How to Keep Checked Bags From Getting Lost and Airline Executive Jailed

News and notes from around the interweb:

Former airline executive gets jail time for role in carrier’s collapse
British Airways premium economy: a single cereal bar for transatlantic breakfast what was that Alex Cruz was claiming about how BA will ‘always be a premium airline’?
Don’t want your baggage to get lost or damaged? Reader Paul H. passes along this suggestion:
The Economist: British Airways shot not be allowed to buy Flybe and acquire more slots at London Heathrow.
After the Japan Airlines pilot was caught preparing to fly before testing 10 times the legal limit for alcohol airline executives are being forced to take a pay cut. In Japan they have to take responsibility for failures within their area of responsibility. I’ve long called for bringing back the idea of shame to the U.S. airline industry.
Amtrak’s boarding process is dumb, but no one is in charge of fixing it at originating stations like Washington’s Union Station – where the gates inside the terminal can’t handle everyone queuing – passengers aren’t able to wait on the platform, they stampede for the train at the last minute.

In respect to the many flyers here who elect to use Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor, especially between Washington-New York, it’s good that you provided this story in THE WASHINGTON POST.

As a government bestowed monopoly in an industry (transportation) whose hallmark is competition, we will never be shocked re Amtrak’s lack of common sense towards executing customer experience. Indeed, the old joke how Amtrak emulates the best of the Third World is not so funny anymore.

Until Amtrak fixes its broken business model, I have advised travelers on the Acela Express to grab a Red Cap in order to have access to board the train before the hordes, particularly if they desire one of the limited tables in first class.

Oh yes, the boarding problems are not insurmountable, but of Amtrak’s making–just inquire of any person familiar with the how the railroads ran their trains prior to 1971. The difference is appalling:

1) Passengers were allowed to board at least 30 minutes before departure; not 5 minutes before scheduled departure..
2) Club Lounge and diner were open for business (i.e., “revenues”) upon boarding; not 90 minutes after tickets were “lifted.” And the club car was staffed with a trained-and equipped-bartender! Amazing in this age of Martinis, Manhattans, Old Fashions, etc, Amtrak offers none of these popular drinks. Instead, what’s acceptable is a pre-mixed canned Gin/Tonic with bits of grapefruit!
3) Indeed, some railroads acknowledged how their cuisine attracted folks desiring a great meal while the train was in the depot; or, those who would ride a short distance in order to achieve such a special railroad meal. Perhaps the Santa Fe’s “Super Chief” best exemplified this, with people dining on board between Chicago-Joliet; riding a commuter back to Chicago.
4) At the departing boarding gate was signage clearly indicating in detail the train’s consist by car number (e.g., Pullman, diner, lounge, coaches).
5) Many trains provided reserved seats, which also eliminated any mad rush through the gates for desired seats.

Amtrak is ripe for a Harvard Business School case study on the degradation of the customer experience. The best thing that can happen is for President Trump to accept NY’s Governor Cuomo recommendation and strip-out Amtrak’s control over the Gateway Project’s Hudson River tunnels. With that achieved, Amtrak should turnover its ownership of the Northeast Corridor to the USDOT, as it has proven how it cannot adequately manage ownership of the Corridor’s infrastructure.

Ideally, with the Corridor out of Amtrak’s monopolistic clutches, the USDOT will encourage meaningful competition, such as”open access” and/or franchises by all vetted private operators to serve the many different markets along the Corridor.

Comments

Rail Provocateur says:

December 2, 2018 at 6:28 pm

In respect to the many flyers here who elect to use Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor, especially between Washington-New York, it’s good that you provided this story in THE WASHINGTON POST.

As a government bestowed monopoly in an industry (transportation) whose hallmark is competition, we will never be shocked re Amtrak’s lack of common sense towards executing customer experience. Indeed, the old joke how Amtrak emulates the best of the Third World is not so funny anymore.

Until Amtrak fixes its broken business model, I have advised travelers on the Acela Express to grab a Red Cap in order to have access to board the train before the hordes, particularly if they desire one of the limited tables in first class.

Oh yes, the boarding problems are not insurmountable, but of Amtrak’s making–just inquire of any person familiar with the how the railroads ran their trains prior to 1971. The difference is appalling:

1) Passengers were allowed to board at least 30 minutes before departure; not 5 minutes before scheduled departure..
2) Club Lounge and diner were open for business (i.e., “revenues”) upon boarding; not 90 minutes after tickets were “lifted.” And the club car was staffed with a trained-and equipped-bartender! Amazing in this age of Martinis, Manhattans, Old Fashions, etc, Amtrak offers none of these popular drinks. Instead, what’s acceptable is a pre-mixed canned Gin/Tonic with bits of grapefruit!
3) Indeed, some railroads acknowledged how their cuisine attracted folks desiring a great meal while the train was in the depot; or, those who would ride a short distance in order to achieve such a special railroad meal. Perhaps the Santa Fe’s “Super Chief” best exemplified this, with people dining on board between Chicago-Joliet; riding a commuter back to Chicago.
4) At the departing boarding gate was signage clearly indicating in detail the train’s consist by car number (e.g., Pullman, diner, lounge, coaches).
5) Many trains provided reserved seats, which also eliminated any mad rush through the gates for desired seats.

Amtrak is ripe for a Harvard Business School case study on the degradation of the customer experience. The best thing that can happen is for President Trump to accept NY’s Governor Cuomo recommendation and strip-out Amtrak’s control over the Gateway Project’s Hudson River tunnels. With that achieved, Amtrak should turnover its ownership of the Northeast Corridor to the USDOT, as it has proven how it cannot adequately manage ownership of the Corridor’s infrastructure.

Ideally, with the Corridor out of Amtrak’s monopolistic clutches, the USDOT will encourage meaningful competition, such as”open access” and/or franchises by all vetted private operators to serve the many different markets along the Corridor.
Leef33 says:

December 3, 2018 at 5:12 am

@Gary, you forgot to include a story beating up AA or praising Delta.
As for BA, customers should remember to bring their own cereal bars, bagels, cream cheese, plastic knife, etc. Remember to sit in economy so you can sell what you don’t eat. PB&J could be a smashing success. At least, on SWA, they dont bait and switch on seat upgrades. Everyone gets the same anti-allergenic non-gmo, gluten free, food product.