my medical condition-- to full public view.
Screw you TSA. And your damn mothers too.
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Re: I have stopped flying too.
"Yeah, sure you can. But only if I can shove that wand up your ass and touch your tonsils." was my response.
People around me clapped. Really now... Touch my wound? What the hell do you think I got there? The TSA are morons.
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An example:
Toilet paper roll holder: $600.00 requiring an airworthiness approval tag and full traceability (Yes the same thing you have holding your TP in your bathroom).
No smoking in lavatory labels: $65.00- $300.00 needing airworthiness approval tags.
I mean seriously! I am not exaggerating.
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Inefficient
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IS IT TIME TO JUST PARK UM?
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Marketing as a Drug Additction
I have had to wait for my credit slip at the gas-pump while a small tiny add scrolls across the screen. Again, am I being forced to "wait" so that I have to see more advertising??
While watching TV, I have noticed advertising sneaking into the corners of the regular programing. So advertising, on TV is no longer restricted to "official" breaks but is now being slipped into the regular programing.
Sensory overload means that we become insensitive to this advertising. Unfortunately to the marketers (like a drug addict who becomes insensitive to their fix) the only solution is even greater herculean marketing efforts even if they are ineffective or aggravate the consumer.
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Ridiculous Fees
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TSA
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While were bashing the TSA....
Remind them that they are being good Nazis... You'll get detained for interfering with their duties.
Oh, and as always, adds suck too...
Thanks TSA (Totally Stupid A-holes) and "our" Govt, for ruining travel for all.
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Ads
I never see them.
My ad blocking software must be working.
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I have no problems with ads, but...
Last year, I flew on RyanAir into London. There were ads everywhere... but then again, RyanAir charged me 0.10 Euro. Yes, you read that right- 1/10 of a Euro!
Of course, the actual cost was about 25 Euros after all the government and security fees, but 25 Euros is still cheap.
So, if US airlines want to place ads everywhere, that's great, but they MUST, I repeat MUST lower their prices. I would gladly accept tons of ads if I could fly from Washington to Los Angeles for $50. But I will NOT accept ads if they charge try to charge $400 or $500 or more.
On the other hand, what ever happened to the idea of an "all-frills" airline who would charge you the full price of a ticket, but then give you a real meal, all kinds of magazines, no ads, and friendly service? Would US travelers pay more for better service? Or are we stuck with the no-frills, all-ad-supported airlines because we're all "cattle" taking "air busses"?
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I like to fly
On pricing, if you're not charging enough to stay in business, raise or fold. You really can't sell at a loss and expect to make it up on volume. I really like the per pound pricing idea. One dollar, three, ten, whatever it takes per pound to fly me and my stuff in reasonable comfort from A to B. Have people estimate when they book (through their agent) and weigh in at the counter. You even get to add a bad guesser surcharge.
On advertising, my usual airports only have ads for the local university and the restaurants and businesses that paid for the new terminal. I like those ads so I don't mind about them, they're cool.
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TSA already Advertising
At LAX and Seattle both last week, all the bins have ads in the bottom of them.
As if I could hate airports any more...
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Tick tock tick tock....
Don't you mean content?
After all, this shouldn't bug the very person who said content and ads are one in the same.
Enjoy your content, Mike, especially if you're on the plane that took the magazines off the flight.
The airline industry is doing what any other industry does when facing such issues: It survives by doing whatever it takes.
Dropping features, employees, and other non-essential overhead is usually mandatory, not obligatory. Bringing in advertisements keeps THEIR costs down, but never the consumers (otherwise, we'd be flying for free).
None of this information should be shocking to any reader, who usually bitches they're paying $4+/gal for gas.(I wouldn't be too surprised if people start asking advertisers for money to place stickers on their personal vehicles.)
Since you posted this blog, Mike, maybe, just maybe, you can start seeing my stand on how there IS a difference between content and advertising.
Especially since you, as the consumer, are on the LOSING END of the advertising scheme by paying MORE for services which should be FREE.
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