Listen now (38 min) | Part of it is a downside of the Great Resignation: Airlines aren't just understaffed, they have especially green staff from check-in to management, and they're working their way up the learning curve.
The irony of this pod, is that I am listening to this from LAX on the second week in a row I will be stranded overnight in Seattle after delays will cause me to miss my connection.
This was a fun and useful podcast, but I want to add one caveat to your claim that air travel is worse in Europe than in the US. The EU has a law that airlines must compensate passengers for cancelled flights and delays of three hours or more. My sense is that the airlines don’t schedule flights as tightly, because they have a financial incentive to be on time. Obviously this is only an anecdote, but I’ve lived in Europe for almost a decade and (before Covid) used to take multiple trips per year, and I have only been on a couple of flights that were late (and then only half an hour or so). But even if your flight is messed up, at least you get some money out of it. https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/indexamp_en.htm
Very entertaining and informative, but by far the most elitist thing you’ve put on the podcast. I had no idea that there was an airline scheduling crunch because I’m a west coaster and I fly maybe three times a year.
I’m with Brian regarding United. Granted I too am 1K (for several years running), but my overall customer service experience is excellent. I weep for you, Josh, that you have had two-hour phone waits with Delta at platinum status. Sad!
The irony of this pod, is that I am listening to this from LAX on the second week in a row I will be stranded overnight in Seattle after delays will cause me to miss my connection.
This was a fun and useful podcast, but I want to add one caveat to your claim that air travel is worse in Europe than in the US. The EU has a law that airlines must compensate passengers for cancelled flights and delays of three hours or more. My sense is that the airlines don’t schedule flights as tightly, because they have a financial incentive to be on time. Obviously this is only an anecdote, but I’ve lived in Europe for almost a decade and (before Covid) used to take multiple trips per year, and I have only been on a couple of flights that were late (and then only half an hour or so). But even if your flight is messed up, at least you get some money out of it. https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/indexamp_en.htm
Very entertaining and informative, but by far the most elitist thing you’ve put on the podcast. I had no idea that there was an airline scheduling crunch because I’m a west coaster and I fly maybe three times a year.
Flying is a nightmare right now because airlines fucked up and sold way more seats than they can handle with current resources.
I’m with Brian regarding United. Granted I too am 1K (for several years running), but my overall customer service experience is excellent. I weep for you, Josh, that you have had two-hour phone waits with Delta at platinum status. Sad!