The reason I read this publication: "a reference to Thorstein Veblen’s 1899 economic treatise, The Theory of the Leisure Class. As I happened to have a copy on my desk for an unrelated project..."
This is a very interesting and nuanced take, thank you. I think something that should be examined psychologically is the idea of being entitled to fly versus other means of transportation. And what I mean is that flying used to be, what we would now call, a first class experience and it was expensive. Are we returning to that era? When you couldn't afford to fly, you took the bus or drove or took the train. But many people today act like those forms of travel are beneath them. Because of that, they feel entitled to have an airline like Spirit, Frontier or JetBlue around because it allows for access to a form of transportation that was never equally accessed. Then there is also the proliferation of body cam videos resulting from "certain" airlines and the way passengers on those airlines behave. I have never flown Spirit (I only fly Delta) but I wonder what it was (in the case of Spirit) or is (in the case of Frontier) that attracts people who are more disruptive than on other airlines. Please note that I'm not saying people don't disrupt other airlines, but Spirit and Frontier gained a reputation, and it wasn't a good one. This isn't just about ticket prices. It is also about excluding behavior based on class. In other words, regulating behavior by raising prices and offering premium experiences to fewer people.
I think that sense of “entitlement” came about as the United States neglected rail infrastructure while more Americans migrated from where they grew up for job opportunities. As airline costs decreased, it offered a further squeeze on rail and bus travel. Considering the reality of travel infrastructure in the US today, saying that air travel should return to its previous exclusivity is essentially saying that lower income people shouldn’t travel.
yep +1 to this sentiment, and I'd add the airline industry actively lobbies to prevent high-speed rail and other forms of transit from being developed (this was something I learned while at Southwest and it was an early crack in my worldview about the purity of capitalism lol)
Another aspect is that a lot of people just don't have that much vacation time and they don't want to waste what little precious time they have on a bus or train rides.
And when this happens airlines will be back where they started, as providers of a luxury, high-cost service tailored to the wealthy and business travelers. People on either end of the wealth spectrum are in about the same position they were before the changes. The people for whom airline travel was possible but required budgeting - those people are the ones losing out. That’s most people.
I think it will price a lot of people out for sure, but I think credit card debt will just rise quickly, I don't see, for ex, Disney fanatics, giving up their trips.
I’m a vet who will always choose Allegiant when they are an option. They spoil vets with free checked bags and carry ons. As for their clientele? Those people are my people.
Reminds me of another essayist who noted that when Applebee's or the like goes bankrupt, it's celebrated in the press. Because they enjoy tsk-tsking the dining options that the people they ostensibly care about go to.
Flying is often not merely about travel it’s about speed. You live in Arkansas and your mother’s death (in Oregon) is expected in the next day or so. You’re not hopping in your ancient Honda Civic. Except now without Spirit, Frontier might break you.
This is a great analysis that ties into the Department of Transportation’s new “Golden Age of Travel” initiative. In the language of this current administration it’s just nostalgia for a time when only old wealthy white folk could afford to travel. Always striving for exclusivity.
Katie - I had read some of your early writing years ago but haven't kept up with your work following your breakout success. This was so enjoyable to read. Thank you for actually thinking and writing. It was refreshing, truly refreshing, to read a piece that wasn't dipped in LLM sludge.
The quality of your writing rivals any legitimate journalist's skill, and although the opinions of strangers online mean nothing, I just wanted to express my gratitude. I look forward to reading more!
One of biggest lessons of my life was that traveling the world is only interesting until you have actually traveled the world. Every place is over-run and homogenized now. The only places worth going to are where there are no people.
Good try wrapping it up as class warfare. Sometimes it's difficult to accept the simple truth that businesses fail all the time because not enough people want what they are selling.
Fantastic analysis!
People like me won’t pay more. We will simply not fly.
The reason I read this publication: "a reference to Thorstein Veblen’s 1899 economic treatise, The Theory of the Leisure Class. As I happened to have a copy on my desk for an unrelated project..."
LOL it will surprise no one to know it takes me about a week to get through a chapter because it's so dense and dry
This is a very interesting and nuanced take, thank you. I think something that should be examined psychologically is the idea of being entitled to fly versus other means of transportation. And what I mean is that flying used to be, what we would now call, a first class experience and it was expensive. Are we returning to that era? When you couldn't afford to fly, you took the bus or drove or took the train. But many people today act like those forms of travel are beneath them. Because of that, they feel entitled to have an airline like Spirit, Frontier or JetBlue around because it allows for access to a form of transportation that was never equally accessed. Then there is also the proliferation of body cam videos resulting from "certain" airlines and the way passengers on those airlines behave. I have never flown Spirit (I only fly Delta) but I wonder what it was (in the case of Spirit) or is (in the case of Frontier) that attracts people who are more disruptive than on other airlines. Please note that I'm not saying people don't disrupt other airlines, but Spirit and Frontier gained a reputation, and it wasn't a good one. This isn't just about ticket prices. It is also about excluding behavior based on class. In other words, regulating behavior by raising prices and offering premium experiences to fewer people.
Again, wonderful article and thank you!
I think that sense of “entitlement” came about as the United States neglected rail infrastructure while more Americans migrated from where they grew up for job opportunities. As airline costs decreased, it offered a further squeeze on rail and bus travel. Considering the reality of travel infrastructure in the US today, saying that air travel should return to its previous exclusivity is essentially saying that lower income people shouldn’t travel.
yep +1 to this sentiment, and I'd add the airline industry actively lobbies to prevent high-speed rail and other forms of transit from being developed (this was something I learned while at Southwest and it was an early crack in my worldview about the purity of capitalism lol)
I hadn't thought about the infrastructure. Thank you for that. I'm not saying this is what SHOULD happen. This is what I have observed happening.
Another aspect is that a lot of people just don't have that much vacation time and they don't want to waste what little precious time they have on a bus or train rides.
And when this happens airlines will be back where they started, as providers of a luxury, high-cost service tailored to the wealthy and business travelers. People on either end of the wealth spectrum are in about the same position they were before the changes. The people for whom airline travel was possible but required budgeting - those people are the ones losing out. That’s most people.
I think it will price a lot of people out for sure, but I think credit card debt will just rise quickly, I don't see, for ex, Disney fanatics, giving up their trips.
it’s true - this is all a boon for the credit card companies 🙄
I’m a vet who will always choose Allegiant when they are an option. They spoil vets with free checked bags and carry ons. As for their clientele? Those people are my people.
The utter disregard for aesthetics on that slide offends me to the depth of my soul.
aesthetics are expensive lol gotta keep costs low
I too was offended by the “design” of that slide. My 10 year old would have created a better slide.
Reminds me of another essayist who noted that when Applebee's or the like goes bankrupt, it's celebrated in the press. Because they enjoy tsk-tsking the dining options that the people they ostensibly care about go to.
Helluva job for two days: Great writing! And I learned a lot.
thank you diana! i appreciate that on both counts
Flying is often not merely about travel it’s about speed. You live in Arkansas and your mother’s death (in Oregon) is expected in the next day or so. You’re not hopping in your ancient Honda Civic. Except now without Spirit, Frontier might break you.
This is a great analysis that ties into the Department of Transportation’s new “Golden Age of Travel” initiative. In the language of this current administration it’s just nostalgia for a time when only old wealthy white folk could afford to travel. Always striving for exclusivity.
this is super interesting; i hadn't seen that
Katie - I had read some of your early writing years ago but haven't kept up with your work following your breakout success. This was so enjoyable to read. Thank you for actually thinking and writing. It was refreshing, truly refreshing, to read a piece that wasn't dipped in LLM sludge.
The quality of your writing rivals any legitimate journalist's skill, and although the opinions of strangers online mean nothing, I just wanted to express my gratitude. I look forward to reading more!
That Gen Z TikTok buyout idea was hilarious, but the internet trying to crowdsource an airline feels like a Black Mirror episode waiting to happen!
One of biggest lessons of my life was that traveling the world is only interesting until you have actually traveled the world. Every place is over-run and homogenized now. The only places worth going to are where there are no people.
The enshittification of everything continues. Everything is for rich people, from flying to concerts.
Good try wrapping it up as class warfare. Sometimes it's difficult to accept the simple truth that businesses fail all the time because not enough people want what they are selling.
Judging by the photo I assume y’all mean ‘crackers’?