Airlines Getting Crazy

Picking a commercial airline flight today requires a bit of study and allot of patience to find the best way to go. There are so many crazy extra fees today it's making head turn and boil in anger. The latest add on fees come from Spirit Airlines which announced that it would charge passengers for carry-on luggage stowed in overhead bins and the European low-cost airline Ryanair which has outlined a toilet fee on flights of an hour or less. Ouch...no change for the toilet and no peeing aloft would be allowed.

So to get more revenue from the artificially low fares the stupid airlines created for themselves, basic necessities that are expected on flights are now staring to become luxury items subject to charge. But how much of that foolishness will passengers accept before fleeing to an airline with fewer or no fees?

Southwest Airline is the only airline in the U.S. to be consistently profitable year to year. And it has done so with a no extra fees, a fare platform that is low and easy to understand and reliable, if bare boned, service. The industry now has a large number of failing airlines pitted again one, Southwest, successful airline that isn't playing the extra fee game.

The next extra fee the airlines will add to the fare may be the so called "fuel surcharge" that utility companies here have long used. When their fuel costs go up they will claim the need to add to the cost of the fare (yet they will never seem to lower the cost of the ticket when fuel is cheaper). It's a sad situation for both the consumer and the industry. What is needed is one (higher) fare structure, no add on fees and a way for consumers to compare airline fares,. Until then I think we could see some crazy add-ons. Hmmmmmmmm I have a few to suggest to the airlines. How about...

* Pass gas fee- that fat guy who keeps farting will now have to pay a fee for each blast.* Sexy Stewardess fee- You want a hot babe serving you your drink you pay it. Otherwise, you get your drink served by Danny Devito in a bikini. (I'll pay this one!).* Un lost luggage fee- Pay it and you can take your bag from the baggage rack after landing. Don't pay it and you can spend your vacation at Wal mart buying replacement underwear.* Boarding go round game- You pay this one to avoid the boarding go round game in which 250 passengers race on board the plane and have 1 minute to find the 249 available seats.* Water water everywhere except here fee- Want water on board? For a fee you can drink from the communal water fountain (which like the plane itself, hasn't been cleaned since year 2005).

I hope you enjoy your next flight!