It seems like I am not the only one who hates their air travel experience. Yesterday, the "news" was about how the dissatisfaction levels with air travelers as measured by complaints received by the FAA (not just random blog rants) had increased 60% over the previous year. Lost/pilfered bags, cramped seats, long lines, unconscionable delays were among the top complaints.
Three airlines went bankrupt last week.
Today, I'm reading about 9 skycaps who sued American Airlines at Logan airport to recover tips that the airline kept illegally. The skycaps - who are paid a sub-minimum wage of less than $6 because they are normally tipped - won their suit.
I mention this because this is one example of what is wrong with American business leadership. During the period when American Airlines is gouging the customer for $2 per bag, (which diminished the tips that the skycaps had enjoyed) the executives were pocketing that money in the form of multimillion dollar bonuses. This happened at the same time all AA employees were taking pay cuts. The executives were virtually stealing the money from the lowest paid employees and egregiously rewarding themselves.
It will be interesting to see how big the executive parachutes at the bankrupt airlines are... I'll bet none of them are standing in line for unemployment checks.
This is the same attitude that got the French aristocracy a free ticket to the Guillotine Express.
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