this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2026
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They may arrive at the same destination, but two passengers on the same flight can have strikingly different travel experiences.

One traveler breezes through a priority security lane and heads straight to an invite-only lounge for craft cocktails and a chef-prepared meal before boarding early. A flight attendant offering a glass of champagne and a warm hand towel welcomes the passenger to a spacious seat at the front of the plane.

The other traveler stands in a line at every step — security screening, a café selling $16 sandwiches, a crowded gate — then boards with one of the final groups, hoping there’s still room for a carry-on in the overhead bin before folding into a cramped middle seat. After the cabin lights dim, sleep comes in fragments, and a travel pillow does little to ease a stiff neck.

The contrasting journeys are no accident. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the largest U.S. airlines have pulled out all the stops to court premium passengers who are willing to pay for comfort, convenience and exclusivity. Budget-conscious travelers may notice a widening gap between the back of the plane and up front as the carriers increasingly build their businesses around selling first-class, business-class and premium-economy seats.

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[–] FishFace@piefed.social 1 points 25 minutes ago

Wait, companies make more money off high paying customers?! Who knew?!?!

[–] mlg@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

bs

They all cut costed everything by following Spirit's model without reducing the ticket fare. They're maximizing profit on their lowest paying passengers by making everything a pay to win add on.

The focus on first class is still in place because it rakes in the most money, but they've been juicing economy as much as they possibly can.

Current US first class is what high quality economy was 30+ years ago. I wouldn't pay a dollar extra for that crap.

Now that Spirit is dead, they all collectively raised the ticket fare floor because corporate collusion is America's favorite passtime.

The high traffic route from DTW-ATL magically doubled in price to the same amount, despite both Frontier and Delta servicing the same route, which are suppossed to be two completely differently marketed airlines.

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 60 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

K-shaped economy go brrrrr

[–] yenahmik@lemmy.world 6 points 6 hours ago

Yep. This is not limited to travel, but everything in the service industry.

[–] CrimsonMishaps@lemmy.world 28 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Came here to use the letter K too. Travel, vacations, all the leisure things are picking towards those left with enough money to pay for it. It’s expensive being poor.

[–] newthrowaway20@lemmy.world 13 points 9 hours ago

The real wake up call will be to the invisible middle arm of the E in this K thinking they're on the top but actually sliding down.

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 26 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

The many poor get poorer as the few rich get richer.

It can't go on forever, something will break eventually, and it won't be pretty.

[–] lemmyng@lemmy.world 9 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

The rich better do something about it or hope it won't be their skulls breaking then.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 13 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

They are doing something about it: they're building bunkers, killbots, and a totalitarian panopticon.

The question is, what are we doing to defend ourselves?

[–] slickgoat@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

The fantasy about the bunker bros is that they think that they will escape the doom.

They won't, of course. They may buy themselves a fortnight or so, but not much more. Their air purification system, or something critical, will go on the blink and the guy who knows how to fix it will be already dead.

[–] grue@lemmy.world 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I mean, "bunker" gets the idea across, but it's kinda underselling it. Ellison and Zuckerberg own nearly the entire island of Kauai, HI between them -- the whole island is the bunker, with a 72-mile-wide moat between it and most of Hawaii's population.

[–] slickgoat@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

Sure, but I still think that they will go down the drain with the rest of us.

England being an island, and having armies and a navy didn't deter the Vikings. And, in the scenario we are talking about, there will be Vikings.

[–] OldQWERTYbastard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Pilot here. Non-commercial, but the first class and business class passengers are where the airlines make their money. The rest of us in steerage can go get fucked.

Go look it up.

[–] teslekova@sh.itjust.works 7 points 8 hours ago

Whales. Just like in online gaming.

[–] ThatGuy46475@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Well if a passenger is going to buy the cheapest ticket they can find there’s only one way to win them over.

[–] teslekova@sh.itjust.works 7 points 8 hours ago (1 children)
[–] ACbHrhMJ@lemmy.world 14 points 8 hours ago

Not right now, but thanks