Peter is the winner of the Be My Guest Certificate from Hilton and Boardingarea.com.  Congratulations Peter, and be sure to let us now how you enjoyed your stay at Hilton!

This New York Times article caught my eye first thing this morning.  Entitled “Will Airlines and Passengers Call a Truce,” the article immediately led me to think what a sad state of affairs we are in when airlines and the customers they depend on are seen as being at war with each other!  But let’s face it, we customers depend on those airlines too.  Do you really want to take Amtrak from DC to California?  Didn’t think so.

I’ve repeatedly said that I am not opposed to the concept of unbundling as long as the service now being charged for can legitimately be considered an enhancement or “plus up” to the travel experience.  Unfortunately, many of the big airlines have taken this idea and run to the moon with it, leaving no opportunity to charge for something unturned.  The finance departments at our airlines have a very easy time counting the pennies they earn from every little service they charge for.  What they can’t do very well is account for business they are no longer getting because their former customers have moved on to Southwest, JetBlue, or some other airline where they feel like they are far less likely to get screwed by some random fee.

All that said, we need a healthy, vibrant, and profitable airline industry that supports itself, provides decent jobs, and fosters commerce and the movement of people and goods in a way that only the airlines can.  The industry has continuously sold product at prices which are less than the cost of providing it, and as a result, much of the traveling public has become accustomed to the idea of flying cheap.  As those same airlines have cut services or begun charging for others that were previously “free,” the perception among travelers that they are being fleeced by the industry has only grown…..even as airfares remain at historic lows.

I suppose that if I knew how to fix this, I’d be running an airline now.  But I think at a minimum, some rationalization in fares is bound to happen.  The $99 dollar west coast specials that seem so popular are going to have to go away.  The drastic draw downs in capacity at the big airlines are already having an impact in this regard I think.  As capacity comes down even more, I think fares at the low end will begin to come up.  On the flip side, the rates that the big airlines charge for walk up fares are enormous, hardly anyone will pay them, and even offering a price like $700 $887 dollars one-way from DC to Raleigh or $1312 dollars one-way from DC to Los Angeles only reinforces the perception that the big airlines are out to get us.  Fares need to be rationalized, and the spread from top to bottom should be narrowed.

Fare rationalization is a good start.  I’ll have more ideas on repairing the relationship between airlines and customers in future posts.  In the meantime, what are some of your ideas for improving air travel?  Comments are open.  Let’s hear what you have to say.

Comment # 565 owner Kristin has still not responded to my email advising that she has won the complimentary Be My Guest Certificate from Hilton Hotels and Boardingarea.com.  Since it is the weekend, I’ve decided to wait until tomorrow evening before moving on to the next random number.

Something suddenly came up, and I’m off to Atlanta this week.  Don’t leave until Wednesday at 6am, so who knows?  Maybe that upgrade will clear afterall.  Flying Delta and staying at the W Atlanta Midtown again.  If I keep this up, I’ll become a regular there.    You can read my most recent review of the hotel here.

Kristin, and comment # 565! This number was selected through random.org. Congratulations Kristin on winning the Be My Guest Certificate from Hilton Hotels, and Boardingarea.com. I’ve emailed you with the information I need. If I do not hear from you in 24 hours, I will move on to the next random number. Given that it’s the weekend, I’m going to allow a little more time before moving on to the next number.

Edited to add: As of 3:15PM eastern time, I have still not heard from the owner of comment #565, Kristin. Kristin, if you are out there, please reply to my email.

Edited to add: As of 7:45PM eastern time on 2/22, I have not heard from # 565. I’m moving on to the next number.

Thanks for 749 entries! I will announce the winner this evening!

There’s still time to comment to the blog and earn the opportunity to win a Hilton Be My Guest Certificate.  Click here, and post a comment.  The contest closes at noon today.

Frugal Travel Guy is one of my first blog reads everyday.  In this post, FTG reveals the results of a recent award search from Savannah (SAV) to Kauai (LIH).  Other airlines had better and cheaper availability than Delta SkyMiles.  I always feel like I need to say this:  I like flying Delta.  I think their inflight product and service is the best of the big domestic airlines.  SkyMiles on the other hand, leaves a bit to be desired on the redemption side.  SkyMiles aren’t impossible to use, but there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that they are the most difficult.  One suggestion I’d add to FTG’s comments.  Call Delta.  Their online award search/booking engine seems to have issues finding seats that might actually be there.  That’s not an “apologist” attitude, just a suggestion that might help you get the seats you want.

Lots of comments to enter the Hilton free night give away.  Thanks!  Keep those comments to the post coming.  We’ll announce the winner after the contest closes on Friday, 2/19, at noon.  Thanks again to Hilton Hotels and Boardingarea.com for the opportunity.

And don’t forget that there other chances to win at other Boardingarea.com blogs:

View From the Wing

Things In the Sky

One Mile at a Time

Just spotted this offer on Delta.com.  Earn double flown bonus miles.  Purchase and fly between February 8 and March 12, 2010.  As always, various terms and conditions apply, and registration is required.