Scheduled air service continues to defy the odds and get worse. When we thought we had witnessed poor service, they find ways to charge more and do less. Senior management of many US airlines have a bunker mentality that flows to the front line workers in many cases. To suggest they are in a service industry is a misnomer.
In our business we see people think they are comparing apples to apples in terms of international premium cabin travel and nothing could be farther from the truth. Not all Business Class tickets are created equally. Whereas Singapore Airlines is considered by many to be the gold standard, a number of US airlines operate at the other end of the spectrum. As they have tightened their belts through economic turbulence, management has wisely stopped investing in premium products that garner the most revenue and yield! An example would be US Airways which offers some of the saddest "Envoy Class" (Business) service to be found. In no particular order; the seats are basic recline and squirm in design - the type most premium airlines retired some time ago; food and catering options which are no better than we expected in economy a few short years ago; a surly cabin crew who only want to rest the tray they are carrying in front of you so they can read the book they just bought; airport lounges which are busier than the concourses and I have consistently noted a friends and family upgrade policy for gate agents to use so that a cabin is filled with families and anyone else the gate agent wishes to curry favor with - no point in wasting such benefits on paying customers! The discounted fare that they offer is there for a reason...because that is all it is worth. Premium airlines with meaningful products may well charge slightly more, but I would strongly encourage you to consider all of the merits of your options. Two simple rules to remember. Not all Business Classes are created equally, unlike economy class (for the most part) and secondly, refunds are not issued at 35,000 feet when 90 minutes into a 15 hour return flight you have realized the your error!
Sadly Eos Airlines closed down this week, one of the start up carriers with an all Business Class philosophy which highlighted how bad the service has become at the legacy carriers.
As the scheduled airlines do their best to offend the travelling public, I have become aware of two attractive options for short haul air travel in the southeastern USA. Using the VLJ (Very Light Jet), a company named DayJet started service from Lakeland, FL. Two pilots and three passengers in a small jet (hence VLJ). Your cost is based on how flexible you are and therefore the ability of DayJet to sell the other 2 seats. The least expensive is approximately $1 per mile...the most $3 per mile. It is on demand service within a defined region, currently it is Florida, southern Geogia and southern Alabama...with plans to be in the Carolina's later this year. The second option is an air taxi service (SATSAir) operated from Greenville, S.C. They have a fleet of approximately 30 Cirus 22 single engine aircraft. Rates start at less than $500/hour and for short hops it is very affordable (pilot plus three passengers). Limited luggage space although three sets of clubs will make it! As the airlines continue to alienate their best yielding customers, more alternative options will become available and the downward spiral will continue.
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