Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
"Just want to express my outrage at NWA for starting to CHARGE for frequent flyer tickets. We have flown NWA for years, my husband is platinum, and always makes us fly NWA, even when the cost is a little greater. But, this is reallly the last straw. I just read that they are going to start charging for frequent flyer tickets. Can't we get a petition going to let the airlines know how we, the consumers, feel? I'm ready to pretty much give up flying until it gets better. I don't want to be nickel and dimed. I don't want to pay to check a single bag. Maybe it won't ever get better, with the way oil prices are going, but I wish we had a way to let the airlines know that their loyal fliers have had it.
"I'm sure you hear this all the time, but thought I would add my two cents from the consumers standpoint, since you have more clout with the industry." [Kirsten S.]
"Here's a puzzle for you:
"I priced multi-city flights on my company's travel site at the same time, and got returned two choices.
"LAX-MIA-PHX, PHX-MIA-LAX - all on AA, price: $2456
"LAX-MIA-PHX, PHX-MIA-LAX - 1st leg on AS (Operated by AA), price: $1239
"Notice the ONLY difference is the flight# of the first flight, AS 1492, which is operated by AA for AS. It's the SAME physical aircraft that AA is using for its own flight 202. I called AA and verified that it is a code-share flight for AS, but it's an AA aircraft, AA flight crew, AA maintenance crew, and AA airport gate.
"How can AA allow Alaska to sell the same physical flight and personnel for more than $1200 less than AA can? Is somebody cooking the books?
"P.S. I also left my company travel site and priced it on the AA web site (with restrictions) and for all AA flights (no AS), same flight numbers, at a price of $1188 with taxes, LOWER than the AS/AA combination, which I would have expected." [Brian C.]
"I recently booked a flight using 50,000 miles for a trip from SFO to AMS, which is great. Until I found out how much the taxes and fees were -- $498.85.
"At first, I thought they made a mistake and called back to confirm. I double checked with Delta to see how much I had to pay using the same flight. I was told $183. Why do I have to pay $330 in fuel surcharge? I tried getting answers through email but I have received a standard reply 3 times indicating to refer to the general conditions and rules.
"Is there anything I can do? Nowhere does Flying Blue indicate how much they charge for award tickets and the fuel. This is very frustrating!" [Marlies]
"The airlines are overlooking a big source of revenue. I think it is time for all the airlines to charge for EVERY passenger. No more freebies for children under age 2. If airlines want to charge for every bag, why not charge for a child under age 2 and make them sit in a car seat?! Some of these 'lap' children weigh as much as my checked bag.
"And besides, it isn't safe. Children have to be in child seats in cars, why not on airplanes? Maybe fewer children would travel and business travelers could enjoy some quieter planes.
"I can't believe the airlines have overlooked this hidden source of revenue!" [Mary D. - Phoenix, AZ]
"I urge you not to allow the feedback column to become a place to vent slanted political opinion. George W.'s comment (July 9 issue) that our President and Vice-President are making 'billions' at 'our' expense is preposterous and hardly worthy of your forum. Can we please stick to pertinent travel-related issues?
"Feel free to print my comments if you wish. Thank you; I appreciate your forum very much." [Mark H. - Grand Rapids, MI]
[FrequentFlier.com replies - We're sensitive to the issue, but also recognize that politics will inevitably rear its head in an open forum like this (see Bret's comments below). At this point, our editorial guideline is that comments must be relevant to travel and be family-friendly. Beyond that, we try to allow readers to have their say with a minimum of editing on our part.]
"In response to the bleeding heart liberal who doesn't understand the free enterprise system, it's not the oil companies that are causing the gas prices to skyrocket. It's simple supply and demand.
"Demand is high and the Arabs and the liberals who are against drilling our own oil are keeping supply low. Therefore prices are high. Let's make it simple for those mentally challenged that think our president had caused the scenario... McDonalds sells burgers at $2.00 each. They usually sell 1000 burgers a day. That means they make $2,000 a day. Everybody decides to eat twice as many burgers, so they now sell 2000 a day. They now make $4000 a day. They didn't raise their prices, they are simply selling more. That's what the oil companies are doing, selling more gas because people are buying more gas. Cost has gone up on the barrel of oil - not the selling of gasoline. Pretty simple, but very challenging to the liberal as they are the employees not the employers. Duh!" [Bret T.]
Until next week...
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