Critiquing the Airlines, From the Ground Up

Re “Cheap Fares, Bumpy Ride,” Commentary, March 9: Please, was Andres Martinez paid to write this commentary by the current administration or the airline lobby? If the current experience when flying anywhere in this country is an example of American ingenuity and strength, we have bigger problems.

Clearly the airline industry has never learned how to create and brand an experience. Shame on you, Mr. Martinez; the burden is on the airline industry to define the industry and create a constituency, not the other way around.

The flying public does stand in amazement, not about how jets fly, but how the level of service, attitude and experience is so different from other American service industries.

Kevin C. Motschall

Long Beach

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I enjoyed reading Martinez’s commentary on airlines. The fact of the matter is many airline passengers now pay more for parking their cars at the airport than they do for their airline tickets. Yet somehow they still feel entitled to free meals and all the amenities they can get. Pay Greyhound fares, you’ll get Greyhound service. That’s the new reality of the airline industry and what the market has driven us to.

I disagree with Martinez’s contention that the lack of foreign investment in airlines is part of the financial problem airlines are facing today. The U.S. airline industry is one of the last industries in this country that is still “all-American.” Allowing foreigners to put their hands in the cookie jar would only lead to outsourcing of more U.S. jobs and sending any future profits overseas.

Americans have the best airline transportation system in the world, with an unparalleled safety record. Why would we want to hand it over to foreigners?

Oh yes, that’s right, because it’s the American way.

Bill Carrigan

Hoffman Estates, Ill.