[Jace]

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/95048

What is next...I spoke to a friend of mine at American and these are actual ideas that employees presented at a meeting....

$20 service fee for not checking in online and printing a boarding pass, thus having to check in with an AA ticket agent
$25 extra for an aisle seat or window seat
$50 for the Exit Row
$10 to board first, no matter where your seat is located
$25 to get off the plane first, again no matter where your seat is located
$5 to get your drink first, again no matter where your seated
$1 for every magazine or newspaper you bring on board
$5 for a blanket
$5 for a pillow
$2 for small bag of peanuts

and the list goes on.....I understand that the cost of gas is affecting all of us, but I think the airlines are making it worse by nickle and diming us...Anyone else have an opinion on this?

[vivid]

that's crazy.... just charge more for the darn ticket....

[atr_hugo]

I'd love to see them try to enforce the 'who gets off first' scenario. ; -)

[ScottyGams]

continental or jetblue

everyone else is either a cheap airline or they nickel and dime you

[pheller]

Keep in mind that Continental joining the Star Alliance is likely to bring them into a policy situation much more like United and US Airways.

JetBlue's frequent flier program plain sucks.

I'm a dedicated US Airways flyer, and while status gets me around lots of these BS changes, it is still disheartening to see. I'd honestly rather see them just increase ticket prices a bit.

I'm sure their argument is that these changes are more consumer friendly. only charge the people that use the service.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by Vivid

that's crazy.... just charge more for the darn ticket....

That's the wrong idea. I have to fly a lot. I don't want to pay more for my tickets. I don't have any problem bringing a bottle of water on the plane with me if it means keeping ticket prices down, at least on domestic flights.

Who really needs beverage service on a 2 hour flight anyway?

[ScottyGams]

Originally Posted by pheller

JetBlue's frequent flier program plain sucks.

too true... im never getting a free flight in a year! i just like the directv and free snacks!

looks like i'll be driving everywhere in the country

no problem with that!:roundel:

[vivid]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

That's the wrong idea. I have to fly a lot. I don't want to pay more for my tickets. I don't have any problem bringing a bottle of water on the plane with me if it means keeping ticket prices down, at least on domestic flights.

Who really needs beverage service on a 2 hour flight anyway?

One suggestion is that they are going to charge you for every magazine and/or newspaper you bring onto the plane... How long before they charge for every drink you bring with you too?

And to be honest its a safety issue too... Flights are extremely dehydrating and to charge for drinks, well it would not be long before legal action was taken, esp with how litigious America is.

[Spook]

Competition will fix some of this. Just fly Southwest. They have always been cheap in logical ways. The approach American is taking will ruin their marque.

[corpsman]

If you think its that bad, you can always drive there.
Quit your belly aching if you have no control over the situation.

[vivid]

Originally Posted by corpsman

If you think its that bad, you can always drive there.
Quit your belly aching if you have no control over the situation.

lol, consumers have control...

[0002s]

I fly 90,000ish miles a year (95% on Northwest). Here are some of my suggestions.

Add $20 to a ticket for inflight beverages and food. The idea of $5 for this and $2 for that is stupid and cheap and insulting for the price of a ticket. Give everyone a box of food and a drink and build it into the price.

DO NOT CHARGE for pillows and or blankets. REMOVE THEM or give them away. This is insulting to the person on the flight to attempt to hose them for more money for them.

Serve "half way" decent food in 1st Class. Don't pass some dry bread 2 slice sandwich off as a noon meal on an east coast to west coast lunch flight. It's insulting when you shell out $800 for a ticket to LA. (See add $20 to ticket for food/drink)

DO NOT charge for 1 checked bag. More than one per person is "ok" to charge for.

Quit charging for change ticket fees online. That's a BULLSHIT charge as it cost nothing more or less to fill a seat on a different flight. Elite status top down is the best way to go.

-jm2c

[PA135i]

Next they'll be charging you for using the shitter.

[atr_hugo]

Coin-op, by the minute. And if your late feeding it coins - the door opens and an announcement to that effect is heard throughout the cabin. ; -)

[Jack in Jax]

At the Washington Post site, I clicked on a political cartoon link making fun of the latest airline pricing fiasco. Turned out there were 127(!) recent cartoons, from all around the country and all on the same subject and, while funny, also depressing when one thinks how much ridicule the airlines are placing on themselves.

Meanwhile, Lufthansa and BA are having banner profits as are other international carriers. Interestingly, among the USA carriers only JB, Alaska and SW are hedging their fuel purchases (advance purchasing to manage fuel costs) while all the legacy carriers are choosing not to. Pricing isn't just about stale sandwiches and carry-on bags.

Jack

[Citizen Z]

I love Lufthansa. Free beverages on long hual flights = a warm feeling in belly followed by sleep followed by the impression that the flight was only 4 hrs instead of 8.