US Air Carriers Suck. Tell me something I don't know.
What is up with US air carriers?
United just announced that they will start charging for the 2nd piece of checked luggage on domestic flights unless you are a member of their premiere frequent flyer program. WTF?
How is it that air carriers in the US have PISS-POOR customer service, offer very little to know in-flight services, charge RIDICULOUS fares for domestic travel, charge for additional services such as this new baggage fare and are still on the CONSTANT verge of bankruptcy?
When we were in Vietnam we flew from Hanoi to Hue for $40 per person. Changed our tickets a day before we flew with no additional charge (Gasp--you change a ticket in the US and you have to take out a 2nd mortgage for the fees) AND when we were on the short 1 hour flight between Hanoi and Hue we were served a box sandwich meal with drink and it was a hearty sandwich, cookie, package of crackers and small bottle of water. No urine-test cups here--OUR OWN wee little bottles. $40 PER PERSON folks--an one hour flight in the US will cost you well over $100, will likely be late, you'll get no drink, your carry-on bag will be put in the belly of the plane because there will be no room in the cabin for you and the bag and you'll go deaf from cockpit noises.
I won't even start on the level of customer service received by representatives of airlines in Asia VS those in the States. One thing worth noting, I had a back coming back from Saigon that was 8 kilos overweight and I expected to pay my over-baggage fee. That's over 16 pounds folks--the lady at the check-in just simply put a heavy sticker on it and let it go by without making me pay. I was ever-so-thankful and shocked. I've been 16 OUNCES over in the US and had to shuffle things to make weight.
Air travel--just another thing on the laundry list of things that make Asia a better place than the US.