Airlines cap prices for Hurricane Irma evacuees

[Rhiannon12866]

Big airlines are slashing prices to help people flee Florida before Hurricane Irma hits.

JetBlue (JBLU) said Wednesday it's "offering any remaining seats in select markets" at reduced fares of between $99 and $159, including taxes.

American Airlines (AAL), which has a major hub in Miami, said it has capped the price of main cabin seats on single leg flights at $99.

Delta (DAL) announced it won't charge more than $399 for tickets on all flights to and from southern Florida and the Caribbean. That price cap will apply to all seats, including first class.

American said Wednesday that most of the flights out of the area were now sold out, but the company was working to add more. Delta said it had seats available, but it doesn't fly to many locations out of southern Florida.

All three companies say their price caps will be in effect through September 13.


More: http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/06/news/companies/jetblue-hurricane-flights/index.html

[DFW]

1. It sounds like......

A few people at the airlines' PR desks took note of what happens to the stock of companies that overcharge for drinking water during catastrophes. Smart move. The free market isn't a total bust after all.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I was surprised, especially after all the negative stories we've read lately

But it sounds like they're really trying to do the right thing - maybe to redeem themselves, or maybe because everybody seems to be trying to do what they can to help out. And it's going to go a long way to give positive PR, a definite win for everybody.

[DFW]

3. Even if it was cold calculation on the airlines' part

If that calculation told them they were better off acting like this than like cold cash-hungry mercenaries, then it is a positive sign. Any time a huge corporation comes to the conclusion that it is good business not to act like heartless assholes, then they have come to the right conclusion. "There, but for the grace of God, go I," as the saying goes.

Good thing Martin Shkreli isn't president of American Airlines, that's for sure!

[Rhiannon12866]

5. I completely agree, it's a chance to create a lot of goodwill - and that's a good business decision

Wherever you go right now, businesses are getting on board to do what they can to help. When I used the self checkout at the store today, I was asked if I wanted to donate to hurricane relief. Even the major TV networks are donating time to a mini telethon. Stephen Colbert mentioned it the other night - and both he and Trevor Noah - and I know I've seen others - have suggested places to donate. The network(s) telethon is next Tuesday:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-harvey-telethon-relief-hand-in-hand-cbs-12-september/

[DFW]

7. My outfit in Dallas is involved, too

They took up a collection for Houston. It made sense, as many of our people there have family and friends down there who either fled to Dallas or are toughing it out. Our people in Dallas are making sure all donations go to help out real people. It's overtime no one regrets. A few misplaced tornadoes, and then it's Dallas looking for help.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. That's just terrific!

And after all the political insanity and bitterness, it's a way for people to come together - something we desperately need right now.

[DFW]

9. We're something like 80% Democrats anyway, maybe more

I personally know exactly 6 out of our approximately 450 people who are Republicans. I'm sure there must be a few more, but not many. We are probably a third (or more) Latino, plus black, Asian, gay and immigrant other (European, non-Hispanic American, etc.), so when something happens somewhere--ANYwhere--chances are it will affect somebody in our little outfit.

As others have pointed out many times, Dallas isn't exactly representative of most of Texas.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. I don't know a soul who supports Trump

I may be in New York, but the Northeast - where I am - is traditionally Republican. But people are talking about what's going on - it comes up all the time with people and situations where it never did before. Once people know I follow politics, I'm constantly getting an earful. It's gotten that bad that people are noticing - and that would be a good thing - but the reason is horrible.

We're lucky to have good senators - and Kirsten Gillibrand used to be my congresswoman. But we now have one of the worst - a Ryan acolyte who has supported Trump most of the time. However, people are taking notice and there have been numerous protests - especially since she has been avoiding constituents, wasn't even publicizing her schedule until after the fact to avoid the protesters.

We had a Democrat step up for 2018 soon after the last election - and now there are a good half dozen who have declared - and this is in an area that for years didn't even bother to field a Democratic candidate - until Kirsten Gillibrand ran in 2006. What I'd like to know is where all these angry people were last November.

[DFW]

13. The newspaper my dad worked for was in Republican upstate NY

I remember, at the tender age of 17, putting a Republican Congressman from near Watertown, NY, at ease a few years after Franco died (I had just come home from living in Spain). He was all concerned that the Communist Party was now legal again in Spain, and might gain traction. I told him I had just lived there, and spoke two of the main languages spoken in Spain. I told him that the PCE was a passing fetish, and it would fade into obscurity UNLESS we made a big stink about it. To his credit, he did listen, and he indeed made no stink about it. Sure enough, the PCE faded into obscurity.

The Republican areas of New York State are notorious for some of their right wing extremism, as I recall. My dad used to often have contact with a Republican Congressman named Jerry Solomon, who was sort of a Steve King of the northeast. Although he knew my dad to be a "libbrul," he nevertheless cited him in the Congressional Record as being fair in his reporting (Sen. Moynihan did the same in the Senate). Via my dad, I knew plenty of New York Republicans. Some were nut cases like Al D'Amato, and some were genuinely nice guys (Javits, Rockefeller). But I'd prefer their company to some of the nut cases we have in Texas, like Louie Gohmert and Greg Abbott, or slime balls like Ted Cruz.

[Rhiannon12866]

14. Small world, Jerry Solomon used to be my congressman - and was also a friend of my Dad's!

Of course, my Dad did a lot of civic work and had friends from both parties. He worked with Governor Rockefeller on promoting tourism when he was president of the local Chamber of Commerce. And Rockefeller is seen as having been one of the decent ones - a liberal Republican back when those still existed.

I still remember being mortified when Jay Leno showed a clip of Solomon, practically frothing at the mouth, arguing with Patrick Kennedy on gun control. He said his wife needed to be armed for protection when he was away in Washington. I remember his proper wife and I can't see her handling a gun - and I know where he lived and it's the most upscale part of town, not exactly the wild west, LOL.

But it's very true - even Jerry Solomon and his successor John Sweeney - were decent on some issues. These days, to be a Republican seems to require being a RW extremist.

[dembotoz]

4. Also ensured full aircraft as they moved their expensive aircraft out of harms way

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Another good point!

If this one is destroying buildings, it's best to get everything - and everyone - out of harm's way.

[DFW]

10. Got that right

Anything with wings out in the open when winds like that hit is not likely to still be rightside-up (or in the same place) after 150 MPH winds roll through. That's close to take-off speed at full throttle.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. The weather is on now and they're comparing the American and European models for the storm

The European model predicts a stronger storm that hits further north - and they did mention South Carolina. The weather guy was asked which model was historically more accurate - and he immediately answered that it was the European one.