Volaris

It turns out you can learn too much from experience. Or rather you can learn the wrong things.

My plan heading out to Vegas was to arrive 2 hours before the flight, rather than the three hours advised by the airline. Why? Because my previous three flights to Vegas had been less than half-full. So I expected a fast check-in, and then I'd have breakfast at the airport.

Well, the flight was packed, and I mean packed. There were perhaps two or three empty seats. So not only was there a long line for check-in, but I arrived near the tail end of it. I wound up documenting my luggage about twenty minutes before the flight was supposed to board. So no breakfast. But worse yet, I had to settle for a seat in the last row.

every other airline I've flown in in, BTW, allows you to chose seats at the time you book. Volaris is supposed to do this, but for some reason the function wasn't available online. I also couldn't get a boarding pass online, but couldn't do it.

Volaris is a low cost carrier that takes low cost seriously. This means service is skimpy and not very good. For the line they had, there were too few counters open. And for some reason lots of passengers were arguing with the agent that day. One counter, is wear, was taken up by one couple from the time I got there until after I'd checked in.

During flight they only serve snacks. This is ok for a 1-2 hour flight, but not for a 3.5 hour one. By snacks I mean cookies, cereal bars and small bags of munchies, plus juice, soda or coffee. I did take a look, and there is an equipped galley in the front, but not in the back. So maybe they can't handle anything more. But, seriously, on long flights they should at least serve a more substantial cold snack, like a sandwich, even if they charge separately for it. You can bring in your own food if you want, though.

Another thing, while they have audio channels and one video channel (on overhead screens) available, they don't hand out earphones. If you don't bring your own, you're out of luck. I had a pair and also my cheapo MP3 player, which is what I listened to during the flight anyway. Again, they should have earphones (or ear-buds) available even if they charge for them. In the old days airlines charged $2 for the lousy, air-powered "earphones," and collected them at the end of the flight.

Volaris packs the all-coach seats as tightly as the A-319/320 design allows. Leg room is just about non-existent, except in the wing emergency exit row. This is a stark contrast with Intejet, which boasts about the leg room in their flights. Interjet is also low cost, but with somewhat better service.

Finally, on the return to Mexico City the bags took a very long time appearing. I waited more than 30 minutes for mine to show up, and this was after going through the entry formalities in another long line (though that line moves rather swiftly)

So, to summarize, I spend over 75 minutes standing in line at the airport, then a long time at US immigration due to having a seat at the last row. It was one of the worst flights of my life... But next time I'll know what to do differently. Their prices make everything else worthwhile.

Volaris is "Southwest" in Spanish.

That is pretty much the standard in airline travel now. I typically fly United as their hub is at O'Hare and I live 20 minutes from there. They serve meals for a fee, they pay to check my bag. The airline industry absolutely infuriates me. I feel so nickeled and dimed. I personally would rather pay $40 more on the cost of the ticket than to be nickel and dimed. The airline industry no longer recognizes their payings customers as human beings, they treat them like cargo.

Quote: Gabes22

I typically fly United as their hub is at O'Hare and I live 20 minutes from there. They serve meals for a fee, they pay to check my bag.

I assume you mean they charge to check your bag.

Anyway, I don't mind paying a fee for a meal, if I know about it in advance, and if the airline allows you to bring food aboard.

Quote:

The airline industry absolutely infuriates me. I feel so nickeled and dimed. I personally would rather pay $40 more on the cost of the ticket than to be nickel and dimed.

Voalris used to do something similar, but regarding how much luggage is allowed, and what changes you can make to the ticket. No more, though. now the baggage allowed is 15 kilos, and you can purchase an allowance for 10 more for a fee. Considering I had 35 kilos with me, that's too little. Obviously they aim to save fuel by reducing baggage mass.

I wouldn't mind paying the fee for a meal if it was always that way. But when they start charging you for something that used to be included in the price of the ticket, that is where I get a bit peeved. It's not that they charge for the baggage fee, but the fact that they didn't before and now they do. Personally, I would rather have one transaction that covers ticket, baggage, meal and anything else (perhaps a pillow) than to have 3 or 4 separate transactions. I fully understand not giving people free booze on the plane.

Quote: Gabes22

Personally, I would rather have one transaction that covers ticket, baggage, meal and anything else (perhaps a pillow) than to have 3 or 4 separate transactions.

So would I. I liked Volaris better when they offered different prices according to how much luggage you carried, for instance. It was convenient when I had no bags at all, or only a carry-on.

Quote:

I fully understand not giving people free booze on the plane.

Oh, I forgot about that. Past noon, local time, Volaris does serve free booze. They had wine, tequila, vodka and beer.

They did not have pillows or blankets, not even for a fee.

I think most major American Airlines allow you 50 lbs. which if my math is correct would be about 22 kilos. 15 seems a bit light to me. Every time me and my wife fly to Vegas, we seem to have to switch luggage between bags as hers always runs into overweight issues because she insists on bringing 8 pairs of shoes with her.

> Past noon, local time, Volaris does serve free booze. They had wine, tequila, vodka and beer.
The flight attendant keeps control of the empties and therefore there is no cabin-cleaning time involved.

>They did not have pillows or blankets, not even for a fee.
Pillows and blankets have to stowed and stowed properly. This adds to turn-around time.

Low cost carriers have to cut somewhere.

............

I flew Spirit a couple of days ago on a 2.5 hour flight. They make you pay $3 for Soda or Water!

JetBlue on the way back tomorrow....free luggage check in, Directv, Snacks, Drinks....great deal!

Spirit makes you pay for everything.

Quote: Gabes22

Spirit makes you pay for everything.

Spirit made my wife pay for a small carry-on bag because the handles would not fit in their device that they use to determine if you should pay or not for carry-on bags. Their seats are severely cramped and do not recline. Spirit is the worst airline I have ever been on.

Never been on Volaris before so I can't fairly compare the two...

Quote: Gabes22

Spirit makes you pay for everything.

SOME members of the flying public will eventually pay for everything...

If the airline cuts corners on training or maintenance or whatever ... think of it as safety edge rather than house edge.

Every time you fly at a price that is too low for the airline to be making a fair profit, you are eroding safety.

Every time you fly a Regional you are often being flown by someone in a Burger Flipper environment even though he has a professional license. He is underpaid, on the brink of bankruptcy and utterly replaceable by his employer: do you expect him to admit he is too tired to fly?

Fortunately, we are not yet in the Air India situation where instead of PIC-time (Pilot In Command) they have BIC-time. (BIC is a popular brand of ball point pens used to make log entries). India is saddled with endemic corruption and some pilots being flown home from India will refuse tickets on Air India.

Its getting worse as far as counterfeit parts and maintenance inspections go. When profit margins erode, so do safety margins.

Quote: Gabes22

I think most major American Airlines allow you 50 lbs. which if my math is correct would be about 22 kilos.

About 22 and a half, using 0.453 lbs per kilo as a conversion factor.

Quote:

15 seems a bit light to me.

It is light, under 35 lbs. It might be ok for short trips. but for a week or more it's not.

Quote:

Every time me and my wife fly to Vegas, we seem to have to switch luggage between bags as hers always runs into overweight issues because she insists on bringing 8 pairs of shoes with her.

I made do wit only five pairs, two of which I bought in Vegas.

But I'm light when it comes to shoes, as yet. And I couldn't bring boots, either. Not in spring ;)