Executive Squeeze

Before the great recession, the airlines were bleeding cash, and most of the major carriers sought protection in the bankruptcy courts. They all emerged from bankruptcy after massive restructuring of bank debt and union contracts ready to roll into the next phase, the mergers of giants. A short list of airlines such as Delta, United and American remain, and they have figured it all out.

They hired the best technology executives money could buy to figure out how to work routes and passenger loads to insure that each and every seat is sold. Then they figured out how to make all of the seats smaller, more compact, and extraordinarily uncomfortable and barely fit for the average American.

They also deduced that the passenger should be nickel and dimed to death with fees for baggage, charges for one more inch of leg room in the economy “comfort” zone,” change fees that equal the airfare, and now by making passengers responsible for baggage handling. Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reported that the airlines are gearing up to have passengers tag their luggage and haul it to the conveyor belt.

I am confident that the airlines will continue to figure out ways to squeeze the business traveler, and make the travel experience even more gruesome than it already is.