The System’s Bitch

And what about the airlines? Remember flying back in the sixties and seventies? Remember what flying was supposed to be like? Then some number cruncher decides to take one olive off the menu and – like magic! – the airline begins saving thousands and thousands of dollars. Before you know it, all of the amenities we took for granted are gone.

I fly quite often now and believe me times have changed. You no longer get a free meal when you fly. Some of you will remember when you got an in-flight meal with a choice – beef or chicken. Now, mostly, you get old pretzels or some foreign named cookie. Once in while you get peanuts. Did anyone see a drop in ticket prices? I don’t think so.

And what about alcohol? Beer and wine used to be free and a mixed drink didn’t cost much. Now everything except non-alcohol drinks and some form of very small snack cost extra. Some airlines are offering in-flight meals for an additional charge (airport restaurants have taken notice and now offer box lunches for you to take on your flight). The inside of an airplane is going to start smelling like a fast food restaurant and probably be kept about as clean.

Everything seemed to change when they went from stewardesses to flight attendants. Now please don’t think I’m a male chauvinist (it would be pretty bad for me to be a chauvinist, being the father of three outspoken daughters ... as a matter fact, being a father of three daughters will probably be another book someday). I know with the addition of male flight attendants these days, the “stewardess” name would probably not fly, but how about steward? I believe the word steward means “to serve.”

What’s wrong with that? We all serve. Regardless of what business we are in, we serve someone. It’s not demeaning; it’s an honor. People spend money for service. If you’re working in the service business then be what you’re supposed to be – and do what you’re supposed to do.

So why do you really think they took away what was good about flying Well, here’s what I believe: more space equals more money.

Think about it. They don’t need all the space in the galley area for all the meal carts. Move a wall back, put in a few more rows of seats and SURPRISE! Now they carry more people, give fewer amenities and still manage to charge more money.

I don’t really have a real problem with paying more money. But more money for less product doesn’t make much since to this consumer.

The seats are so small in coach that I have any woman who sits next to me sign a pre-nuptial agreement before she sits down. I believe cattle have more room in the back of an 18-wheeler than we do in an airplane. The only difference is that cattle get what they want for their en route meal.