How air travel changed over the last thirty years for travellers
Looking back at just how far we have come over the past 30 years, many changes have occurred…including the good, the bad and the ugly.
The Good
Today, air travel is cheaper, open to more people and we’re flying more often; it's safer than ever before - In times gone by, passengers could visit the cockpit and sometimes sit up front for take-off or landing. Not anymore…and for good reason following the attacks of 9/11. (2017 has been reported as the safest year for air travel to date). New aircraft technologies, cleaner fuels and renewal of the fleet over time mean shorter journey times, less fuel burn and huge progress in noise reduction. Rewind 30 years and your airport experience would be very different. Tickets were written out by hand and you'd be greeted by an actual person at the check-in desk. Today, on can check-in online before reaching the airport, leave one’s bag at a self-service bag drop, pass through an automated passport control gate and store your ticket on your smartphone.
We now have a greater choice of carriers, more ergonomically designed seats, and the advent of premium economy as the class of choice for passengers on long-haul flights looking to escape the squeeze of economy class without the high cost of a business-class fare. On the other side of the spectrum, for those of us willing to sacrifice comfort in pursuit of cheaper airfare, there are the low cost carriers (LCC. Non-stop flights with no intermediate stops, even for a long haul journey, are now available. Unlike in the past, with little time spent at the carousel to collect one’s baggage making a quick getaway from the airport upon disembarking, is now not uncommon. Airlines are good at some things but chronically bad at others.
The bad
In today's economy class, most airlines will provide an itchy blanket and a thinny flat pillow during long-haul flights. But in the not so distant past, passengers would receive a plethora of complimentary comforts, from plush cushions, blankets, toiletries, pens, pack of playing cards to toys for children. Most of today's passengers dress for comfort – slouchy jumpers and hardly washed jeans. But people used to dress to impress – men would sport a suit and tie and women their finest frock. It wasn't unheard of for passengers to be turned away if they were deemed underdressed. Very recently, a family of three was offloaded from a domestic flight in the US due to complaints from fellow passengers of unbearable ‘body odour’. Nowadays, you'll usually be squeezed in elbow to elbow with the person next to you. It wasn't always like this. Aisles used to be wider, there was more leg room and no overhead storage meant the ceiling felt higher too.
The advisory from almost every airline to arrive at least two hours before your flight hasn’t changed. Two hours is based on the earlier procedures involving showing passport and flight ticket to enter the airport, check-in, migration control, boarding pass control, arrival at your boarding gate and finally boarding. What’s changed is the lengthy security process: earlier passenger screening was barely conducted. As a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, airport security has heightened drastically. It leaves most travelers dreading the once enjoyable airport experience. Long lines, intrusive officers, and grumpy flyers make the airport security checkpoint where all passengers are subject to inspection and forbidden items discarded, a less than desirable aspect of air travel.
The ugly
Passengers are stressed out even before the plane takes off. As everyone dashes to get to their seats after a delay in boarding due to a so called ‘technical issue with the aircraft, the battle of the overhead bins begins. You then discover that because the airline put in more seats to increase profitability, seat size and leg room has got smaller. It can get worse, when just before it is time to take off, the plane starts to taxi back with the pilot muttering something about ‘a discrepancy with the paperwork’. When the plane does take off your neighbour hogs the armrest or the seat in front swings back as soon as the "fasten seatbelts" sign goes off. Joining in is the person seated behind who kind of knees you on the spine.
A recent study by an aviation expert put customers at number seven in the hierarchy of airline needs. After safety; efficiency; appeasing governmental interference; fuel, employees; capital – came the customer at number seven, followed by airports, other suppliers and finally travel agents.
With consistent mistreatment of passengers, clearly, there is a need for significant improvement.
Ilzaf Keefahs – writes on hospitality related matters that he is passionate about, and likes to share his views with hoteliers and customers alike.
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