Does anyone out there follow what the airlines are doing these days? I am very confused by their rationale, or lack thereof, as it seems they are doing what amounts to a three card monte game on us.
When the price of oil skyrocketed it didn't surprise any of us that airlines had to add a fuel surcharge. Then the started charging for luggage, some charged for all luggage and others charged for more than one piece. Then they started charging for pillows/blankets, snacks, 'special seats' (aka exit rows) and other little nickel and dime charges.
Okay, says I, they are adding various charges to help pay for fuel. Certainly they aren't trying to mess with us...are they?
Then the price of oil plummets back to the level it was before the run up. But none of the charges seem to disappear.
The airlines (JetBlue, American, Continental, Delta) all claim that "people want" to have these 'al a carte' charges. After I am done rolling my eyes I think, "ok, maybe they are right."
So then I check to see if they dropped the price of the airline ticket for those who travel with no luggage, couldn't care less where they sit, don't eat and never need a pillow. Nope! Nada.
Are we being ripped off?
When the price of oil skyrocketed it didn't surprise any of us that airlines had to add a fuel surcharge. Then the started charging for luggage, some charged for all luggage and others charged for more than one piece. Then they started charging for pillows/blankets, snacks, 'special seats' (aka exit rows) and other little nickel and dime charges.
Okay, says I, they are adding various charges to help pay for fuel. Certainly they aren't trying to mess with us...are they?
Then the price of oil plummets back to the level it was before the run up. But none of the charges seem to disappear.
The airlines (JetBlue, American, Continental, Delta) all claim that "people want" to have these 'al a carte' charges. After I am done rolling my eyes I think, "ok, maybe they are right."
So then I check to see if they dropped the price of the airline ticket for those who travel with no luggage, couldn't care less where they sit, don't eat and never need a pillow. Nope! Nada.
Are we being ripped off?