I dropped a family member off at Memphis International Airport tonight for a 6:30 flight. She reported there was ONE flight on the board, the place was empty, and none of the shops were open.
I knew of our bad situation there, but on a Saturday night???!!!! One flight?
Dang! How have we fallen so low? (Yeah, I know, I know)
I can't get out of my mind all the times I have come in from a trip or left on one in the 1970's, 1980's, and 1990's, with all the hustle and bustle and excitement and people watching. I hope Southwest helps a bit. Just really depressing, and a bummer when you are telling a family member good-bye, for you and them.
I see. Going to Atlanta or Charlotte, and several international flights. I am sure there were more during the evening, but geesh. And that huge, ugly, empty parking garage obscuring the view of our elegant airport.
That explains it, Chris. I am sure Saturday is not a big flight day, but you would think some people would be going home after a vacation so they would have an extra day to rest up before the workweek.
Yes, I can attest to the fact that when I let my daughter out of the car, there were absolutely no cars on the ramp and I felt like I could have parked there all night. No nazi parking police like there usually are. She wanted to grab a bite to eat before her flight, nothing open.
Just got back from a trip to California. My wife and I flew out of Little Rock for $495 total (combined). Flights from Memphis were almost double that.
I will say that the terrorists on 9-11 took a lot of the joy and fun out of airline travel. Remember walking off a plane to throngs of family and friends? All the signs of welcome home and the smiles and hugs. Plus, as we noticed on this past trip, most airports are built inside out for modern times. Everything is inside security, and you must have a boarding pass to get through security - so no more fairwell dinners at the airport, or grabbing drinks with a friend before they leave. Flying used to be fun, now its just a hassle.
(06-02-2013 09:06 AM)RationalRebel Wrote: There are only about 20 flights now on Saturday. 90 or so during the week. Folks don't travel on Saturday.
Not sure how anybody avoids Saturday travel because of the expnnse. Not like this is new. Regardless of airline.
Who actually travels on a Saturday?
Leisure travelers who have to be at work on Monday? And my 20-something kids would all probably drive to LR and back to save $300, although I probably wouldn't. Heck, my daughter and her hubby drove to Nashville to fly to Florida!
Flights to Tampa from here are $500. I will definitely be looking at the new Southern Airways Express service to points south, even though I don't care for smaller planes, particularly. I am ready to be treated like a human once again, and I like the idea of "retro" flying they are promoting. Yep, flying is no longer fun or glamorous in the least.
(06-02-2013 04:26 PM)ojerry Wrote: I just got back from dropping off daughter at Little Rock airport. Flight to Charlotte from Memphis $500. From LR $175. No wonder Memphis AP empty!
Nearly 3 times the price.
As that old furniture dude says; It's worth the drive.
(06-02-2013 06:41 PM)k2tigers Wrote: ironically, there was an article today from the AJC detailing how Memphis' clout as a "Hub" has taken a drastic downward turn.
I'd link it, but it was in my Arky Gazzette paper and they require a subscription. This whole deal is a shame, really.
That's just Atlanta taunting and gloating. I don't know the tone, but I would guess it's passive aggresssive glee. Publicizing the negative about a competitor (and to the extent that they benefitted from our losses, and lured Memphis companies, indeed you better believe they perceive us as a competitor).
It is a shame that it takes so long for leaders to get the support from the populace to make progress; in so many communities, the populace fears change and prefers complaints as long as the status quo is preserved. I am witnessing it firsthand here in Tucson. Tragic, not having the cutthroat leadership necessary to realize one's potential.
But, the bright side is we are still far better off than we were five years ago, when our leadership was far more dysfunctional and not collaborative. We are turning this ship around, but we cannot be complacent. Atlanta is not going to give their businesses to us. No city is. We have to take it. We have to build it. We have to create it.
/
Airport empty ~ sad
