April 11, 2008 3:41PM

American Part Deux

By Cheryl Casone

Wow, you guys are vocal! I get the fact that many of you have had bad experiences on American Airlines this week. Do you not think I get upset about a late flight? The last few times I’ve flown American Airlines, I have been at least two hours late. Not that other airlines are not running late this week, but American has been one of the worst offenders.

I think two issues are getting confused here. First, there is the safety issue. Many people seem to think that American and other airlines are trying to avoid taking proper care of their planes. Again, no airline wants to see a jet crash on its watch. Think of the loss of life… think of the pain it would cause their own employees!?

Not to scare you, but think of an airplane like your car. You put your life into the hands of other drivers, the weather, your spouse or friend. Maybe you have a perfect driving record. What if the entire country was looking, analyzing, recording, and criticizing how you handle the maintenance records on your car? Maybe you have perfect records. Maybe you don’t.

I am not saying these inspections don’t need to happen. I don’t want to get on a plane that isn’t safe. But I am worried that, if this media blitz and attack on the airline industry continues, the government is going to get involved, and what you will end up with is REGULATION. Maybe you want that, I don’t know, but if that happens, get ready to pay $600 for that plane ticket, instead of the $200 you’re paying now.

Post your thoughts! I know you have them.

3 Responses to “American Part Deux”

Comment by Cal

April 11th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

Wow, Cheryl.

Perhaps we actually NEED regulation. And by the way, we HAVE regulation now: it’s just that the current administration has eviscerated its enforcement.

So feel free to get your drugs on-line from some anonymous generic purveyor, feel free to drive with your seat belt off, feel free to buy your watches from streetside vendors on Canal Street. Maybe you’re just the wild and care-free typre. But there are millions of travelers like me out their that WANT the government to do its job.
Comment by Pat

April 11th, 2008 at 6:32 pm

Cheryl, you are so right! I always fly American and before my next trip I want all the repairs finished. I cringe when I think of all the times I’ve flown in the past few years, and not realized the condition of the plane I am on.

The delays I have experienced in the past have almost detered me from flying American, but I realize they are not the only one with a bad track record.

I think it is time for the government to do something about the high cost of fuel, or a ticket will be out of reach for most of us. That’s the only regulation I would like to see happen and soon.
Comment by Scott

April 18th, 2008 at 10:48 pm

Cal,

Where in the Constitution does it say that it is the government’s job to regulate airlines?

And the analogy to buying watches from street side vendors would be catchin’ a ride from your uncle on his twin engine prop plane instead of flying one of the major airlines. No one regulated the quality into a Rolex or Tag Heuer.

If there were no airline regulatory body, passengers would (well, reasonable passengers would) actually research the safety practices and records of the airlines they were considering flying, and third-party groups who analyze such issues would become more important. That, and the risk of going out of business, would create even safer airlines than we have now.

Cheryl, keep it up.