CHICAGO â Upon news of Spirit Airlines officially shutting down, Delta, United, and American Airlines reaffirmed their commitment to consistently raising their prices while making their customersâ flying experience increasingly awful, confirmed sources.
âFinally, Spiritâs closure has given us the opportunity to earn customersâ loyalty by being one of their only options,â stated Delta CEO Ed Bastian. âWeâre considering some new, innovative tiered pricing options â for example, in addition to paying for Wi-Fi, customers could have the opportunity to pay for a more qualified pilot. Thrifty customers who do not consider safety a priority can opt to pay a smaller fee for a pilot with less training, or perhaps one with a few violations on their record. Weâre also charging a $50 fee if the customer wants to avoid having a fellow passenger sit on their lap during the entirety of the flight.â
Customers are thrilled to rise above the riff-raff as they take to the skies while paying ever exorbitant prices for steadily more uncomfortable experiences.
âIâve already adapted to paying for a checked bag, carry-on, seat choice, food, drink, and in-flight headphones. Perhaps I could pay for selecting hot or cold air blowing from the air vents, and if I donât pay, it randomly selects for me,â said Loyal United MilagePlus customer Steven Muskcard. âAs a moderately successful businessman, I hope to have the pleasure of paying more for standing up, sitting down again, or using the bathroom, which of course will be slowly deteriorating in both amenities and cleanliness.â
Free market expert and economist Eldon Parker believes Spiritâs recent shutdown can only help customers pay more for fewer, more terrible options.
âNothing improves service like less competition and decreased regulation,â Parker noted. âAmerican Airlines has been tossing around the idea of charging extra for flight attendants to acknowledge your existence, and obviously the rate would go up during emergencies. Personally, Iâm thrilled to see what they come up with, although I wonât experience them directly because I only fly via private jet.â
At press time, Southwest Airlines revealed that theyâre considering charging customers for âstopped plane boardingâ where frugal travelers can simply jump aboard as the plane touches down momentarily on the tarmac.
