<p>Did you get a good deal Toledo?</p>
<p>As with the other airlines, the $39 fare to Minneapolis ended up being about $110 round-trip. My friend’s $9 fare ended up costing her around $50 round-trip. But both are good deals, in light of NWA’s usual $375 fare and that’s with a drive up to Detroit.</p>
<p>^^ sounds like RyanAir in Europe</p>
<p>Really…why can’t Skybus begin operating again??It was terrific.</p>
<p>Interestingly many of the issues in the Buffalo crash (pay, training, pilot lifestyle issues) were all things that Capt. Sullenberger chose to talk about in his congressional testimony back in February. He talked then about how low pay and lack of training were driving the best and the brightest out of the airline industry and said then that he thought it was only a matter of time until there were negative consequences to the current situation for pilots.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>Columbus is not the place to start a hub operation. This one has Newark to its advantage but many of the other bad cards dealt to startup airlines.</p>
<br>
<br>
<p>I’m not sure I think Toledo is any better (no offense to those who live in Toledo). I liked where Skybus flew and I liked the airline in general. I would have paid more for their tickets for the convenience of getting to the places they flew to. Skybus was in Columbus, but it was also in Greensboro…a great place.</p>
<p>I’ll give it, oh…18 months, max, before Jet America goes bankrupt. Skybus took 11 months, I don’t see them lasting much longer, especially when there’s already overcapacity.</p>
<p>Anyways, if it’s anything like Skybus, count me out. No legroom, no power port, and cabin crew hawking whatever crap they’re assigned to sell. Give me United’s p.s. product or jetBlue anyday.</p>
<p>I’ve seen this as South Bend is near me and we love NYC. My main concern was that on the South Bend to Newark flight, there is one flight each Thursday and one each Sunday. Do they have one plane? Do all connecting cities have two days a week that the plane is there? If there is a weather delay or mechanical issue, are you stuck?</p>
<p>As someone from Toledo, I can tell you that our airport has struggled the last several years. If you can get a flight out of here it can be WONDERFUL - SO easy to get in and out with parking etc. - however, I often find that many flights out of Toledo end up connecting in Detroit (an hour away) so what’s the point? - just drive the extra hour and often pay less. We have seen several airlines come in and go out fairly quickly here. We shall see!</p>
<p>Columbus puzzles me, too. abasket is right about airlines not making it out of Toledo, but these are direct flights, which may help. I can understand airline demand to Orlando and Newark, but I’m surprised Minneapolis is on their route. I didn’t think there were many of us here with reasons to go to Minneapolis. But, hey, my parents are happy.</p>
<p>I’m also surprised at the amount of attention that the low salaries for regional airline pilots have been getting. Regional airline pilots have been paid garbage for many, many years. You have to start somewhere, though. Major airlines aren’t really hiring now, but any openings they do have are filled by people with thousands of hours of pilot in command (PIC) time, mostly from regional carriers or from the military. Pilots coming out of certain flight schools can get jobs flying for regional carriers with as little as 500 overall flight hours, though. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, the training is good and pretty much every regional airline pilot is well-deserving of their position. Their low salary isn’t a risk; it is simply how the system works.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I think what everyone is saying here is that it is a risk. Because of their low salaries, they can’t afford to live in the areas that the airlines need them (basically their hubs, which tend to be in high-cost living areas). So they live where they can afford to pay rent/mortgage, etc., but it then requires a long commute to get to work. By the time they get to work, their day started hours and hours ago. And once they are done with work, it’s not like they have a 30-minute commute, and can be home and in bed, resting up for the next day.</p>
<p>Just to add… I don’t know of any other profession that pays so little, and has so many lives at stake in a given moment.</p>
<p>Skybus was wonderful – while it lasted. The planes were new, and had no more or less legroom than any other coach seat I’ve been on. Re: the crew selling stuff – big deal! </p>
<p>I read that Jet America’s founder is the same guy who started Skybus. Unfortunately, Jet America isn’t scheduled to fly out of any airports near us.</p>
<p>Just announced that flights have been delayed a month! Flights were supposed to begin in 2 weeks.</p>
<p>[toledoblade.com</a> --](<a href=“The Blade”>The Blade)</p>
<p>I bet there are a lot of disappointed people…!</p>
<p>Toledo, is your flight still on???</p>
<p>Our flight is Labor Day Weekend so I’m hoping it’s still on, but I guess you never know with these start-up airlines.</p>