Look, I don't like the idea of paying for checked baggage. I think it's a real pound-foolish way for airlines to try to squeeze every last buck out of the flying public. Maybe it's because of the sticker shock- we went from No Fees to $25 or more per bag, virtually overnight. Or maybe it's because of the behavior the extra fee has created- hordes of self-absorbed jackasses trying to jam every manner of garment bag, suitcase, dufflebag and What Have You into the overhead compartment or the seat in front of them, leaving you to stand like an idiot in the aisle wondering if you are going to be allowed to get to your seat before the plane starts to roll (Seriously- the things some people think are appropriate "carry-ons"....Jesus.....)
But I think I would rather pay the extra charge than have the type of people Southwest Airlines apparently employs handling my bags for free. In one commercial, we are supposed to think it's funny that a few of them are reminiscing about their favorite bags, and moaning how sad it is to see them fly off to parts unknown (the commercial is supposed to make us think "Sentimental, Funny." I can't help but think "Pathetic, Loser.") In the one I just saw, these bottom-feeders are competing for the title of Biggest Moron in the Airport by yelling "FREE! FREE! Bags fly FREE!" and laughing like little children in the process. One guy even "sings" "Frreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!" (He should meet the Maxwell House "Freeeeeeesssssshhhh!" jackass.)
I thought the "It's On" campaign was bad enough (one of the "Its On" commercials features everyone's favorite frequent flier, the It's All About Me businessman who doesn't shut his laptop and board the plane until the last possible second, holding the rest of us lesser mortals up with his asshattery.) But these are worse, because they want us to think it's charming to watch underpaid unskilled labor perform like trained seals while celebrating the decisions passed down from Corporate and which benefit them not the slightest.
If I want to watch impoverished cogs in an industrial machine blather on about how great "their" company is, I'll pay more attention to those Honey Bunches of O's commercials, where all the workers sit around spending half their days eating the cereal they "supervise" as it's poured into boxes. Ugh.
"the behavior the extra fee has created- hordes of self-absorbed jackasses trying to jam every manner of garment bag, suitcase, dufflebag and What Have You into the overhead compartment or the seat in front of them"
ReplyDeleteBetween this and "security" flying just sucks. I try to do it as little as possible. I take a few extra days and use the Amtrak for vacation whenever I can. Thankfully my job doesn't involve too much travel, and what little travel there is goes to El Paso, Phoenix and Denver (I live in Albuquerque) so if I do have to fly I don't have to worry about luggage.
As I keep saying, Canadians also love to create moronic ads; our ridiculous ad campaign is about an airline called Westjet and is based on how the employees hold stock options. Since they somehow own the company (instead of being the first ones to get screwed when things go sour), they're magically motivated to go above and beyond the calls of duty and plausibility to serve the asshole businessman with his laptop.
ReplyDeleteSouthwest Airlines does do profit sharing for all it's employees. The "Bags Fly Free" program probably will result in all those employees seeing a little extra something in their check next time SWA pays out.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't excuse the rapping they do in the most recent commercial. Ugh.
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