Competition will force airlines to improve: #tellusatoday

U.S. carriers claim Persian Gulf airlines offer low rates and lavish services with help from an estimated $40 billion in unfair government subsidies over a decade. Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Don't blame everything on the subsidies. U.S. airlines have themselves to blame for the subpar services they provide.

Increase legroom, stop charging for drinks and baggage, and I'm sure many customers would go back to them.

— Pradeep Bhaumik

American carriers are required to run based on revenue and cost. Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have gotten help from their governments.

While low fares and luxury travel sound great, allowing the Persian Gulf state governments to undermine American jobs and companies will have serious consequences. Those will reach far beyond what appears, on the surface, to be a deal on a cheap seat.

— Rachael Anne Steegar Rensink

When flying abroad, I try as much as possible never to fly U.S. airlines. Never mind the Middle East carriers, the East Asian carriers are far superior and even the European ones compare favorably.

U.S. carriers treat their passengers like garbage. It's that simple. That's why we avoid them. The U.S. carriers will improve their service only with competition.

— Michael Khalili

Letter to the editor:

The real story on Etihad Airways should be unfair competition. It is able to offer luxuries, place large orders for airplanes, make in-roads to other markets and buy up shares of competitors without the associated risks ("Etihad CEO cites airline's smarter growth path").

Etihad, Qatar Airways and Emirates Airline allegedly have enjoyed about $40 billion in subsidies over a decade. These government-owned airlines have a big advantage over their European, Far Eastern and North American counterparts. Imagine the competitive landscape if the U.S. government split the same amount among American, Delta, Southwest and United airlines!

Marcus Vincent; Vacaville, Calif.

We asked our followers for thoughts on U.S. airlines competing with government-owned airlines that can offer luxury services. Comments from Twitter are edited for clarity and grammar:

Competition is good for airlines. It will force U.S. airlines to improve.

— @saudansari

Gulf carriers don't have to worry about quarterly earnings or unions, and so they can invest in cabins.

— @roweneugene

Anything any government is involved with sooner or later will fail on its bottom line.

— @_TJLD

If U.S. carriers improved and stopped nickeling-and-diming their passengers, they wouldn't lose customers.

— @mnoormo1

Please bring competition on! In Asia, coach flights are comparable to business class.

— @CramerDon

The U.S. carriers with high fares and lousy service deserve more competition.

— @ArnoldPZiffel

For more discussions, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday on Twitter.