Where is PSA When We Need Them?
adn.com | front : Alaska Airlines slips to last in on-time ranking — This used to be a great airline. Now Alaska Airlines is ranked as the worst airline in the nation for on-time arrivals and departures during May, according to a new federal report.
The airline said its June on-time performance was also horrible but that July’s numbers have improved.
This caused me to write a remembrance of the great little airlines of the West Coast (PSA, Western Airlines, AirCAL) that were ruined by merger fever leaving us with nothing. It starts with a tale of Alaska Airlines.
So whatever happened to Alaska Airlines? It went from first to worst. Alaskan used to serve the best food too. It was actually edible. On the West Coast they used to run lots of TV commercials ridiculing the other airlines and the crap they served . Then one day a bean-counter didn’t like what he saw and that was the end of the food.
Read the entire essay by clicking here.
YOU ALL GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!! IF THE FLYING PUBLIC WASN’T SO DAMN CHEAP, THE SERVICE WOULD BE A HELL OF A LOT BETTER!!! BELIEVE ME, WE’RE EMBARASSED TO SERVE THOSE EMPTY LITTLE SNACK PACKS. STOP SUPPORTING LOW-COST CARRIERS LIKE SOUTHWEST AND JETBLUE, THEN MAYBE YOU’LL SEE THE RETURN OF FIRST CLASS SERVICE!! UNTIL THEN, DON’T EXPECT ANYTHING BUT A SEAT AND IF YOU’RE LUCKY A LITTLE SOMETHING TO DRINK!
I was wondering what happens to PSA, when Google Search direct me to this forum. I use to work for International Flight Services as a baggage handler which handled PSA’s ground services in the 60s. It was hard work especially during Christmas and holidays. Bags were loaded by hand without any mechanical aid. They operate Lockheed Electra, Boeing 727 and the stretch DC-9. I still remember they have the pettiest stewardess (flight attendant) with miniskirts in the airline industry. No frill and quick turnarounds just like Greyhound Bus. I believe I am making something like $1.10 an hour? Nevertheless, it was on of the many jobs I worked that pays for my college education.
“They did so buy buying”
oops. “by buying”
J. Callahan confused the 737 rudder incidents with the Alaska MD80 incidents. The 737s were due to “backwards” rudder problems. The MD80s had a lack of lubrication AND a poorly designed tail that had no redundancies.
As for airline service, I fly with Continental or Southwest, and I like both airlines.
Know about symptoms and treatments for back pain and get instant back pain relief.
AMEN!!! I miss those MD-80s also. I remember flying to see family in Chicago in one of those tin cans comfortably enough to where we had as much room as a small kitchen maybe. That was against a bulkhead so I just lucked out in the end.
Well, this thread got resurected.
Alaska Airlines is still flying, and still seems to be run by it’s competition. Short sighted idiotic decisions still plague the customers, both passengers and freight. They are ripe to lose out to any company that wants to take their routes from them.
I flew yesterday from Las Vegas to Anchorage in paid first class, IT SUCKED! we were given a small desert size plate of “crudites” that caontained :
3 carrot sticks 1 celery stick halved, 1 half radish, 1 small piece of broccoli, a dminute l round dinner roll with 2 small slices of salami and one rectangle thin piece of cheese and a little container of super oily salad dressing vinagrette to dip the veggies in. The whole plate wasen’t worth a dollar, they should be embarrased to serve such ridiculous “snack” to 1st class customers, I was so darn hungry I had to ask for one of those tiny bags of prezzels. This airline is by far the worst of the airlines out there, there is no first class treatment whatsoever but they do charge for the first class seat prices alright, I can’t wait until some other airline with balls sets foot in the anchorage market and crushes Alaska Air monopoly here, I would be more than happy to pay a little more for better service, newer planes and for not being treated like freaken brainless cattle when boarding a plane… VirginAmerica are you listening? I hope so!
Yea let’s bring on those gas sucking MD 80’s so we can really screw up the planet. You really like the flying whore-houses that Virgin has? How about Southwest Jethro, hear a little Deliverance tune? I don’t think anyone can find an airline that will suit all standards. Alaska doesn’t have have flights to all the points in they do in Alaska. Half of us would be screwed without them. You can have Virgin.
I always have the same questions when people complain they are treated poorly as a passenger. If you are treated poorly, it’s probably for a reason. Were you rude? Did you demand a drink? Did you remember the words ‘please’ and ‘thank you’? Are you clipping your fingernails in your seat as you place your order? Do you stuff your dirty kleenex in the flight attendant’s hand as she passes by? Do you silently hold out your coat to your flight attendant, expecting her to just hang it up? Flight attendants are usually happy when they arrive at work. It’s the people who are rude who bring out the worst in anyone.
Trina, do you work at Fantasy Airlines?
The flights I take, the stewards and stewardesses are pr&cks and c&nts.
And then you have to pay for the blankies and a glass of water.
Too bad they`ll end up by having a very bad reputation..at least if they would have gone down when they were still good.
John,
You’re right on the money but it all comes down to knowledgeable and Smart management, who can really get the best out of crews that usually are in this line of work by sheer passion and dreams.
Unfortunately this industry has become so incredubly complex that there is not a single right answer on how to build and successfully run a service oriented profitable airline.
I live in West Africa now but I worked for US airlines for 11 years, so i see that mostly everybody has somehow his point in this thread
Meanwhile Cheer up with this one who has some Gems in it , I am pretty sure you will find yourself just at home :
http://toolkit.bootsnall.com/transportation-travel-guide/air-travel-guide/ask-the-pilot-collection/general-maintenance/airline-announcements.html
PS Off Topic , you were right (one more time ?) on the paperless magazines issues. I susbscribed to both and i will sorely miss the pcmag paper edition; In fact i’m getting a new subscription for the competing paper since there’s nothing left (or is it ?)
Dominique, Abidjan ,Côte d’Ivoire
Great article: I have been dispatching in the industry for several years. I see the black hole of US carriers and were they are heading. It is really sad. The Shit carriers are still in business while the good ones fall to the way side. Why???
I personally will not fly on JetBlue, American, Delta or US Airways. I will use Hawaiian, United, or Continental if necessary,
There is not much to choose from anymore and all the airlines are nickel and diming the customer to death. Ii hope a major airline closes its doors, it will send a shock wave thru the industry. A wake up call is needed.
With unhappy customers and air crews, is it really safe to fly these days?
Some level of regulation should be put in place again to keep what airlines we have in check.
A cheap ticket is not that cheap in the end.
Great article, John. Thanks very much for the memories. About the only thing I can recommend, seriously, is to get yourself a private pilot’s license. Think about it.
Alaska Airlines has lost its soul. What was formerly my favorite airline, no longer cares about its customers. Everything has deteriorated: reservations, the boarding process, inflight service (non-existent, even in the so-called first class), the cleanliness of the planes and so on. I avoid Alaska Airlines whenever possible. My prediction: Alaska ends up as a low-cost carrier for vacationers to Hawaii and Mexico. A sad way to end a rich history with some very dedicated employees. The CEO and senior executives should be embarrassed and ought to do some soul searching.