As fuel costs were rising, so were the fees that airlines were charging fliers. Now, you would expect that since the cost of fuel is actually decreasing that the airlines would stop with the unnecessary fees. Expecting them to repeal those fees as a result of lower fuel costs is just naive and not likely. But expecting them to stop tacking on fees seems reasonable, right?
Apparently not to American Airlines.
In an egregious attempt to nickle and dime every last cent out of you, American Airlines is preparing to introduce a la carte pricing. What does this mean? It means there will be some basic fares that include absolutely nothing. You will pay extra for your baggage check in. You will pay extra for drinks. You will probably even pay extra for things like blankets and pillows. And I would not be surprised to see a coin slot on the bathroom door. Okay, I added that one myself, but is it really that far fetched?
To give you an example of the motives behind this, check out this excerpt from a Yahoo news story:
UAL Corp.’s United Airlines expects to raise $700 million a year from fees. Northwest Airlines Corp. estimates baggage charges will bring in $150 million to $200 million a year. Continental Airlines Inc. predicts it will generate more than $100 million just from a new $15 fee for checking a single bag — that doesn’t include levies on additional bags.
Wow. If that doesn’t make you sick then there must be something wrong with you.
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Perhaps you’d prefer to pay more for your ticket and have it include services you don’t want or need, to avoide clicking your mouse three more times?