I would gladly pay double the price to fly if my blood pressure didn't go up 20 points at the mere thought of drivng towards an airport. Admittedly the airlines control only a portion of the bp-raising issues but those they do control (overcrowding, excessive scheduling, pricing games, generally poor customer expeirence) would help and those the don't control (shoes, bloodthirsty TSA, liquids, general security theatre bs) they could at least influence ie) lobby controlling agencies for sane rules.
Actually I'd venture to say that you control all of them, or you could through the democratic process.
Eclipse278's easy guide to stress-free airline travel (Some assembly required):
I'll start off with the old fashioned
1.) You get what you pay for
98% of people see all the airlines as equals and goto expedia.com and book the cheapest flight. This forces all airlines to lower prices so that they show up first on those sites. Yay capitalism, right!?
Well to make a profit on the flight, the airline has to sell more tickets and fill the plane, making overcrowding? Maybe you mean overselling the flight? Airlines have to do this because there are always people who don't show up. An empty seat on an airplane costs money which can never be made up. Again, if you paid more for a ticket they wouldn't have as much pressure to sell the seat and you'd be guaranteed a spot.
As far as schedules (and i assume the problem is missing connections). The market demanded more frequent flights, so the market got more frequent flights on smaller jets. Empty 747's don't make money. With more flights mean more missed connections. If you want fewer missed connections, lobby for less choice of departure time on bigger jets. Of course this means you'll have to wake up earlier for that early morning flight or spend 2 days traveling because there aren't enough planes going to your destination, which kinda leads into my next point.
Next point is
2.) Show up early!
Many many delays with airlines can be attributed to passengers, especially late passengers. When you check baggage it embarks on quite a journey to get to your plane. This takes time and sometimes it doesn't make it on the flight. By giving yourself more time it allows airport operations to go smoother and you won't be in a rush and in a bad mood for security. Then you won't have to vent a bad mood on the poor gate agents who have to listen to people mouth off all day every day.
It also makes me wonder why people think airline pricing is so complex. It really isn't. No seat on the aircraft is really identical to another, so their worth is different. Most people like aisle seats for the leg room, then window seats, then the middle. Also the front of the airplane is quieter so those seats are worth more. Then comes the time at which you buy the ticket. If you buy your ticket the day before the flight and the airplane is almost full, it is worth more. Scarcity at its finest. So buy your tickets with plenty of time or just accept that last minute travel is expensive.
And third and final because I am tired of typing:
3.) You control the TSA!
That's right! It's your government! If you don't like it then
you write to your congressman. Get others who share your views to do the same! As a pilot, I've already written to my congressmen about the TSA and the only way to get anything done in america is through voting and economics (choosing where to spend your money, but Walmart is another topic...). So if you don't like taking off your shoes and separating liquids and being talked down to by the TSA then by god elect someone who will do something about it. But it'll cost money to develop technology that will keep you safe and comfortable....and that leads us right back to point #1....