I found this article in the New Yorker which explains a lot about air travel today:
http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/airlines-want-you-to-suffer?intcid=mod-most-popular
In summary, it seems the airlines are making so much money from fees for extras (like baggage) that they feel the need to make basic service so terrible that customers will want to pay the fees. It's worked a bit for me. I will pay for at least one checked bag, early boarding, and the coach upgrade, if available (ie. United's "Economy Plus.") However, the whole situation sucks, and I'm not sure what we travelers can do, except maybe, refuse to travel by air. (Which I tend to do, I'll take Amtrak on up to overnight trips and drive up to 11 hours rather than deal the flying.)
I could see a justification for regulatory action in some cases: Crowded seating and people futzing with excessive carry-on luggage might be considered a safety issue. The only other alternative I can see is to actually do what they want us to do, at least in terms of paying the extra to book Economy plus or even business class to the point that they've got unsold seats in coach. Then, to fill the empty coach seats, they might start offering some extras (like free checked baggage).
I hate to say this, but if this is so successful for the airlines, maybe Amtrak should do the same. Basic fare is Amfleet I coach, if you want Amfleet 2 room, it will cost you more, fees for checked baggage, etc. Certainly one thing they could do for the long-distance trains is offer coach passengers the opportunity to make diner reservations when they book their ticket, whcih might increase diner revenue. Heck, they could even let people order off the menu when the book their ticket, it would make stocking the diners less of a crap shoot.
http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/airlines-want-you-to-suffer?intcid=mod-most-popular
In summary, it seems the airlines are making so much money from fees for extras (like baggage) that they feel the need to make basic service so terrible that customers will want to pay the fees. It's worked a bit for me. I will pay for at least one checked bag, early boarding, and the coach upgrade, if available (ie. United's "Economy Plus.") However, the whole situation sucks, and I'm not sure what we travelers can do, except maybe, refuse to travel by air. (Which I tend to do, I'll take Amtrak on up to overnight trips and drive up to 11 hours rather than deal the flying.)
I could see a justification for regulatory action in some cases: Crowded seating and people futzing with excessive carry-on luggage might be considered a safety issue. The only other alternative I can see is to actually do what they want us to do, at least in terms of paying the extra to book Economy plus or even business class to the point that they've got unsold seats in coach. Then, to fill the empty coach seats, they might start offering some extras (like free checked baggage).
I hate to say this, but if this is so successful for the airlines, maybe Amtrak should do the same. Basic fare is Amfleet I coach, if you want Amfleet 2 room, it will cost you more, fees for checked baggage, etc. Certainly one thing they could do for the long-distance trains is offer coach passengers the opportunity to make diner reservations when they book their ticket, whcih might increase diner revenue. Heck, they could even let people order off the menu when the book their ticket, it would make stocking the diners less of a crap shoot.