Cheapflights: What inspired you to start the Cranky Flier, and how did you come up with the name?
Brett Snyder: I was actually pushed to start it by some friends, and they came up with the name as well. I was running the now-defunct travel site for PriceGrabber.com, and I had started seeding our discussion forums. My friends thought that some people might actually be interested in my random knowledge, so they encouraged me to start a blog. My nickname with one of them was “Cranky Pants,” so the Cranky Flier name was a natural.
CF: What do you see as some important air travel trends for the new year, both from a passenger’s standpoint, as well as from within the industry?
BS: Whoa, that’s a broad question. The biggest trends will be based upon the price of fuel and the demand for air travel. If demand remains strong and fuel doesn’t spike much higher, then the industry will likely see little growth at most. (American will likely shrink in bankruptcy.) But if demand takes a hit or fuel prices spike much higher, then we can look for more cuts, some could be severe. Smaller cities are going to continue to take a hit when it comes to service thanks to industry economics. For passengers, there’s hope that we’ll see improved ways for people to buy tickets so that fees can be understood in full before the ticket is purchased.
CF: There’s been a lot of negative press about air travel and its commoditization. Do you agree? Are there airlines that you think are changing this perception?
BS: There are different types of air travel. When it comes to domestic flying and really, coach flying in general, then yes, air travel has become more of a commodity. There are subtle differences, but the reality is that people buy tickets based on price and schedule so there is always a race to keep fares low while still remaining profitable. Some things that are currently differentiators, like Wi-Fi, will eventually become standards. I, however, wouldn’t say this is negative. People want cheap flights and they’re getting them.
For international premium travel, however, it’s a different story. Airlines have worked very hard to create a superior product that people will pay for. That market is anything but commoditized.
CF: You know a ton about loyalty programs, upgrades and privileges. What advice would you offer for the novice traveler?
BS: I’m not really a big loyalty program guy, actually. I consider myself mileage agnostic. I will always earn miles when I fly, but I’ll never decide who to fly based on the loyalty program. So that’s my advice to a novice traveler. Don’t get caught up in the loyalty programs unless you want to spend a lot of time trying to earn points. It can become all-consuming and I just don’t find it worthwhile. (It can be different for elite travelers, but we’re talking about novices here.)
CF: How has air travel changed since you started traveling (positives, negatives)?
BS: It’s cheaper and it’s safer. Those are the positives and they’re what matter the most. Service has declined in the back of the bus, but that’s to be expected when prices go down. I can always spring for the premium economy option if I’m willing to pay more to get more. Probably the biggest negative for me is security. I don’t feel much safer, but I find it far more cumbersome and time-consuming. That’s incredibly frustrating.
CF: What is an absolute must on your packing list?
BS: Well, I don’t pack much, so there isn’t really any absolute. I love my duffel bag that I use for travels because it fits in the overhead or under the seat. The flexibility is great, so it’s probably the bag itself that matters the most.
CF: What’s your routine before you fly?
BS: I don’t have much of a routine. Packing is the most difficult part of the pre-travel ritual, but after that, it’s just a matter of getting dressed and heading to the airport. I try to fly out of my home airport in Long Beach instead of LAX when I can because it takes a lot less time to get through. Makes it easier.
CF: Do you have a routine for staying healthy when you travel?
BS: No. I don’t do anything different.
CF: How do you discover local or off-the-beaten-path places?
BS: I ask people. I have a pretty sizable following on Twitter and of course on the blog. I’m also on an advisory board for a site called Trippy.com which I use. I just go out to my friends and followers to get suggestions.
Cheapflights is proud to have guest voices express their opinions. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheapflights Media (USA) Inc.
