US Airways

Don't get me wrong, I think all the airlines are in trouble. Seriously, they need to lobby congress to get TSA to back down a bit. It used to be that four hours was my tipping point. Any less than that and I would drive. Any more and I would consider flying. My tipping point now is about twelve hours - even if it costs me more to do it. Between the TSA's draconian screen procedures (am I the only one worried about what that full body scanner might just be doing to us?), new luggage fees and reduced services folks like me are getting fed up. And that should make air travel companies just a wee bit nervous.

All except US Airways. What the hell, they're already the worst airline in the country right now - what have they got to worry about? Here's a sampling of observations from my last flight:

1. Everything is for sale and nothing is free. I asked at the desk if I could somehow get out of the dreaded middle seat - more as a service to the folks destined to sit next to my bulk than anything else. I was cheerfully told that, yes!, there is an aisle seat available but it's a premium seat and I'd have to PAY for it. Mind you, this seat was no different than any other: not business or first class. It was just a seat that wasn't in the middle. And there are no free snacks - no peanuts or pretzels. But they are more than happy to sell you drinks, snack boxes, charge cards and what have you. I was just waiting for one of the flight attendants to ask me if I wanted to spend time with her in the champagne room.
2. An elderly lady brought her dog on board. She told the cabin, at large, that she paid $200 for her dog to ride in a bag under the seat and, of course, US Airways also counted the animal as her carry on bag. She had to pay to check her regular luggage. Near as I can tell, they did nothing extra for their $200 besides inconveniencing (and fleecing) a little old lady.
3. Their trash bags have a US Airways logo on it. Big deal, you say? Well, remember that they no longer provide free snacks. Put the two together and you must realize that US Airways is more interested in paying to BRAND THEIR TRASH than giving a token to their customers. In other words, garbage is more important to them.
4. My favorite US Airways story still remains the carry on shuffle - in Charlotte I watched an attendant (Nazi) at the top of the gate telling folks they had too many carry ons and insisting that the bags be combined. So ladies would stuff their purses and men would jam their laptops into their roller bags. The first attendant would then release them down the jetway to be met by the second Nazi telling folks their bags were too big and insisting everyone gate check their bags. So, of course, everyone began UNLOADING their roller bags of the very things they had just stuffed in!
   

Harumpf.

Airline companies are in trouble and in need of a serious image make over. But, for me, it's to late for US Airways. I'd rather drive.