Each month I purchase an airline ticket for my son to travel from Las Vegas to Seattle for a weekend visit. His father decided late last year out of the blue to pick up and move to the land of casinos and lounge acts and took my oldest son with him. It took a lot of reshuffling, both emotionally (still in the process) and financially to be able to make this a smooth transition and help my son to feel confident that he would be back every month for a visit. Now after only 4 visits under our belt we are staring dumb struck at the cost of the ticket to Seattle. For those that have not purchased a ticket in the last month or so, price one just for fun. I will say that the price has jumped on average $100-150 per ticket and this is with advance purchase.
I've had to stop and ask how in the world they think the value of the service matches the price. For example, Alaska Airlines has had very little sucess at getting a plane in or out even close to on time, each flight has been close to two hours off schedule. How do they fix this? They change the schedule to match the reality instead of the goal. Wouldn't want them to strive to be over acheivers or anything; especially in this day and age when mediocrity is rewarded (just look at our President).
So it comes down to one thing, the price of gas is cutting into their bottom line, so much so that airlines have tried to bump the price of the tickets to increase profits, well it isn't working people are choosing not to fly. Yesterday Alaska Airlines announced another profit saving solution, they fired 427 of their baggage handlers and ramp workers in Seattle and outsourced their jobs to a UK based company. (BTW, last I checked the British Pound is still as sound, and the US dollar cost more to print than it is worth). When I say announced I mean they announced to the news but forgot to tell the employees they were fired. Many newly unemployed Alaska Airlines employees found out over their morning cup of coffee while they got ready for work, others found out when they arrived at work and their access cards no longer would let them in.
Alaska airlines is also in negotiations with other union workers and after yesterday's announcement many are expecting the same outcome. Alaska pilots filed a lawsuit in US District court yesterday to vacate the arbitor's decision that cut their pay on average 26%. When I think about all that they are going through, I really wonder how I could think about putting my son on an airline with employees that are probably not very happy with the company they work for, it just seems inevetible that delays and service issues are going to be the force driving their profits down and leaving their customers late and unhappy.
These new improved labor practices coupled with the cost and lack of service that is available with Alaska Airlines has led me to my point. I am now searching for a new airline that will make this trip from Las Vegas to Seattle as painfree for myself and their employees. Bye Bye Alaska Air, you used to serve me well but this loyal customer just cashed in her last batch of miles and will be flying someone else's friendly skys.
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1 comment:
To tell them no more from you is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, they won't care until many more people tell them no as well.
They certainly don't care about the 427 people they eliminated, let alone their extended and immediate families or local economies. It's a vicious downward spiraling vortex.
I don't know what kind of competition they have, but it would be nice to see them flourish, hire on the union workers who lost their jobs and bury Alaskan Airlines.
A person can dream, can't he? ;)
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