Economy Class: Survival Tactics

— -- Forget about the Sumo wrestler in the middle seat and the fact that you spend more time at the baggage carousel than at dinner. Put it all aside for a while and come with me on a survivor’s guide through the air travel jungle.

The old joke about air travel resembling buses with wings has come true. In some cases, it doesn’t even begin to depict the aggravations that can seem to be inherent in flying the crowded skies.

Greyhound doesn’t lock you in a bus and strand you on a driveway for hours. You may have a long journey, but your knees will work once you arrive. You know, going in, that if you’re going to get hungry or thirsty, you’d better plan ahead. And you’ve probably never circled the city waiting for a freeway to open up so you can reach your destination.

The Mice Are Happy

The airlines say that they are trying to treat us better. We were recently mailed a card that depicted two mice, happily gathering morsels and proclaiming with happy faces: “Crumbs!” It is, of course, all a matter of perception and perspective.

Start with what appears to be one of the hardest things for most consumers to accomplish — effective complaints and consumer activism. The airlines are (generally) making a lot of money. As a sad result, they can afford a certain percentage of disgruntled passengers. They know, that in many cases, they have a “captive audience.” Leisure travelers may be able to say no to flying; most business travelers accept it as a fact of life.

While certainly not your enemies, airlines are not your allies either. Their job is to make as much profit as possible. Part of your job, like it or not, is to make sure they do it with an acceptable measure of customer service.

You have three ways to hold them accountable. You can “vote with your wallet” and refuse giving your business to people who don’t deliver what they should deliver. Be aware of your air travel options and explore them.