[tiredofcareer]

For most customers, maybe, but I suspect there's a pretty sizable portion of the population (myself included) that will happily pay more for an airline that treats me extraordinarily well, considers my comfort while on board, and gives me reasons to shout their name down the street. For example, Virgin America is one of those airlines for me, and I will happily pay a premium to fly one of their tragically few routes (they're one of the few airlines I fly first on, as well). I blacklist Southwest entirely because of the complete disregard for my experience shown on the three miserable flights I've had with them. I don't think I fit in your business bucket, but that's a data point, at least.

In another industry where profit is the focus, domain registration, I'm absolutely dying for a $100-$200/year registrar that knows what they're doing and isn't awful to deal with. I will happily pay that premium since my hosting bill far outweighs my domain registration, and handling support tickets expediently and providing features I want are far more important than the bottom line to me. If an extra $10/year from all customers means I get IPv6 glue or a ticket answered inside of 72 hours, please, do it! (This is less relevant now, but was a concern for me in the past.) I'm willing to part cash to be treated better in almost all cases.

[olympus]

Sure, people would pay more to get better treatment but most people don't fly enough to know the difference. Ask a few people around which airlines give you the entire can of coke and which only give you half the can in a tiny plastic cup. Ask them which airlines give out free pretzels on medium length flights and which ones give out a menu where you have to pay for everything. Ask them how expensive the cheese sampler is off that menu and if they remembered to factor it into their cost of better treatment. Which airline has the widest seats? I actually don't know the answer to that. Thinnest stewards/stewardesses? I could care less about how attractive they are, but I like aisle seats and don't want fat stewardess butt in my face when they walk up and down the aisle. Are you going to be flying in a widebody jet or a tiny regional jet? You get the picture. There's lots of stuff to consider, and 1 inch less of legroom may not pop into people's minds (certainly not mine since I am always in an exit row. It's my mini-first class upgrade).

The fact of the matter is that most travelers aren't informed enough to know the difference between airlines except for the prices that show up on Priceline/Travelocity/Kayak/etc. I would like to see a feature chart on each airline and an estimated value to see if it was worth the extra money. I would pay extra to get updated intel like that before I book a flight.

[mehwoot]

For most customers, maybe, but I suspect there's a pretty sizable portion of the population

Yup, and for those two things you mention that you are willing to pay more for, there are probably 98 other things you aren't. Each person will have the things they are willing to pay more for, and most will be different, so for most services, 98% of people are going to choose the cheaper option.

Hence most companies won't give a shit, and almost everyone has moments where they wonder why there isn't an option to pay more for higher quality of X product.

[tiredofcareer]

I wouldn't be so sure. I pay a rent premium for a view.

[URSpider94]

Yes, but presumably you looked at the apartment first.

Unless airline search sites start listing seat pitch, amenities, seat recline, in-flight entertainment quality, etc. next to the ticket price when selecting a fare, it's hard to see how these factors would play into a purchase decision.

Even if the data were there, I'm wagering that the lions share of customers would keep $20 in their pocket at the cost of some minor discomfort.

[mseebach]

> Even if the data were there

Oh, but the data is there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21227287

[ericd]

Yeah, apartments aren't a commodity (they're pretty much the farthest from, given their absolute uniqueness in terms of location). Plane seats are, unfortunately.

[rdl]

For domain registration at the $100-200/yr range, just become a Tucows/OpenSRS reseller yourself. You get a lot of power to do things, minimal hassle, etc. I own maybe 200 domains (because I tend to get all variations of the ones I use) and it's totally worth it (and still only $7-8/domain/yr)

[tptacek]

That's interesting. I fly first on a bunch of random airlines but most often fly SWA. I've had very few unpleasant SWA experiences, and lots of excellent ones where they bent over backwards to make sure things worked out for me.

On the other hand, almost every other airline I've flown has been nothing but bad experiences: repeated last-moment cancellations, surly staff, lost luggage.

[michaelt]

  For most customers, maybe, but I suspect there's a pretty 
  sizable portion of the population (myself included) that 
  will happily pay more for an airline that treats me 
  extraordinarily well, considers my comfort while on board, 
  and gives me reasons to shout their name down the street.

I'm not an air travel expert, but as I understand it many airlines offer seats in classes such as 'economy', 'business class' and 'first class' with differing prices and comfort levels. Isn't there both demand and supply for higher comfort levels at higher prices?

When you fly, do you pay a premium for business class or first class accommodation?

[seanmcdirmid]

The difference between economy and business class is 3-5X. Its like a completely different world/price level, that those of us stuck in economy can only dream of.

To sleep on a 12 hour flight...that would be great!

[kunai]

I don't understand why economy is so berated by passengers. It's fine for me; I'm 5' 11" and I have plenty of legroom and the people I sit with are generally polite and well-groomed. All of the nightmare stories I hear just do not make sense to me. Perhaps it's because I fly internationally; and people are more willing to be neater.

Although, I must say one last thing: do not bring an infant onto the plane. They're messy, hard to deal with, and give everyone a headache in an enclosed area where you can never get any peace.

My parents had the sense to keep me offboard until I was 4. I think all parents should do so.

[tptacek]

I agree, and think that when you move cross-country for that new job you got, you should just tell your baby to drive himself and meet you there.

[seanmcdirmid]

Or take a boat if travelling internationally.

The kongjies always handle babies pretty well. And to be honest, a crying baby isn't going to add much to your discomfort 6 hours into your flight.

[seanmcdirmid]

On a 12 hour flight, you want to sleep, but its impossible in economy. At least we can watch movies now during our flight, but the level of comfort between economy and business is vast.

I've never had a problem with babies on flights. I travel between the states and China often, and there are always a more than a few of them on.

[greedo]

Most people don't have the luxury of leaving their kids at home when they travel, especially if it's not a business trip.

[Shivetya]

that is what business and first class are for. You want to be treated well you pay up. Really the rest are just baggage for the most part.

At least airline travel hasn't turned into bus travel lets of atrocity and indignities.