tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4159906646513306121.post4887330204973972038..comments2023-11-19T20:38:50.237-08:00Comments on Economic Logic: Flying in Europe and North America, puzzling differencesEconomic Logicianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10171296292101248614noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4159906646513306121.post-2779654071214256992013-10-13T03:40:34.518-07:002013-10-13T03:40:34.518-07:00"Labor and fuel costs appear to be higher the..."Labor and fuel costs appear to be higher there, and I do not think European airlines are saving on their aircrafts as they are newer."<br /><br />Newer fleets are significantly cheaper to operate. That's part of the answer. Not all of it, but part.Tim Worstallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13161727860817121071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4159906646513306121.post-45281441135347732362013-10-12T19:45:57.721-07:002013-10-12T19:45:57.721-07:00In Asia, the services are even better and prices a...In Asia, the services are even better and prices are lower. In fact, I believe Asia does a lot better in most industries in the service sector than the US in terms of the quality/price ratio.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4159906646513306121.post-41828162713465716592013-10-12T11:53:21.510-07:002013-10-12T11:53:21.510-07:00I have also wondered why US airlines are always on...I have also wondered why US airlines are always on the verge of bankruptcy when their prices are higher and service and taxes are definitely lower.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4159906646513306121.post-67449333392019135622013-10-12T09:19:10.554-07:002013-10-12T09:19:10.554-07:00On the minor point of the airports being better co...On the minor point of the airports being better connected, this is just a specific case of public transport being better in much of western Europe than it is in the U.S. (at least in many cities, it's heavily subsidized).LemmusLemmushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00917054221547240969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4159906646513306121.post-13526076507372744512013-10-12T09:10:13.090-07:002013-10-12T09:10:13.090-07:00"The days of state subsidies for national air..."The days of state subsidies for national airlines are long gone in Europe, so that cannot be an explanation either."<br /><br />Sure.<br /><br />http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/10/us-alitalia-idUSBRE9990RX20131010<br /><br />That said, I agree that service is worse on U.S. airlines. But with prices, I don't agree at all.<br /><br />1) I don't care if I have to pay $6-$10 for a sandwich. If I don't want to buy it on the plane, I buy it at the airport. U.S. airports have plenty of cheap meal opportunities. European airport food is mostly ridiculously overpriced.<br /><br />2) The comment about how to get from the airport has nothing to do with airlines but rather with government investment into infrastructure and other types of regulation.<br /><br />3) Since flying is much more widespread in the U.S., many airports and the aging air traffic control is at capacity. But that is mostly also controlled by the government. The U.S., for instance, is only now starting to use GPS!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com