| Recently there was a crash in a major resort town in | | | | and I benefit from it as well! On my next trip the |
| Asia, afterwards the numbers of passengers dropped | | | | airfare is 1$ plus taxes on the company that suffered |
| to this destination some 20% which means that | | | | the event. Another example, recently I flew to |
| everyone in this area is affected somehow, and | | | | Chicago from Saigon. I chose July 4th to start my |
| most of them not for the good, as is the case most | | | | trip and flew back out on Sept 11. On the way in I |
| of the time the ones that are really affected, and | | | | was bumped from economy up to business class by |
| that are going to suffer the most, are those that can | | | | United Airlines, Thank You Very Much, and the 2nd |
| least afford it, the unemployed or underemployed. | | | | leg was bumped up to Economy Plus. On the flight |
| When you see images of a plane crash they are of | | | | back to Hong Kong I flew in the back, I had the |
| course horrific and they forever effect the lives of | | | | opportunity to upgrade to Economy Plus but stayed |
| those that are involved and my heart goes out to all | | | | in the back, as the load was so light that I had seats |
| who experienced loss in what ever form, but like | | | | 60 DEFG and slept most of the way from Chicago to |
| Forest Gump said so eloquently "stuff happens" when | | | | Hong Kong. I talked to a fellow snorer in the back of |
| there is a car crash everyone doesn't cancel all of | | | | the plane and he was doing the exact same thing as |
| their car trips, so why when there is a airplane crash | | | | he knew, like most seasoned travelers, that he could |
| does a sizable portion of the population cancel their | | | | improve his chances of getting multiple seats on |
| flights? I bet if they could see the additional harm | | | | these days. |
| that they are doing by this they would reconsider | | | | United I might add has really improved all aspects of |
| their actions, or never fly again ever! | | | | the company in the last 4 years. I especially like the |
| The airlines will still need to fly those jets with | | | | new self check in feature that I used for the first |
| reduced loads to those destinations, as most planes | | | | time at Chicago's O'Hare International airport which |
| will make several hops a day in a circuit, and they | | | | was easy to understand and use and a added bonus |
| have these very well thought out before they bring | | | | for savvy travelers as it will tell them where the |
| a new jet online to keep the costs as low as | | | | blanks are to give them a little extra leg room. |
| possible. Jets can only make money when they are in | | | | I talked to several United staff at various points |
| the air, so most of the time they are flying, so if you | | | | along the way including a captain I met at Starbucks |
| boycott flying to a particular destination after a | | | | in Chicago on Sept 11. I mentioned that I was |
| event, the affect you are having is raising | | | | impressed with the "New United" and he said the |
| everybody's costs and weakening the airlines, which | | | | employees can see and feel it as well. A women |
| for the budget air carriers, some are not going to | | | | baggage handler in Chicago said that it was the new |
| lose money for long before they go out of business; | | | | CEO My thought is that he reminded them what their |
| which is again bad for everyone, as more competition | | | | name was and they United and moved forward |
| keeps the costs down and services up. You are also | | | | gallantly after their sad losses. The reason I was |
| punishing the other victims of the event that had | | | | talking to her she was helping me to find my bag |
| absolutely nothing to do with it, so when you don't | | | | that got put on a different line and she quickly found |
| show up and support them; this is being just plain | | | | it and with a warm smile on her face let me use her |
| rude in my book. | | | | phone so I could inform my brother that my flight |
| Do I put my money where my mouth is, you bet, | | | | had arrived 30 minutes early and I was ready to go! |