The airplanes are going to be busy this summer. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal today, few travelers seem intimidated by higher ticket prices and cut-backs. After all, flying is still cheaper than driving. The management at terminals has adapted to time-delaying security procedures, which means that even the longer lines don't clog up in such a nightmarish way. In fact, it looks like management of airflight in general has improved. As a matter of economy, the industry has had to cut back on total number of flights. The result: fewer planes are crowding the runways and fewer flights have to be delayed or cancelled. (Though we'll see what happens if the expected popularity of personal jets fills the runways back up again.)
Not that any of this is particularly satisfying to consumers. Fewer flights means more people are crammed into the coach section of airbuses, and cuts elsewhere have reduced what little luxury was left in planes. Ticket prices have doubled, in some cases, in reflection of pricey fuel and the lower availability of seats. In other words, travel if you have to--the hassles of flying aren't too bad, for now--but don't expect any great deals.
