Comments on: An Obituary for Ted

By: spinotter

spinotter — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:47:02 +0000

Excellent obituary, Cranky, and I loved your haiku, Tucano. Ever heard of humor, airlineanalyst08? Maybe I shouldn’t ask. Yes, these are hard times for all airlines and their employees and I respect that, but we are still allowed a little smile here and there, aren’t we?

By: mechanic x

mechanic x — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:25:52 +0000

hmmmm. ilive paycheck to paycheck,so i don’t fly much. but i have had some interaction with customers , and i think james’ comments reflect a far too spoiled passenger demographic. some of the people (customers) that airline workers (not us mechanics, so much) have to deal with are just, well , stupid. that’s right. i said it. somebody had to. i’ve seen it all, and i don’t even deal with customers. agents being spit on by snot-nosed teenagers and old women. losers getting plastered and treating the agents, flight attendants like s*!t. the paying customer has become way too spoiled, much like the children of today. nevermind the fact that we all work hard to get u to ur destination as cheap as possible WITHOUT DYING! go fly around on some airline in a third world country for a while, i guarantee you’ll be more than happy to fly a u.s. carrier. cheers!

By: james

james — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:04:49 +0000

re: People need to get realistic about this industry, and be thankful that we have the brilliant airline service in this country that we do. /quote

ok I just stopped shaking my head Scooby Doo style after reading that statement.

Yes it is brillant that someone in Blanding, Utah can fly to Paris or Bangkok in two or three hops, or I can jet to Las Vegas for a night and fly back home. But the following things do not constitute a “brilliant” industry or environment:

Surly and retalitory security agents
Overscheduled/constantly packed flights (which leave zero contingency)
Detainment for hours on taxiways
Arcane rigid policies for changing flights (sick/reschedule, etc)
Ceasing operations with NO notice or assistance to pax
Filthy facilities. (Tom Bradley and ORD)
Fees applied POST purchase (re: AA baggage fees – overruled)
Overbearing unfriendly immigration agents
Lack of int’l transit lounges

I can’t think of too many other industries where almost the entire populace despises the companies, their treatment of customers, and their business practices. Of course I love flying – once I’m relaxed and in the air. But the air travel experience from door to door leaves much to be desired.

p.s. you accuse Tucano of being childish. What exactly was TED and the “character” it created? Grown up companies don’t constantly refer to themselves in the 3rd person.

By: CF

CF — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:12:14 +0000

I’m going to have to push back on you, airlineanalyst08. People said the same thing when Pan Am, Eastern, and many others were on the brink. If an airline goes under, there will be plenty others waiting to move in and take over, as long as there is true opportunity. If United goes down, I can guarantee someone will be in their hubs trying to pick up the pieces quickly. There may be short term pain in the transition, but there won’t be long lasting impacts from any airline disappearing other than having one fewer competitor and potentially a better chance at keeping capacity at a healthy level.

By: airlineanalyst08

airlineanalyst08 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:37:49 +0000

I don’t understand these people that are hoping for United to fail. Tucano – your “haiku” is ignorant, ill timed and utterly childish. United, American, Continental, Northwest, Southwest, US Airways and a myriad of other airlines keep the US economy rolling by moving money, literally and figuratively, around the US and into it from other countries. Yes, let’s see an airline fail that has hubs in 4 major cities in the United States so we can feel what true economic disaster and ruin feels like. The airports will flounder, city revenues will drop, and taxes will rise. I don’t know about everyone else, but I’d rather see a healthy airline industry, United included, than a disastrous failure of an airline that would have far reaching consequences. People need to get realistic about this industry, and be thankful that we have the brilliant airline service in this country that we do.

By: ptahcha

ptahcha — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:44:55 +0000

No more “TED wants you to be safe.” No more colorful headsets. No more half can of soda. No more “TED is happy to see you.” RIP TED.

By: Tucano Bandeirante

Tucano Bandeirante — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:05:28 +0000

I’d like to sum up Ted with this little haiku:

UAL Kills Ted
Cheap Airline Couldn’t Take Off
Is United Next?

Thank you.

By: Mike Reston VA

Mike Reston VA — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:43:07 +0000

Excellent obituary!!! Show’s when there is no direction the results are always disastrous. May god rest “TED” soul in peace.

By: E

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:45:57 +0000

Setting up a secondary hub to beat WN? Sounds like MetroJet at BWI.

By: Johnny

Johnny — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:09:59 +0000

Best, wittiest, smartest dead-on analogy I’ve read on this website.

Ever.

Excellent writing…. Thanks Cranky!