Travel "expert" on MSNBC: air travel down 62% since 2000

[SoCalDem]

She intimated that 9/11 was the precipitating event, but that was in late 2001..

Perhaps the industry needs to do a little soul-searching to see what the reasons are.

People may just no longer see air travel as satisfying as they once did.

To be sure, 9/11 set in motion an avalanche of changes, but are we really any safer? I think most people know in their guts, that if ever another bunch of malcontents with a deathwish had the notion, they could create mayhem again.

My guess is that people are mostly just fed up with the whole nightmare that air travel has become.,

People don't like to have their belongings rooted through.. they fear having things stolen from their checked bags, or having the whole bag stolen or mis-directed, so they end up having to shop for clothes when they land & fill out endless forms for possible reunification with their luggage..or not.

They don't like having to pay through the nose for things that used to be included in the price of a ticket...things like WATER, or soft drinks, or coffee..or even a pillow.

Even though the food has not been "good" for a long time on flights, the fact that there is little or NO food offered, makes it a dicey prospect for people who fear being stranded for a very long time, held captive in a cylindrical aluminum tube with nothing to eat:)

The seats are childsized, crammed together , with aisles barely wide enough for a toddler to navigate.

Airports are often hard to navigate too, and it always seems that your plane is at the farthest gate, no matter when or where you go.

Even with gas prices what they are, I think many people have just decided that driving offers the best flexibility for their family, and if the distance is not too far, and they have the time, they would just rather drive.

[treestar]

1. Maybe the rise of the internet has cut down on the need for business

travel. That could have accounted for most of it.

[SoCalDem]

2. Definitely..and it saves money too

When I was a travel consultant, one of my clients had a sales conference in Chicago twice a year, and I had to coordinate the flights for about 150 guys (there were no women working for them then), coming from all over the US..all to land in Chicago within a 2 hr window..

[Warpy]

3. Not really. I have the money to travel and my health, while in the toilet,

still permits it. The prospect of all the hazing one has to endure at airports these days is discouraging, to say the least.

I only travel when it's absolutely necessary, like when someone is dying.

[treestar]

4. What's that got to do with business travel?

People traveling for their employer are going to take the hazing to do it.

[Warpy]

14. I'm telling you what's down is leisure travel

which really is a significant part of travel.

People are driving or taking the train.

Hell, I drove from NM to Florida and back when my mother was dying because I knew it was going to be a long trip and because I just couldn't face the damn airport garbage.

My dad was dying faster so I had to fly.

When they won't let an old lady use bamboo circular knitting needles, it's hazing.

[SoCalDem]

15. and once you got there you had your own car & not some cheesy rental

All out older relatives have passed on, so barring another free trip to Tahiti, we're done with flying:)

We have a comfy car, and plenty of time:)

[Warpy]

23. I had a Ford pickup that was nearly old enough to vote

but I'd had the drive train checked out and had replaced hoses and belts, so I was pretty sure it would make it there and back.

Trust me, a cheesy rental would have been preferable.

[SoCalDem]

26. you went alone in an old car? Brave one:)

That's the only thing that scares me about old cars.. you never know what's gonna break next ..or where you will be when it happens :scared:

[Warpy]

32. The engine and drive train were fine, like new

About the only things that could have ended the trip are the suspension (which I'd also checked) and things like brakes and joints. Those would have been doable road repairs that would have slowed me considerably but not stopped me. The truck is a popular brand in the heartland and Dixie and junkyard parts widely available if Ford couldn't come through.

Breaking down wouldn't have made my day, but it wouldn't have killed me, either.

Still, people who saw that thing (it wasn't pretty) couldn't believe I'd done it.

[HelenWheels]

5. Hazing

is the best word to explain air travel. We are looking at Amtrack for our next trip to Vegas.

[SoCalDem]

7. My son who has to travel a lot, calls it Bullshit Nonsense

the only flight he enjoyed recently was on a trip to Singapore.. he got an upgrade to first class, and now he's ruined forever..:)

[rapturedbyrobots]

20. asian airlines are the best!

i refuse to fly an american airline for intercontinental travel. singapore air is great, but japan airlines is the best! the american carriers could learn a lot from those companies about customer service and the entire travel experience.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

41. airlines anywhere else on earth are the best

I am working in Canada and when I took my first domestic flight on Air Canada the Canadians I work with had me expecting something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nkje5lefv0

But I actually had no complaints, it might be terrible compared to Canadian Pacific Airlines that everyone seems so nostalgic about, but better than any regular US airline.

Although my best airline story of all time concerns a flight in the middle of Africa, the flight was delayed because the fuel truck didn't show up, a bus pulled up right next to the plane we were taken to a western style restaurant in the city and served a meal and when they were ready to go the bus drove right back to the plane which departed immediately.

[TheMightyFavog]

54. I flew Swiss International Airlines from O'Hare to Zurich to go to London two years ago.

Free in-seat entertainment including music, uncut movies and TV Shows, Decent food with REAL cutlery, Up to three free alcoholic drinks, (made the six hour flight pass much more smoothly) a little bar of Swiss Chocolate about the size for those little Hershey bars you'd get as a kid trick-or treating for dessert, hot towels, and an opportunity to do a bit of shopping on the plane. Plus, on the outbound flight, the flight attendants were very easy on the eyes, as they used to say back in the day.

Plus Zurich Airport was easy to navigate. Not even Sarah Palin could get lost there. All Intercontinental flights on one "pier" all intraeuropean Flights on the other, both connected by a subway. Made my connection to London with time to spare.

[phasma ex machina]

21. +1 nt

[kiva]

37. Unfortunatly you'll have to rethink that -

Las Vegas lost its passenger train service over 10 years ago. Unless we get the high-speed train from southern California, it's either air or by highway.:-(

[SoCalDem]

48. The first year our bowling league went to vegas for sweeps

about 10 of our group took the train and stayed at the hotel that was attached to the Train Depot.. I think the hotel is gone now too:)

[liberal N proud]

6. Definitely

I use Live Meeting and teleconference for most of my meetings.

[Richard D]

8. 6'2"

Cramed into a seat made for a person 10 inches shorter than me, can't move my legs, knees jammed up against the back of the seat in front of me, having an overweight person next to me oozing into my seat, plus a bad back equals pure torture. It really sucks because I love to travel. Next to this, all the hassles at the airport are nothing to me.

[Richard D]

9. 6'2"

Crammed into a seat made for a person 10 inches shorter than me, can't move my legs, knees jammed up against the back of the seat in front of me, having an overweight person next to me oozing into my seat, plus a bad back equals pure torture. It really sucks because I love to travel. Next to this, all the hassles at the airport are nothing to me.

[ixion]

10. It used to be fun to go to the airport, whether you were flying out or meeting people

it was a social occasion. Now it's like a concentration camp. Fun, only if you're a fascist TSA thug. For anyone else, it's something the bounces between being unpleasant and a nightmare.

[SoCalDem]

13. We used to drive to O'Hare to eat at the restaurant

It was a fantastic restaurant...worth driving in from Indiana..

Now most airports have fast food, junk food in machines or that nastly frankenfood in their "cafes"

[phasma ex machina]

29. Airports function as colonies within TSA 's empire.

The powers that be once dispatched me to upgrade some mobos at the tarmac gates. The supreme absolute authority of the TSA Commandant became readily apparent. Herr Commandant barked out orders with impunity to the hand that feeds him - the airline personnel whose companies pay exorbitant landing fees and gate rentals.

[ixion]

31. indeed... and further

they are shades of what life will be like in the very near future if we don't stop the creep of fascism in society.

[bevoette]

38. as a teenager in Houston, we used to hang out at Intercontinental...

run around the huge open spaces, ride the trams, watch landings/takeoffs from the top floor of the parking garage...generally goof off, security never cared, we didn't bug anybody and vice versa

nice memories. world is sure different now.

[stopbush]

11. Is there anyone who enjoys air travel?

It was bad enough when your luggage rode for free. Planes are uncomfortable breeding grounds for disease. Being 6'2", I can't sit in coach for more than 30 minutes before I'm cramping like crazy, and who can afford 1st class.

At this point, I count a year in which I didn't get on a plane as a successful year.

[Greyhound]

39. I used to love it so much I kept consulting for years after I should have

taken one of the offers to be "the boss". Traveling to new places and living in hotels is great to me,

Now, I simply won't do it unless very large piles of cash await me at the other end. The sheer stupidity of "airport security" is insulting.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

12. And despite that, Chicago is massively expanding O'Hare.

The airlines don't need the extra capacity and don't want to pay for it. Another expensive boondoggle brought you by hizzoner da mare.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

16. Hearded like cattle and treated like criminals

Always a good way to treat your customers.

[bikebloke]

17. Flying trips are becoming a thing of the past.

I quit for a while. But figuring flying would be out of reach soon, I've taken a couple trips to places I wanted to see before dying - Argentina and Turkey. Now I can die.:) Until then, it'll be go-nowhere holidays or bike treks ranging from home.

[SoCalDem]

19. It's sad, isn't it

getting there used to be a big part of the adventure..now it;'s something that fills us with dread, and we hope to just block it from memory..

The flight back from Tahiti made the trip almost not worth it.. 17 hours of stale "fish-air", and full to the max..

Most of the people on the flight were Asian, and every entree they serves had fish in it:( I willed myself to sleep, but my husband was not so lucky:(

[liberalhistorian]

18. Well, I, for one, have no intention of flying

unless it's a critical family emergency where I must be there asap or something like that. There are a thousand reasons as to why; among them that it's become nothing but a giant unpleasant uncomfortable hassle, that I'm tired of the airlines' stupid fees for everything under the damned sun and then some, that I resent the intrusiveness of "security" measures, that the airlines treat passengers like cattle and have little understanding that they are CUSTOMERS who are PAYING the airlines, not the other way around, and that they cause trouble for you if you complain about anything at all and they couldn't care less about you, period.

This Christmas I will be driving 2,100 miles roundtrip to be with family in my home state, the same trip I've made the past several years I've lived away from them. I flew those years except for last year, when hubby and I drove, and I intend to drive this year as well. And I know many, many others who have chosen to drive instead of fly. The airlines have brought this totally on themselves.

[dugaresa]

22. i would fly more if it was less costly, in fact we are not going to grandmas for turkey day because

of this very issue.

to fly our family to the destination $1500, car rental $600 (and we need the car because grandparent's car can't handle everyone).

So at over $2100 and that doesn't include any other items like food, etc, we will not see our beloved parents.

[SoCalDem]

24. That's a shame.. but it's just too much for a short visit

Families cannot afford to fly anymore..have a Happy Turkey-day anyway.. :hug:

[dugaresa]

28. Thanks

[Prism]

25. My only real complaint are prices

I'm a frequent flyer for no very good reason, and I get along just fine. Of course, I'm a minimalist. I roll up a couple outfits, deodorant, a toothbrush, some small snacks, and some books in a backpack, and I'm good to go. I don't find security the great almighty hassle others do. Maybe because I'm used to it.

But the prices have shot up like nothing else. I used to be able to finagle various deals online and get where I wanted to be at reasonably affordable rates. Now, even the cheapest rates are double or triple what I might have paid a mere five years ago. In 2001-2003, I could manage back and forth to Europe for as little as $250 - $300. Now, forget it. Just getting back to Chicago from San Francisco for Christmas is going to cost an arm and a leg.

I do feel bad for others, though. Whenever I see those passengers with the titanic carry-ons, trying desperately to jam a compact car into the overhead, but oh no! It doesn't fit. And now it must be checked, and we're being delayed because of it, and now the entire cabin hates you.

I feel bad for those folks.

[SoCalDem]

30. My son is paying a fortune to go to World Cup in South Africa

When he went to Germany , he paid about $1100.00 round trip, but is not finding any decent rates so far.. He's only going for 5 days, and may end up waiting for Brazil..

[Prism]

34. That's absurd

$1100. Five years ago, he could've managed it for around $400.

[Dulcinea]

27. Air travel sucks.

Security is a pain, even though I understand why it has to be done.

What I hate is the stuff the airlines can control but choose not to: the cramped seats, the lack of food and drink, and most of all the fact that they now charge you for the privilege of bringing your luggage on your trip! I'd switch to Southwest in a heartbeat if they flew to Atlanta. Delta has fought tooth & nail to keep them out.

[FarCenter]

33. Air travel is not down 60% since 2001

See air traffic statistics at http://www.bts.gov/programs/airline_information/air_carrier_traffic_statistics/airtraffic/annual/1981_present.html

Passenger emplanements recovered to 2000 levels by 2004.

[Kitsune]

35. I've been flying roughly once a year to attend a get together with friends

But I'm seriously considering not doing that anymore. Every time I've flown for the last few years, it's degenerated into a giant goddamn mess. Late flights, missed connections, every flight jam-packed... and I'm going first class! (yay frequent flier mile upgrades)

Despite the fact that it'd take 60+ hours to go cross-country by train (I've done it once) I'm giving serious consideration to doing it again next year instead of flying. It may take much longer but it's cheaper and less of a giant mess and inconvenience. Can you imagine? Taking three days to cross the country is less of an inconvenience than having to deal with air travel. What does that say about the state of the industry?

[Mimosa]

36. Adding held captive for an hour or 2 on a tarmac before departure bothers me.n/t

[Lilith Velkor]

43. Or 8 hours, which is why I'm never flying again.

Fuck. That. Shit.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

40. I have little choice in the matter

Since I am effectively working in two countries, full time at the same time which also requires I travel to Europe and Africa.

My question is from what hole does the airline industry and TSA find the human garbage with which they staff the airports of this great land. Is Shutter Island a real place?

[spanone]

42. it's cause flying sucks. i just flew across the country and got 2 cups of coffee + $20 a bag

not even a peanut & 20 bucks per checked bag

[spinbaby]

46. And good luck eating in the airport

Arrived in Pittsburgh at 7:00 pm on a Saturday night after a long flight and found everything closed down.

[Initech]

44. I've spent more on air travel the last two years than I have my entire life.

[SOS]

45. "Expert" needs a fact checker

Passengers in August 2000: 63 million
Passengers in August 2009: 65 million

http://www.bts.gov/

Air travel is down 6.2% - June 2008 vs. June 2009

http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2009/bts043_09/html/bts043_09.html

[SoCalDem]

50. she left out the part where it said "Holiday traffic" is down 62%

I do not routinely travel or even pay close attention anymore, so that 64% figure caight my attention ...(in my early years I was a Travel Consultant for almost 8 years)

.....................................
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20091122/NEWS01/111220011/1009/Holiday-travel-expected-to-increase-1.4-
November 22, 2009

Holiday travel expected to increase 1.4%

Times staff and news services

More travelers on the road and fewer flights could complicate Thanksgiving travel, but at least the weather around Central Minnesota isn’t likely to be a problem. Only a slight chance of rain or snow is in the St. Cloud forecast this week. Despite economic concerns and higher gas prices over last year, 1.4 percent more Americans in 2009 plan to trek 50 miles or more for a turkey dinner with friends and family, according to the AAA auto club. The travel forecast is based on surveys AAA and its researchers conducted last month. “With 500,000 more of us traveling this year, Grandma may have to set a few more plates than she did last year,” said Glen MacDonell, director of AAA Travel Services. “Obviously, Americans are willing to travel a long way to visit friends and family.”

It’s a turnaround from last year, when Thanksgiving travel declined about 25 percent on the heels of last fall’s financial crisis. The expected increase also bucks rising gas prices, which are up about 85 cents per gallon locally since this time last year. Nationally, gas prices averaged $2.64 per gallon, according to AAA, up from $1.99 last year. Wednesday is likely to see the heaviest movement of people from place to place. The average round trip is about 815 miles, the survey said.

Fewer flights

Since 2000, Thanksgiving air travel is down 62 percent, according to AAA. About 200,000 fewer people than last year will travel by air, largely because airlines have cut back on flights by nearly 7 percent, according to the Air Transport Association. “Your planes are going to be full; your lines are going to be longer than usual,” said David Castelveter, spokesman for the Air Transport Association.

snip

[seabeyond]

47. i use to fly all the time. after changing airports into prison w/ no personl rights, i seldom flew

no. last couple years, i refuse. wont do it. they dont get my money. i drive or i dont go.

[lib2DaBone]

49. TSA is a cancer growing in our airports....

..and just like Blackwater or or the DEA.. they will continue to grow in order to suck an even bigger portion of the Federal Budget into their grubby, sweaty, little hands.

[TexasObserver]

51. I don't doubt it. Flying used to tolerable. Now it's a bad, bad joke.

Pilots who are underpaid.

Attendants who are surly and think they're junior G men.

Borderline morons working security at the gates.

Small, cramped up airliners.

I try to avoid flying now.

[Hello_Kitty]

52. I don't want to fly since seeing the Michael Moore movie.

Pilots making $17K a year? WTF??!? I'm surprised there aren't a lot more incidents involving pilots going off course or showing up drunk or tired.

[ohheckyeah]

53. I remember flying across country

back in 1992. I had back surgery about a year earlier and it must have been obvious I was in pain. The flight attendant found a row with three open seats and moved me there so I could lay down. I got pillows and a blanket and slept a lot of the way.

Now you're damn lucky if you can get a drink. I won't even go into the security measures that verge on sexual molestation.