What Do We Expect

[MEL_Traveller]

Do we (and I include myself in this) really have the right to winge about
the quality of the wine, or the fact that mý menu selection is not available ?
I guess where I am coming from is that the competitive airline business offerings are far better than years ago and at a much more affordable price.
Not much more than one weeks annual pay for a return ticket to the USA !

But back then the 747 was introduced with 9 seats across and a generous 34-35 inch seat pitch. One movie was shown on a drop down screen because flight times were in the 4-7 hour range which was just enough time for a nice steak meal and a movie before getting ready to land.

Back then we had empty planes and tickets which could be changed.

With 10 across seating on 777s, non-refundable fares, overbookings and downgradings without a proper refund (Qantas!!), fleets stretched to the limit, no more interlining of bags... yeah, if the airline says they're gonna serve you 'x' wine you have every right to expect it!

 

[Spongbob]

I remember an acquaintance telling me that he paid A$1500 in 1972 for a return economy flight to London. Not much has changed.

Average weekly pay in Australian in the early 1970s was about $100. Average weekly pay in Australian in the mid 2010s is about $1,000. So this suggests the "price" of the 1972 return flight to London would be about $15,000 today.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

I was trying to point out that in real terms airfares have
Gone down considerably. A 747 flight to USA from Aus in
1990 was around $2300 - or the equivilant of 5 times
the average weekly wage. Today $1500 or the equivilant
of one weeks wages. Sure, the service (or the perception)
may have gone down but so has the price.
Price reductions and cut pricing has to be paid for.
My grandfather had a favourite saying :
"Quality remains long after price is forgotten"
For more comfort, hopefully, premium classes are offered,
again, much cheaper in real terms than years ago.
Consider the rapid growth in airline travel and the avaliability to people, including me, of being able to have an overseas or domestic flying holiday.
I am happy and don't worry if my chosen meal, or wine is not available. I don't worry if the aircraft is changed to a
different seat configuration.
I just think of the price,give thanks, and get on with planning my next trip.

 

[under the radar]

I'll certainly refrain from posting in the future - everyone should be able to voice their opinion without having others slam them down!!

'slam downs' is the only reason 'social' media and certain websites tv programs exist:shock:. SOCIAL media and REALITY tv are the biggest culprits and misnomers. Just rise above them. I just view them as a form of entertainment.

 

[JohnK]

I'll go against the grain (would you expect any different?) and suggest that airfares today should be cheaper than what they were 30-40 years ago.

Why? Greater demand for travel and aircraft are far more efficient today and more reliable.

I paid ~AUD2,100 for a simple round the world on QF/TWA in 1990. The taxes alone on that round the world today ~AUD1,200 if not more and the airfare has doubled. My salary has definitely not doubled. Not even close.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

I'll go against the grain (would you expect any different?) and suggest that airfares today should be cheaper than what they were 30-40 years ago.

Why? Greater demand for travel and aircraft are far more efficient today and more reliable.

I paid ~AUD2,100 for a simple round the world on QF/TWA in 1990. The taxes alone on that round the world today ~AUD1,200 if not more and the airfare has doubled. My salary has definitely not doubled. Not even close.

I would like to see airfares even cheaper as well. Most Would !

You must have been a big earner in 1990 JohnK

Just using average stats from the ABS

 

[Warks]

I must say that I've flown SYD-LAX a few times in recent years in the 777 and found that if the plane is not too full the trip seems to fly by, so to speak. The biggest difference for me is individual entertainment. Four or five movies and I'm there. If (and it's a big if) my fellow passengers are all considerate human beings then the flight can be a pleasure (almost). I've been paying between $900 and $1000 return to LAX in Y over the past seven years (with a few gap years) and, while I have enjoyed the heady heights of J when I had a company paying my fares, I really think I'll have to be filthy rich before I pay six times as much (or whatever) to get there at the same time. This is heresy around here of course but really, when you've travelled by other, much slower methods, international jet travel seems a breeze. It's all about the destination, not the journey, in my opinion. And the anticipation of course. And the memories...

While we're comparing airfares in 1989 I paid $1000 for SYD-HNL-LAX-MAD-LHR (one way) which was on Continental and Iberian and was the cheapest I could get!
In 1992 I paid $2200 for SYD-SIN-MUC-LHR-FRA-SIN-MEL-SYD on Lufthansa.
In 1997 I paid $1450 for SYD-LAX-LHR-HRE-PER-SYD on QF and BA (RTW).

 

[bismarck]

You don't even need to go back that far to see how much cheaper flying has become.

March 2009 trip to Europe was $2,400
Same dates next year (without even looking for a particular sale) is $1,200 (KLM)

Etihad early bird sale to Europe is regularly $999.

Half price or even better compared to just 7 years ago. That is a secular decline in price for a better product (particularly with relation to the proliferation of individual entertainment). Seat pitch has not changed much in that time.

 

[Franky]

[I just view them as a form of entertainment]

I just dont view them...

 

[serfty]

...
I paid ~AUD2,100 for a simple round the world on QF/TWA in 1990. The taxes alone on that round the world today ~AUD1,200 if not more and the airfare has doubled. My salary has definitely not doubled. Not even close.

You use the term 'taxes'.

No; by far the majority of that ~AUD1,200 are Qantas "fuel" surcharges.

In any case it's an unfair comparison, most of the ~AUD2,100 would have gone to the agent/airlines as the levies and charges were relatively minor in 1990.

 

[Jmrocky]

To answer the OP's question, I don't think we are expecting too much. The same argument could be put forward about a lot of other commodities or products. As a society we are getting more efficient and smarter, ergo it makes sense that things improve and what was done with so much cost 40 or 50 years ago can now be achieved with much less.

 

[graxx]

Absolutely right. Our trip to Europe in 1975 was almost as expensive in Dollar terms as it is today, which makes it far more expensive.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't keep airlines up to the current mark tho'.
Comparisons between airlines and complaining about shortfalls means that standards are maintained. No point comparing those of 40 years ago.
Also, if you are paying a premium to fly Qantas, for instance, you expect a higher standard than a Chinese airline and have a right to gripe if you don't get it!

As I read the various comments posted on this site I wonder if we are expecting too much from airline travel.
Compared to 30 or 40 years ago airline travel has gone ahead in leaps and
bounds.
Firstly look at the prices.
An airfare today is not to much different to what it was in the 80's. Adjust that to the increase in the annual wage and in real terms my research shows an effective cost of about 50% of what it was.
Look at the service.
Sure, perhaps not as good as the glory days of the 50's but generally still not bad.
Flat Seats.
Unheard of years ago. I know some airlines offered reclining seats in premium classes way back but no comparision to the suites etc these days
Entertainment.
Compare to the pull down screens and one or two movies on long flights
Of yesterday.
Airline lounges.
Only previously avaliable to the favoured few in the past.
Safety.
Dramatically immproved.
And so the list goes on.
Do we (and I include myself in this) really have the right to winge about
the quality of the wine, or the fact that mý menu selection is not available ?
I guess where I am coming from is that the competitive airline business offerings are far better than years ago and at a much more affordable price.
Not much more than one weeks annual pay for a return ticket to the USA !

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Also, if you are paying a premium to fly Qantas, for instance, you expect a higher standard than a Chinese airline and have a right to gripe if you don't get it!

I don't think the 'premium' has much to do with amenity on board but rather what the market will pay based on advertising, sentiment, perceived safety, ability to earn FF points through local credit cards (etc) and the 'Australia tax'. Qantas charges what it can because of all of those things, not because you necessarily get anything much better. At least that's my view.

Etihad for $999 to Europe or Qantas for $1800 - I'm not getting $800 worth of 'more physical stuff' on QF.