This week, airline pioneer David Neeleman introduced Breeze Airways, a new airline that will begin flying in the United States later this year. He dubbed it “world’s nicest airline” but offered few details how it would achieve that title. Here are my suggestions.
No Change Fees
Southwest claims it makes more money by not charging change fees than by charging them, because passengers make more changes, usually to higher-priced, last-minute fares. I have not seen empirical evidence to back that up, but it makes sense in theory.
Breeze Airways should also have no change fees. Let’s say someone buys a cheap tickets months in advance and later needs a change. Paper tickets no longer have to be re-issued. It’s now a painless process online. Just charge people the new price for the ticket and relegate change fees to the dust bin.
Generous Legroom + Well-Padded Seats
How about giving us all at least 32 inches of seat pitch? Since you project you can break even on 50% loads, why not get a little more creative and offer an onboard seat that is actually comfortable. In addition to legroom, don’t use those horrible Recaro slimline seats. Instead, use a nicely padded seat that doesn’t leave your tailbone sore after a two hour flight.
Real Glasses
The thing I love most about Porter, the Canadian airline, is that every passenger is served a drink in a real glass. I know that’s such a minor thing, but it is a more dignified onboard experience and a small touch that shows that economy class customers are valued.
Breeze Airways could market this as protecting the environment by not using wasteful paper or plastic cups.
Premium Cabins With MINT-like Service
The best domestic flight I’ve ever taken remains a JetBlue A321 flight in MINT class from New York to Los Angeles. Breeze Airways plans a premium cabin and should seriously considering mimicking what JetBlue offers. Genuinely kind, warm, and compassionate service plus excellent food and bedding makes for such a nice onboard experience.
> Read More: JetBlue A321 Mint New York To Los Angeles Review
Lightening Fast Wi-Fi Provisioned For Everyone
AA is out with a new ad about wi-fi that is far too long, but makes an important point:
I also don’t want to travel on an airline without wi-fi. JetBlue already offers free wi-fi plus a paid high speed option. But if Breeze Airways wants to be “world’s nicest airline” it should offer complimentary high speed internet with sufficient bandwidth for everyone onboard to connect.
Streaming IFE + Tablets for Rent
Neeleman already suggested that there would be streaming IFE instead of seat-back TVs. Ok, we can work with that. Although people love seat-back screens and I’d recommend “world’s nicest airline” offer them, there is another solution. For those who do not bring along their own phones, laptops, or tablets, Breeze should offer tablets for rent onboard. And of course the library should be comprehensives and the internet sufficient for someone to log in and watch Netflix or Amazon shows online. Finally, don’t forget power plugs for every passenger with USB C!
Oversized Lavatories
We’ve seen shrinking lavatories, especially on the 737 MAX, that are so small you can hardly squeeze in. This needs to change if Breeze wants to be “world’s nicest airline”. Give us a little space, please. I’m not asking for the shower suite on Emirates, but maybe just a little elbow room?
Frequent Flyer Program That Makes Sense
I’m not asking for cheap redemption options on Singapore Suites and Air France First Class, but don’t offer a revenue-based program. Incentivize travelers on the margin who have discretion over which carrier to choose. Partner with Azul and offer reasonably-priced redemptions that actually encourage more travel, not less.
A Signature Touch
JetBlue’s signature touch is the Terra blue chips. Breeze Airways should offer its own signature touch, like a hot baked cookie for everyone (I know Midwest Airlines once did that). Think about it. Offer a hot cookie on every flight, no matter how short, no matter how long, no matter the time of day and watch the smiling faces. Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh baked cookies?
CONCLUSION
I realize that I may be dreaming, but these are my suggestion for Breeze Airways if it really aspires to be the “world’s nicest airline”. And you know something? I don’t think anything above is so far-fetched that it could not be implemented.
What do you think “world’s nicest airline” should include?
You may say, I’m a dreamer…
Regarding the comment on real glass vs plastic cups being more environmentally friendly. Curious to know whether that’s actually true considering the higher fuel burn due to the higher weight of glass VS plastic. But I might be wrong.
Don’t forget the water, energy and chemicals needed to clean them. Oh and glass tends to shatter into sharp little pieces when dropped, say during turbulence. An entire economy class cabin floor covered with glass shards? No thanks.
Reusable plastic would be lighter and less dangerous if you insist on something reusable, but in this case the benefits of using anything but disposable plastic are marginal, and very likely negative, both economically and environmentally.
Well, I just prefer real glasses.
Fat people are environmentally less friendly. They emit more co2, consume more, weigh more.
Fat people you should be ashamed.
I have said this before. Passengers should be placed in medically induced coma. Or just forced to sleep with a sleeping pill. Instead of seats you can have bunk beds. No need for catering. Everyone just sleeps for 12 hours. Make the planes even slower. They should be bloody energy efficient instead of faster. Maybe even giant planes with solar sails that take a long time. Only billionaires get to fly fast planes but the government should tax them 10 million for each flight.
Thank you, Greta.
What does weight have to do with any of this? I’m sure you’re a real porker sitting behind your computer screen in your basement, you Incel.
We should have a combined weight limit person+luggage on airlines. Not just luggage. Why are fat people getting subsidized at the expense of normal people? They should pay more for their tickets
Being incel, what is your hot, open minded sister doing this weekend?
If they do offer a revenue-based FF program, and if they charge fees (change, baggage, tablet rental, etc.), how about giving us miles for those expenditures, just as with our fares?
A good list overall, although I’d argue pretty vociferously that 32” seat pitch is nowhere near generous.
@Matthew – lightning vs lightening. 😉
Your wishlist seems pretty doable. As you mentioned, WiFi, seats with decent legroom, IFE, premium cabin, and a signature element are all things that B6 has. Having said that, I have to wonder how Breeze will be profitable if they’re “giving” away a bunch of stuff.
I agree with @WR2 that glass is just unrealistic and reusable plastic dishware is more likely *if* they choose to avoid the disposable stuff.
As for change fees, if they offered a tiered system based on days before departure, I could live with that. Or, if they have a basic economy (blegh) fare, making those changeable/cancellable with high(er) fees would be a huge improvement over the current “use it or lose it” system.
Most of what you mentioned would be money-losers and wont fly/
If airlines in the US feel such pressure to all race to the bottom to offer saver fares, what’s the likelihood that they will be rewarded for spending extra on such amenities? I doubt it’s possible in this country and market. Maybe somewhere else.
Debit
What a boon for you if fares would be based on IQ.
Wouldn’t it be easier to just bring back Midwest Express?
SO_CAL_RETAIL_SLUT
Just copy the hospitality of JAL, ANA, SQ and so on. Or better, combine and elevated them!
And don’t ever expect tips or gratuity from the passengers.
Hmm…. Maybe the suggestion is very alien to all who read…
As someone whose been around for a while, I remember the golden era of flight I knew couldn’t last: the 1990’s. Cheap fares, excellent frequent flier programs, meals on most flights. Bot airlines went out of business left and right and consolidation occurred. After consumer choices dwindled, the backlash happened and we have today: profitable airlines with shrinking default amenities.
Although the name is controversial here, there were billionaires who started their own airlines back then. They failed. Getting into the airline business, the joke went, was a great way to waste money.
So… after a few decades, perhaps it’s time that someone should say: “Well, since airlines seem to be so profitable, why not jump in?” It’s not for the weak of heart. It requires several millions of dollars to get started. But it also will shake things up.
I’d be happy to go to a secondary airport to escape Spirit and American Airlines. Anytime.
Sometimes, the free market works.
Just get some real competition in the US market and follow through. For domestic flights you may not have a lot of choice at this moment, but for international flights you have plenty of choice and don’t need to fly with less than mediocre airlines like AA.
The real problem here is that Americans tend to fly on US airlines and that takes the stimulus to improve away.
You guys should book any international trip you make on non-US airlines so that the US planes are leaving the US half empty, assuming most foreigners will be smart enough to keep away from the US airlines.
Voting with your feet will get the message across. Plenty of much better alternatives to Asia, Middle East, Europe and Africa.
When I am in LHR or FRA or NRT I am amazed by the # of US planes and I always wonder why people would be flying them.
Please, lets hope they combine the service of JetBlue, the cabin design of Delta, but with nice, plush, lazy-boy recliners.
And caviar, scallops, steak, and lobster options on every flight for those who want it.