en-us http://www.keithwatanabe.net/index.php Keith Watanabe's Website http://www.keithwatanabe.net/blogs/2008/3/11/1519d773cda0cf7fc29cfa5bf6c4cafe.html
Obviously, this is an impossibility when you fly international. So it seems that domestic flights in America are becoming worthless to anyone who isn't a celebrity (who probably can afford their own plane) or a business person.

I've already sworn this if I ever travel within the US again, I'll never fly. The airline quality for domestic flights is like going to a state penitentiary. They stuff you in small lines, shove you into tiny crowded spaces, starve you on the plane and your subject to tons of rude people and their whiny brats for several hours.

The good thing is that the only place I really travel to domestically from LA is Las Vegas. But I suppose if I wanted to go to some other state, I'd just as well take the road. I think it'd be much more interesting, scenic and you can really see the country.

As far as America's airlines' finances going south, I have absolutely no pity. They've brought this onto themselves with awful service and that horrible bureaucratic Homeland (In)security department as well as the Total Shit Admistration (TSA). None of these companies have even attempted to be proactively customer friendly, which is why the demand for tickets keep lowering. At least the service for companies like JAL and ANA out here in Japan are quite good so it's actually worth paying for the price of a ticket in those companies. But if suddenly all the US airlines went bankrupt simultaneously and all the jobs were lost, I wouldn't shed a tear. Treat your customers with respect and maybe they might actually start flying again. Until then, take a bus or drive your car.]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:15:57 -0600 http://www.keithwatanabe.net/blogs/2008/3/11/1519d773cda0cf7fc29cfa5bf6c4cafe.html http://www.keithwatanabe.net/blogs/2008/4/14/44c7ef1d284786a3208e30658f74048b.html
The funny (or rather sad) part is that you really only see the American airlines groups seeing so much difficulty. My belief is that the TSA and Homeland Security have effectively rendered air travel inefficient and inconvenient to the majority of the people. Taking away traditional services and charging for extra baggage for the majority of Americans simply brew resentment by most cost conscious Americans. Add to that, the naturally hostile environments of airports with the mistrust of baggage handlers, who supposedly are there to ensure our security, and you've got a natural recipe for a meltdown.

Of course, another huge issue is the recent whistleblower scandal at Southwest Airlines and the FAA. That was a really scary one for myself as I had been somewhat of a fan of Southwest Airlines since I used to take them quite frequently back at my days in UC Berkeley. Hearing about the backdoor bargaining between inspectors and the airlines demonstrate more evidence of the nefarious nature of the airlines industry.

As I previously had stated (or cursed), I am NOT sympathetic to the airlines industry taking this fall. They've essentially brought it upon themselves. The airlines industry is running things like a business, which seems like an odd statement considering it is a business. However, as I previously mentioned, the whole thing is about service. The problem I see with the airlines industry in the states is that the service is simply awful for the price you pay. I think most people aren't willing to pay any price at this stage for essentially being treated like a criminal or feeling insecure.

In order for the American airlines industry to recover, they must fix this blemish on their image. Start by doing things to improve customer service. Instead of taking away services, add more for free. Tack on charges, but improve the customization experience done by the flight attendants. Do things to expedite travel and make people feel less insecure. Having a guy with a big fucking gun and a fat woman insulting you by the gate do not aid in this perception! We want friendly, trustworthy service. Perhaps, the American airlines groups should hire nothing but Japanese customer service representatives, since it seems that most other ethnic groups just don't get the idea of what treating a customer with the best respect means.

Of course, they won't listen to my suggestions, even though they are completely valid. And they'll continue to plummet in terms of profits. But this is what they need to do in order to get back on track.]]> Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:56:02 -0600 http://www.keithwatanabe.net/blogs/2008/4/14/44c7ef1d284786a3208e30658f74048b.html