Flying Cheap 

Frontline investigates how low-cost airlines and regional carriers have changed the airline business and whether the search for greater profit has led to sacrifices in safety.

Director:

Rick Young

Writer:

Rick Young

Stars:

Loretta Alkalay, Randy Babbitt, Gordon Bethune

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Loretta Alkalay	...	Herself - Former Regional Counsel, FAA, 1987-2008
Randy Babbitt	...	Himself - FAA Administrator
Gordon Bethune	...	Himself - CEO, Continental, 1994-2004
Susan Bourque	...	Herself - Sister of Beverly Eckert
Ben Coats	...	Himself - Colgan Pilot 2007-2008
Roger Cohen	...	Himself - President, Regional Airline Association
Stephen Dickson	...	Himself - Senior Vice President, Flight Operations, Delta
Byron Dorgan	...	Himself - Senator (archive footage)
Karen Eckert	...	Herself - Sister of Beverly Eckert
Clay Foushee	...	Himself - Congressional Investigator
Don Gunther	...	Himself - Vice President, Safety, Continental (archive footage)
Corey Heiser	...	Himself - Colgan Pilot, 2005-2009
Deborah A.P. Hersman	...	Herself - NTSB Member (archive footage)
Mike Johanns	...	Himself - Senator (archive footage)
Kevin Kuwik	...	Himself - Boyfriend of Lorin Maurer

Storyline

Frontline investigates how low-cost airlines and regional carriers have changed the airline business and whether the search for greater profit has led to sacrifices in safety.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Release Date:

9 February 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

55 min

User Reviews

But, the airline industry is still incredibly safe!

This episode of "Frontline" is about what they perceive are serious shortcomings with the use of so-called 'regional carriers'. In other words, to save costs, often major airlines contract with 'partners' (i.e., small independent carriers) to augment their income--and the cost savings are significant. However, the show points out that these carriers generally employ far less experienced pilots, pay their employees far less, have excessively long hours and, in a few cases, don't pay crews unless the flight is completed--pushing them to cut corners to do so. All this was spurred on by a recent crash of a plane from Colgan Air--a terrible tragedy.

This film really makes you think and does bring up many good points--and I am sure there is room to improve things. HOWEVER, regardless of the problems, one thing the show never really talks about is how incredibly safe all air travel is. It's STILL far safer than driving or about any other way to travel--though the show seems bent on scaring the viewer and seems to lack balance. To me, this makes this show far less watchable and perhaps was more agenda-driven than I might have preferred.