Under the Sun: Accept higher prices, but not faulty planes

The head of US Airways dropped by The Inquirer while he was in town a couple of weeks back.

If only he had come this week, after I had spent 14 hours trying to fly from Chicago to Philadelphia. He would have gotten an earful from me.

Violent storms caused much of my flight delays; nothing the airlines can do about the weather. But three of my flights - two on American Airlines, one on US Airways - were either delayed or canceled because of announced equipment malfunctions.

I never learned what was wrong with the first plane that caused it to be late to Chicago. By the time it finally arrived, storms had closed Philadelphia's airport, and after two hours of delays that flight was canceled.

A ticket agent found an alternate route for me through Cincinnati, but then that plane couldn't leave Chicago because it had a computer glitch that would interfere with its navigation.

The pilot solved the problem by turning the plane's electricity off, forcing an automatic reboot - just as you would with your PC at home. Oh yeah, I felt real safe at 30,000 feet after that.

Once there, I had a bite to eat in a cozy restaurant in the Cincinnati airport then headed to the next plane, only to find out the gremlins had been at work again.

This plane had a brake-indicator-light problem. That is, the indicator light said the plane's brakes weren't working. I'm glad the pilot took the light's word for it.

As a result, though, we 35 passengers were stuck for five more hours. The TSA officers did allow us to leave the gate area to get to the airport's vending machines. But then they wouldn't let us bring our sodas back into the secure area.

Perfectly understandable, of course. Any one of us might have hatched a terrorist plot involving a carbonated liquid within the 10 minutes we were out of sight.

It was 1 a.m. before a replacement plane finally boarded us for Philadelphia. It was smooth sailing all the way after that. But I couldn't keep my eyes closed, instead wondering how good were this plane's brakes - or anyway its indicator lights.

Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to my next in-flight experience, which is already scheduled.

Like you, I've heard over and over that statistic about flying being much safer than driving. And I believe it. Still, driving becomes a much more attractive option after three of the four planes you paid to have a seat on suffer malfunctions.

With airline tickets getting ever more expensive, reflecting higher fuel costs, many Americans are looking for alternatives to flying. Weather delays and equipment malfunctions give them even greater incentive.

US Airways CEO Doug Parker knows the industry is going through a rough patch that will cost it passengers, especially with his airline and others reducing flights to save fuel. He's optimistic that his company's cash reserves will help it survive.

The airlines are also cutting jobs to deal with the current economy. I can remember the good old days when extra ticket agents were sent scurrying to a gate to help passengers whenever a flight was canceled.

Not any more.

The other day in Chicago, we were advised to use our cell phones or notebook computers if we didn't want to stand in a long line for hours to get help from the lone agent at our gate.

I had to almost beg an agent at another counter whose flight had just left to help me. She's the one that booked me to Cincinnati. What a favor that was.

Actually it was. I got home, safely. I didn't have to spend another night in a hotel. I will fly again.

But, really, all of these equipment malfunctions need to be reduced. I do mind paying higher prices for a plane ticket, but even that's bearable if you can expect to get to your destination safely and on time - unless the weather won't let you.