DYNASTY HVY

Well its been almost 30 years since it was initiated and its been an interesting ride to say the least.Any thoughts ?

BTW you guys and gals running heavys on the old PA routes are welcome looks like it worked better for you than it did for us in the end .

PAN AM gone but not forgotten!

JustaRampagent

I'm too young to have any thoughts on the era prior to deregulation but from a consumer stand point deregulation is a success. I'm interested in hear the thoughts and ideas from a labor point of view.

Flyby1206

I think it has been a relative success for the majority of the country, but the product being provided by todays airlines is pathetic. Back in the golden days of PanAm/TWA/etc only the more affluent and financially well-off people could afford to fly. Today those same customers do not fly airliners, they fly private jets or fractional jet ownership companies like NetJets. So by de-regulating the industry we have pushed away those high paying customers and given up all the service amenities in exchange for more flights per day at the same cost as filling your car's gas tank. Personally I dont see this as a success, but I think it is too late to turn around now. The memories of PanAm remain, but sadly they are just memories.

HoursHore

The companies that tried to provide premium service (midwest, maxjet, etc) all discontinued that service due to lack of demand. the free market works, its just sometimes painful for those forced to adapt.

OldAg84

Has deregulation provided more flying slots?

I would be curious to know. How many A/C, and of what type were the legacies flying just prior to deregulation, just before their demise (if applicable), and today? Clearly, salaries have eroded, but by how much in 2008 $'s? I've occasionally researched this and haven't found the data. Remember, certain legacies grew through acquistion of Pan AM routes etc., so these "numbers" should be taken into account.

Clearly, this has benefited the overall consumer and perhaps also helped overall economic development, etc. over the last 30 years.

I only really started flying as PAX in a big way in 1990 (for business). There is no question the products from a service standpoint have declined. That said, what can one expect for a $200-$400 ticket that takes you halfway across the county or better? I think a soda and chips dispensed in a friendly fashion, with a smile perhaps, is not too much to ask. Some of the time you don't even get that. Loyalty plans have been diluted to the point I don't even consider them. I try to get the best schedule for the best price, although I do have carriers I lean toward if possible.

Will consolidation help firm up fares? Perhaps, but don't forget that telecommunications/teleconferencing have gotten alot better and will continue to do so. Personally, I believe there is no substitute for a face to face meeting, but if one can save a days time and expense and accomplish what they need to, they will.

Just some thoughts and my perspective only.

MalteseX

This is a complex question and you will get many varying perspectives based on what people "want" from flying.

Cost of flying to the general public.... success (fares are very very much lower) Allows many more people to fly --- ie the Greyhound bus crowd now flies!!!

Flying "experience" to the public.... degraded (packed airplanes, less employees, TSA "hassles" (due to factors other than deregulation) etc.

Service on the aircraft..... very much degraded for customers

Service to cities..... smaller cities suffer today from lack of service and pax charged more $$$ from them than under regulation

Employees..... degraded salaries, working conditions, benefits, retirements

Safety .... success (may be more due to technology, communication and training than deregulation)

Corporate, charter and fractionals ..... vastly increased their business due to people with $$$$ wanting "direct" flights (no hub and spoke), no Greyhound bus crowd, no TSA hassles, no pax terminal hassles, no lost baggage, no crowds and better "service" (catering, etc)

MTOP

Deregulation failed to produce anything but low fares. Deregulation simply enabled airline companies to sell their product below cost, resulting in dozens of bankruptcies, the creation of a substandard airline product, poor service, loss of service to small communities (contrary to the explicit objective of the Deregulation Act) air traffic congestion and myriad other degradations of commercial aviation.

From the pilot's point of view, deregulation has resulted in more flying, for less pay, the nearly total loss of job security, retirement, and professional job satisfaction.

texaspilot76

Regulation of business and enterprise has absolutely no place in a capitalistic economy.

cfii2007

True....in a perfect world of course.

Eric Stratton

neither do unions...those greedy bastards...