The Misery Of Air Travel

46:17

July 14, 2011

We're talking about the misery of air travel. The crowding, the fees, the waits, the torture today of getting from A to B.

A passenger undergoes a TSA pat-down at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle. (AP)

We’ve long since given up on the idea of American air travel, coach class, as any kind of joy ride.

But head for a flight this summer –- just a modest little flight, to get somewhere simple –- and you are very likely headed for a passel of misery.

Good luck figuring out the cost, with the welter of fees and extra charges flying around online. Good luck getting through security, with lines around the terminal. Good luck squeezing into your seat, with jam-packed flights and everyone lugging carry-on.

And food? A snack? Forget about it.

This hour On Point: does air travel have to be this ugly?
-Tom Ashbrook
Guests:

Richard Aboulafia, vice president, analysis at the Teal Group.
Michelle Higgins, writes the weekly Practical Traveler column, which appears Sundays in the Travel section of the New York Times and on the Web. It offers insider information on how to navigate the travel experience –- from how to get a good seat on a plane to how to find a better hotel deal.
Kate Hanni, executive director of Flyersrights.org, a consumer advocacy group she started in 2006 to represent airline passengers

From Tom's Reading List:

Open Allies for Airfare Transparency: "U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has been without doubt the most pro consumer advocate and leader of the Department in its history. The Secretary’s 2009 3-hour tarmac delay rule was historic. His senior staff intensely shares his passion for fair treatment of airline consumers and goes about their complex regulatory work with pronounced thoughtfulness as evidenced by the recently publicized second consumer protection rule. "

This program aired on July 14, 2011.