Joe's right, fucking airlines

[edhopper]

I am flying to South America tonight. My ticket was $1200. To get a seat before check in, they wanted another $100. And when I just checked in and was given a seat in the middle of the center row (no aisle or window allowed) I was given an "opportunity" to buy early seating for another $35 if i want to make sure there is room for my carry on.
Again, I am not paying $100 for a cheap domestic flight. This is an expensive international flight.

The nickle and diming of Americans Biden talked about at the SOTU, THIS is what the Democrats need to run on in 2024. It will beat their culture war bullshit at the polls.

[FoxNewsSucks]

1. Airlines may have started that, but every industry is copying that model.

It takes so much extra time to check pricing, even for things like hotels, because the customer has to look for and add up all the extra crap that is charged.

[Mopar151]

40. Welcome to our Cable bill.

It boats up like a tick! So, the bill is somehow $$100 more than the "plan" you thought you bought. So you call up Customer Abuse.

Your plan expired, or vanished entirely. You're being charged $20/ month for equipment that cost them $75 wholesale, and you're swapping out the dead parts and exchanging them 30 miles away. Charged extra for WiFi boxes, because the installer was too lazy to run a wire parallel with the new phone wire. The nice person at Customer Retention signs you up for a new plan, A better deal, charges waived, hail fellow well met!

Then the new deal starts to bloat up! In less than a year, it seems to be right back where it started.

[Hiawatha Pete]

108. Amtrak doesn't. The price you see is the price you get. n/t

[FoxNewsSucks]

110. I haven't priced Amtrak for a long time.

If I remember right, it was pretty clear. A base price per leg plus a few add-ons for things not everyone might want.

Greyhound is pretty simple also. I've used them a few times, and there were none of the hidden surprises.

[Hiawatha Pete]

113. +1. Depends on the level of service (coach, sleeper ect). This guy went across the US for $216:

https://dereklow.co/across-the-usa-by-train-for-just-213/

Personally I prefer the train because much more legroom/comfort. I'm 6'3".

[FoxNewsSucks]

115. Thanks for that!

I'd love to do a trip like that sometime. Especially seeing things like Moon River

It was probably 30 years ago that I read a feature article in Nat Geo about a train ride from Chicago to Seattle. Similar to this article, the writer made several overnight stops. There were several trains running the route, and one could get off at any stop and then just catch another train. It was a lot more expensive, though.

I haven't flown for 12 years. I like driving everywhere, and now that I take my dog with me, it's kinda become the only way anyway. I also agree with the comment in that article that people flying must be insane. I've thought the same thing many times, while on a good mountain road, with little traffic, and so many little towns to stop in for lunch or shopping at local places. Beats the hell out of being crammed into a tiny uncomfortable seat.

[Hiawatha Pete]

117. No problem. We (my wife & I) have also seen 'Moon River' while riding the California Zephyr LOL!

I much prefer the train over flying ... or a road trip the odd time when the train isn't practical, or a combination train/rental car trip.

Only time I fly is when I have no choice (ie over water - though we did do a 16hr Prince Rupert-Vancouver Island ferry in a cabin instead of flying)

Cheers!

[brooklynite]

2. Oh for the "golden age of air travel".

When you would have paid considerably more for the plane ticket.

When you go out to eat, you can choose anything from McDonalds to Jean-Georges. When you stay at a hotel, you can choose anything from Motel 6 to the Four Seasons. But when have you honestly paid more for a plane ticket when a cheaper ticket was available? That’s why you’re being “Nickled and Dimed”

It’s a popular trope, but airlines are not taking in record profits from gouging coach passengers.

[Maraya1969]

3. I read that the airlines make most of their money from Business and 1st class. BUT

I've seen the extra charges and it is really annoying.

[edhopper]

9. I am on American Airlines

because they have a direct flight.

I DID NOT buy the cheapest ticket available.

For $1200 I did not go cheap and should not have to pay more for a fucking seat or to have carry on.

[DFW]

89. I DESPISE American Airlines (strong words for someone from Dallas, since American owns that city)

Two years ago, my wife and I were on the return leg of a trip we had made to be there for the birth of our first American (sorta) grandchild, and to get our first vaccinations for Covid-19.

We got to the American check-in counter at DFW airport 2 hours before flight time. They let us stand there for 90 minutes, and then told us we were too late to check in. WTF?? I said then book us on another flight to Europe. Without even looking, they told us all those flights were full. I said, "you didn't even look!" "I just know," said the supervisor. "I can book you on the same flight for tomorrow." He apparently "knew" this, too. So, they retrieved our luggage, and told us to find accommodation for the night. Not, "can we help you with this?" but rather, "get lost or sleep on the floor, we don't care." I had paid them €3300 apiece for our Business class flights, but they had our money and couldn't care less. They were obviously overbooked, and didn't want to pay any compensation.

We will NEVER AGAIN fly American on any international route, and if there is ANY alternative, we now avoid them inside the USA as well. If I hear that the board of directors of American Airlines has collectively been put up against a wall and executed by firing squad made up of angry passengers who are qualified marksmen, I MIGHT change my mind, but barring that, no way, no how. A good many of the outfit I work for are Platinum for Life on American, but even they check for alternatives now. I am not the only one they treat this way.

[CarlYasutomo]

97. If you had business class tickets, why did you have to stand in line for 90 minutes?

Business class tickets entitle you to priority check-in. Was there no priority counter when you went to check in? I've never experienced a business class check-in line that was anywhere near 90 minutes long.

[DFW]

106. No standing in line. We were at the head of the line at the business class counter.

The agent said, wait a minute, left to "check something" after getting a phone call. Then he came back to us, and then his phone rang, and he "talked" for about 45 minutes, while the agents at the other two open counters were "busy taking care of other customers." It was pre-arranged theater. We weren't American's only victims that day. There was a woman from Bosnia trying to get home to visit her dying father, and she was booked with American via Frankfurt, too. She was in tears, crying after being denied check-in, treated like trash. They told her there was "nothing they could do for her." Heartless bastards. I was finally beginning to understand why some people become terrorists.

I don't know how many gazillion miles I fly, but however many it has been, I will do my utmost to make sure it will never again be on American domestic, and I absolutely will never fly them again internationally.

As for what you've never experienced, well neither have we--EXCEPT with American, which is why we will never fly with them again.

[BannonsLiver]

28. Well not everyone has their buns buttered in Delta One

I know it means literally nothing to you, but for some people the added charges create a barrier to travel, which, I’m guessing is just fine by you. Less riffraff at the Sky Lounge, etc.

[ProfessorGAC]

34. I Flew A LOT

On international travel the company paid for biz or 1st class, depending on how long the flight was.
Domestically I always burned miles to get upgraded or I got upgraded because of high miles.
I almost never flew coach from 1990 on.
And, I think the nickel & diming is terrible.
Agree with you & the others on this completely.
They could come up with a cost model where everybody paid two, three, five, even ten dollars more and then customer service is baked in. That nominal amount doesn't likely become a cost barrier.
They're just too lazy to figure it out. But, they could do it.

[llmart]

72. +1000

Couldn't agree with you more.

[brooklynite]

80. Thursday, I flew JFK-sAN in Coach (returning tomorrow in Coach)

January I flew LGA-CST round trip in coach
November I flew JFK-SEA round trip in coach
October I flew LGA-ORD round trip in coach
August I flew JFK-SEA round trip in coach
May I flew IAD-CDG in…Premium Economy.

shall I continue?

Nb: I offered an economic explanation as to why airlines charge the way they do (echoed by others). You offered a juvenile insult.Hardly a balanced discussion.

[FoxNewsSucks]

112. +1,000,000

[Wednesdays]

29. Golden Age of travel?

Like when in 1985 I could get a round-trip ticket to Frankfurt, Germany for $250?

[Samrob]

36. You received real complimentary food not just snacks. nt

[Sky Jewels]

52. Lots of leg room, free to check bags, seats that reclined a lot, blankets, pillows, etc.

[edhopper]

61. Leg room!

Long flights can actually cause thrombosis and other health issues because your legs are so cramp.
I get up and walk a lot.

[Sky Jewels]

63. Yes, it's good to be aware of that!

You definitely don't want to get a blood clot from sitting for hours.

[SouthernDem4ever]

92. I remember those days

Smoking was allowed on planes too lol

[Sky Jewels]

94. True. That was a nightmare.

The smoking/no smoking sections were such a joke.

[SouthernDem4ever]

101. Agreed. Same thing in offices where they designated a smoking section

I didn't mean to get off topic as I still do miss the days when airlines were service-oriented.

[FoxNewsSucks]

111. I think it was in front of the non-smoking area.

So you had to walk through it to get to your seat. Either way, it's like having a peeing section in the swimming pool.

[SouthernDem4ever]

118. Yes it was.

And yes, Fox News Sucks.

[dsc]

87. That would be $703 in today's money

[whathehell]

78. Oh my..

the little people are grumbling again.

[CrispyQ]

4. If only we had a marketing department

that could create an info graphic on the nickel & diming of America for the profit of a few. Or an ad campaign based on that old Joe Conservative essay showing all the good things libs have done over the years. Or a collection of charts showing that the economy actually does better under democrats than republicans, despite the common belief that repubs are the party of business & fiscal responsibility & therefore better at the economy. There's so much we could do to counter right wing lies that have become accepted as truth, but we don't.

One pundit put it perfectly when he said that democrats are great at policy but suck at politics. George Lakoff observed that our side still thinks people vote based on intellect when really, there's a ton of emotion in the mix.

[KPN]

5. There's also a ton of stupidity!

[Wednesdays]

31. And racism and sexism and homophobia and xenophobia

[aggiesal]

42. One of my favorite phrases ...

Never underestimate the stupidity of the American voting public.

[KPN]

46. True ... and the Repukes have capitalized on that realization. Whereas we Dems, being

forward thinking and out for the best for the most on every issue, have focused on doing what's right and best for the most and educating voters to the best of our ability -- rather than capitalizing on ignorance -- despite a MSM that favors Repuke principles and values. I'm glad we are us!

[aggiesal]

49. I agree, but we have to account for that stupidity in voting. That metric is never tracked. ...

Although it's heavily highlighted at MAGA rallies.

[yonder]

30. Good post.

I'd add that they love proclaiming their advocacy of low taxes and small government while completely ignoring how user fees reshape the American experience, especially for the less well off.

[BComplex]

43. When the 1% own/control all the media, the country is fed the lies that republicans are "better"

at everything. That is a total lie. They are not better at ANYTHING.

[treestar]

60. people need to learn that they need to evaluate the media

not swallow whole what it dishes out.

I was listening to something today about diet soda and why you should not drink it. Fine, but I realized I had no way to know if those reasons were really true or not. It should take more than someone just saying it or even just saying studies show. We ought to demand to see the studies and learn how they were done.

That's the issue. We take a lot of "facts" on because it is easier to do that.

[BComplex]

88. Well said! So true.

[treestar]

53. Make the voters better

Smarter, less consumer oriented when it comes to something serious like elections. Why give in to irrational thinking and emotions?

[edhopper]

58. Have you seen America lately?

Why not ask to give everyone a magic pony?

[treestar]

59. why be hopeless?

Starting down that track will lead to inability to get anyone elected, as no one will be persuadable.

[edhopper]

62. Not hopeless

I think we can reach Americans on everyday issues that affect them.
I just don't see them ever being a rational, thinking logical populous.

[whathehell]

79. I think most here, self included,

are "rational, thinking, logical" Americans..Perhaps you need to look closer to home.
.

[CrispyQ]

76. Don't wait for voters to go to your platform page, reach out to them.

Reach the voters however you can, tout your accomplishments, & challenge the oppositions' worldview. My suggestions included educating voters which isn't giving into irrational thinking.

[ShazzieB]

96. This is one of the things I love about Joe Biden,

Reach the voters however you can, tout your accomplishments, & challenge the oppositions' worldview.

Biden has figured this out, and he is doing exactly this right now. He did it at the SOTU, and he's doing it as he travels around to talk to voters about all the infrastructure projects that are being launched and all the other things he's accomplished in his first 2 years in office. He's got Kamala doing it, too, and they'll probably both be doing it from now until Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Of course they won't be able to educate everyone, especially the one with completely closed minds, but a lot of people are going to get the message about which party wants to do things that actually help eople.

Joe and Kamala aren't going to be the only ones, either. I suspect lot and lots of Democrats will be doing the same thing, and I have high hopes for 2024.

[TeamProg]

6. K&R Thanks for posting. n/t

[housecat]

7. absolutely, but we also have to run on the millions who can't afford air travel or basic necessities

[edhopper]

11. we always do

But Medicaid expansion and SNAP progr4ams don't resonate with middle class voters.

[multigraincracker]

8. Check and see how much that

airline spent on “stock buy backs” in the last few years. SW spent millions on them before their latest screw up.

[EX500rider]

10. From where to where?

I can fly Spirit R/T Tampa to Medellin all fees incld with one checked bag & 1 small carry-on for $409, just checked the price...which is about $100 higher then my last 4 trips to S America.
Have flown down for $200 on the Colombian airline Viva out of Miami. (2 years ago so higher now due to fuel prices I am sure)


https://www.vivaair.com/us/en

https://www.spirit.com/

[edhopper]

12. NY to Buenos Aires

on American Air, direct for $1200

[EX500rider]

13. Yeah long flight

Cheapest I saw it on Travelocity looking in April was on Aeromexico for $786 but not direct.

[edhopper]

15. 10 hours

Up thread some one said I shouldn't bitch because I bought a cheap ticket. That is bullshit. For what I paid I shou7ldn't have to pay to get a seat next to my wife and have room for carry on.

[Lucky Luciano]

21. Yeah that guy likes to brag about his wealth and connections basically.

[FoxNewsSucks]

114. I see that frequently. I don't let the scoldings bother me when it's

coming from someone who is likely sitting in a Prada dressing robe berating a servant for failing to bring coffee and scones fast enough.

[lambchopp59]

39. Arrrrgh! Pack me in your bag!

I'll hold my breath all the way there to escape this winter weather!

[edhopper]

51. 95 degrees

in Buenos Aires.

[Emile]

14. Predatory Capitalism is alive and well.

[edhopper]

16. Cheap shit

and service at premium prices.

[iluvtennis]

25. + agree. That's a great description of it. n/t

[paleotn]

27. You get what you pay for.

Adjusted for inflation, air travel today is dirty cheap, yet we want the same perks as the 70's. Sorry, but that math just doesn't add up.

[Tommymac]

71. In the 80's I could get to the airport 60 mins early, buy a ticket...

and be on a plane before the next hour chimed. Be at my destination in good time, get my bags, rent a car, and be in my hotel less then 60 minutes after landing.

Today, flying is an all day proposition, and I mean ALL DAY. Have to get to the airport 2 hours early with a pre-paid ticket that does not reserve me a seat or guarantee my overhead baggage will have a spot; Lucky if there is reasonable food available in the terminal without waiting another hour; the flight is delayed 8 times out of 10, and if I checked bags I'm lucky to get them an hour after landing. Now let's talk about waiting in line for that rental...

Flying ain't ain't cheap. MY time is valuable. The airlines could give a flying fart about me.

[mountain grammy]

17. Congress will care

When it happens to Taylor Swift fans.

[KS Toronado]

18. I'd like to see more of our messaging centered around

the poor (Ds) vs the rich (Rs) or the 99% vs the 1%. Attack the republican party as catering to the wealthy
only while we care about the poor and the middle class's standard of living. If you make over $400,000 a year
vote R to keep it, if you make less than $400,000 a year vote D to keep more of your money.

Go after the R's tax breaks and how it really hurts the average consumer.

[DFW]

91. I'm reluctant to put it in such absolute terms

Democrats have a LOT of friends in the over $400K bracket, and the Republicans have a scary, far larger number of friends in the under $40K bracket.

[republianmushroom]

19. they are taking lessons from the petroleum companies.

Who hoses us better than the petroleum companies ?

[dlk]

20. There should be transparent, up-front pricing menus for airlines

As well as hotels and resorts, and so forth. Consumers are routinely taken advantage of and it will take federal legislation for all-around transparency from the vultures. Pocketbook issues in plain, easy-to-understand language are a winner! Go Joe!

[edhopper]

23. NY just passed a law

that all event tickets must show total cost up front. It should be a Federal Law.

[dlk]

54. Yes, it's just so sneaky the way airlines add costs here and there

They can do better but won’t until they’re forced to.

[aggiesal]

47. I worked for the British in Berlin for 2.5 years in the 90's ...

Europeans can't stand our travel pricing structure.

Their biggest gripe was paying for hotels. They would book a room for example at $150/night, but when they checkout and see the bill, their rate was more like $180/night on weekdays and higher on weekend stays. This would blow their budget if they stayed for 1 or 2 weeks.

They simply ask, why can't a hotel just charge me a rate and stick to that rate? They don't mind paying the taxes, but state a rate with taxes included upfront to determine whether to accept the price or keep shopping around for a better value.

I agreed with them.

[dlk]

55. Who can blame them?

The current US system is inherently dishonest.

[DFW]

90. Many hotels in Europe do that, too

I just stayed in Berlin for three nights, and the quoted per night price was about 20% more after the extra taxes and add-ons were tacked on. Not all places do this, but many do. The more popular your destination, the more likely you are to encounter this.

[aggiesal]

93. In the 2.5 years I lived in Berlin ...

I took side trips to Amsterdam, Paris, Prague, Venice & Marbella Spain, and I never experienced the extra taxes. But there weren't many US Corporate Hotel chains in Europe at the time. I think the US Hotels spread this desease throughout the world.

[DFW]

105. I think there was a lot of-----

"hey, we can do that, too!"

[Lucky Luciano]

22. One good thing about air tickets is that they do include taxes.

I do wish prices always included taxes for all things.

[paleotn]

24. Airlines have always been a tough business....

Notorious for losing boat loads of money when the economy goes south. That's why Southwest's string of profitable years are so remarkable until their recent meltdown. Some good, a lot just barely squeaking by but still in the black. I don't appreciate being nickled and dimed either, but it's a simple equation of revenue per mile less cost per mile (crew pay, fuel, aircraft maintenance, etc.), and getting the former to be bigger than the later has never been a sure thing for airlines. An industry I'd never, ever invest in directly.

Their operating margins, before taxes, interest on debt, etc., are terrible even in good years compared to companies like Apple. Yet few bitch and moan about the price of an iPhone.

I get it. I understand your frustration, but adjusted for inflation, air travel today is dirt cheap compared to the 60's and 70's.

[SunSeeker]

82. It's the fucking dishonesty. They should be up front with the cost so you can budget for your trip.

The hidden fees, the extra charge to come on early so there's room for your carry on, when there should be room for your carry on regardless of when you board, that is all dishonest fee hiding bullshit. Some airlines do it, some don't, and you often don't know until you're ready to board. All of these fees should be up front and included in the total cost so you can comparison shop for fares and budget how much money you'll need for your trip.

[paleotn]

107. I agree. It stinks...

But my point is the airlines aren't making fabulous profits from all this hidden nickle and dime stuff. It's driven by other factors that preclude lumping everything into one, up front price.

To remain competitive, and fill economy class, they've got to show rock bottom, unprofitable fares up front because everyone else does. And then try to make up for it with the extra fees. They're all doing it because the first airline to roll all this stuff up into the up front, economy fare is going to lose business to those who don't. Simply reason is customers are drawn to ultra low fares like moths to a flame, extra charges be damned. It's the only way to compete in a "fill seats or die" industry.

Depending on aircraft size and seating configuration, airlines make most of their revenue on business class, with first class coming in second. "Steerage" doesn't add as much revenue per passenger, so there's little incentive to improve customer experience in the back of the plane. The class structure stinks, but that's the world we live in with crazy low economy fares. But even with business and first class shelling out way more than you or I are willing to pay, airline economics stinks. It's just not a consistently profitable business.

Bottom line is, don't expect to pay the crazy low fare on Orbitz. Add $100 to $150 and you'll be less annoyed.

[NullTuples]

33. Didn't used to be this way. Then Southwest came along. For many years it was an outlier.

We *shoveled* money to the airlines during the first part of the pandemic (& they promised not to have layoffs/furloughs but did anyway but that's a whole different discussion). And now they're profiteering to their hearts' content simply because they can. Pretty much like all other big corporations right now.

[NullTuples]

32. But are they promising enforced regulation of industries?

[NHvet]

35. We travel a lot

Air fares and add-ons are out of control. We usually go to St Martin once a year during Thanksgiving. This year the prices are double if not more than years before. $4400 for 2 round trip from Boston. And that's for the basic fare, No seat choice, No carry-on other then an under the seat and then a 65$ fee for the first checked bag. Outrageous indeed. Needless to say we are not going this year.

[Samrob]

37. Deregulation...that Americans love so well. nt

[Joinfortmill]

38. Yup, and it's the only game in town. I love high speed rail I took in Europe.

[lambchopp59]

41. I've yet to do international travel

But Buenos Aries, the Brazilian coast and Peru, I've always wanted to tour. Probably not going to happen now with my health difficulties.
But just dreaming of taking those junkets, I played around with 1st class fares on Orbitz: it's wild how switching up dates if flexible can rarely catch a bargain in first class, but it takes headache level perseverance to hit the jackpot on those.
Domestic flights, I'd do the same to Las Vegas professional seminars. Keep plugging in different days and viola! First class there at not that much more than coach. Always helps that I'd have the full 3 month prior window to plan the trip, stay, shows, etc.
(Return trip I'll allow getting sardined into coach FROM Vegas only-- the party junket crowd is all hung over and sleeping. But never, ever coach TO Vegas-- coach crammed with noisy rowdies getting an early start tying one on)
Either way, if a a good first class fare can be scared up, it helps avoid the tack-on fees.

[Evolve Dammit]

44. People's Express. Tix to FL for under 100. Now that was affordable!

[brooklynite]

65. Peoplexpress went bankrupt.

I was stuck in Seattle when they abruptly shut down.

[Evolve Dammit]

70. We had great flights! Sorry for your experience.

[brooklynite]

84. I had no general problem with their flights...it jut didn't work economically.

[BComplex]

45. I just cancelled my Home Warranty with American Home Shield because they're AWFUL!!!

Wouldn't pay to fix something that was covered because the people who took out the motor quit working with them. They charged me $80 to get out of a contract, one week after just having charged me $80 for the month.

They spend all their pilfered money on television advertising to sucker in more people. None of the contractors in my county will work for them anymore.

[Desert Dog]

48. Another populist issue.. Credit System.

Credit reform now!

The whole system is fubar. Experian makes money trading on OUR information. Then they lose it and offer us 6 months free of their "service". WTF.

This whole system needs to be turned on it's ear. There has to be some monetary value that companies are responsible for -for every person they expose to hacking. I have had my data revealed numerous times. Experian, Target, Tmobile, Some crappy ticket company.. This should be a bigger deal than.. Whoopsee..

Also.. They need to rethink SS numbers. Maybe swap it with a credit ID.. There is no reason your retirement insurance number should be thrown around every time you rent an apartment or some non-associated activity. They should also let you change SS after it gets hacked. Maybe they should limit who has a right to SS info? Also. when entities check your credit- you should not be dinged. When it comes to bills late - they should set a 45 day grace BEFORE bill payees get to report it. Maybe positive credit payments should stay ON your credit report. If you have paid your loans and you have no credit debt- You should have good credit by all measures. Renters who don't buy off the car lot are seemingly penalized in the credit system.

This issue affects us ALL. Democrats should jump on this but I don't suspect they will.. Corporate Dems would kill it.

[alittlelark]

50. Frontier airlines? In Peru now

Frontier was I flight of 4 to get here (ABQ to Pucullpa). I was required to pay $50 for my Carry On - at the airport, online, on a layover. Changed my return flight to avoid them.

[Upthevibe]

56. Kick. N/T

[packman]

57. Reminds of the eyeglass doctor joke

After the "free" eye exam-
"Mr. Jones you need glasses. They are $100"
"O.K." Doctor sees no objection
"You'll want frames of course. That's an extra $50"
"Well, O.K." Doc pushes it
"That's $100 per lenses.You'll need two. And the fitting $20"

[MLAA]

64. Have a safe trip!

I do miss the days when travel was more comfortable, there was enough staff to not only care about your safety but also your comfort regardless of which class you were in.

[edhopper]

66. I am not to demanding

Let me buy a ticket, pick my seat, bring my luggage and give me some food on a long flight.

[peppertree]

67. Buenos Aires, by any chance?

If so, have a great time!

The only mistake in the video below, is that they now do honor the parallel exchange rate on credit card purchases (355 pesos, as opposed to 197). No need to tote stacks of 1000-peso bills.

[edhopper]

73. Thanks

Buenos Aires for a few days, then on to Antarctica.

[peppertree]

86. Kudos!

(bring back photos!)

[MLAA]

69. Right on.

[ybbor]

68. Hotels are doing it, too

He mentioned that in the SOTU

I booked a room for a concert and when I went to check out the price was $350 more. So I called and they said it was resort fees. I have been there before and there is really no resort except the location. I thought that was the reason it was already more expensive in the first place. Frustrating

[edhopper]

74. Yeah, that's bullshit too

They should just list the whole price. It should be the law.

[llmart]

75. +1

Spent today looking for a decent hotel around New Orleans. The pricing is so convoluted, which I'm sure is how they like it. I remember when the hotels had complimentary shuttle service to the airport but very few do now. They might say they have airport shuttle service but in the fine print I saw it was $50 each way. How is that "complimentary"?

[FoxNewsSucks]

109. Last time I went to Vegas,

everything was listed as "complimentary". At checkin, I asked what the resort fee was for. The answer was that it included wifi, workout room, parking, etc. All of the "complimentary" things.

[llmart]

119. According to Webster...

complimentary means "free of charge". I'm half tempted to educate these companies (as if they'd care what I thought).

[slightlv]

77. I have a whole other reason for not flying these days.

Yes, the nickel and diming would definitely affect being able to fly. On SS alone, it'd take me a long time to gather enough money to fly, after the everyday responsibilities had been met.

But, at 67, I have enough metal in my back and one replaced hip that I set off the alarm when I walk INTO some stores these days. I would never be able to make it through TSA without a full strip down, and I'm not giving up my dignity to do that. That's just me. But I think I'm not alone in this way of thought.

Once upon a time, you dressed up to get on a plane to fly somewhere. Yes, the need to spend hours before check in wasn't there. One time, I was able to get there 15 minutes before take off and get on the plane. One time, they even held the plane for us when the connecting flight was late. People were polite and helpful. Everyone dressed well. It was an "experience"... not just a way to get from here to there. And we got actual meals in flight.

Those days are long gone, but they shouldn't be. We allowed them to be. And this whole TSA thing needs to be scaled back, AFAIC. When they miss thousands of guns each year... even loaded ones... we who are disabled shouldn't be made to give up all our dignity just for privilege of flying on their plane.

In the past, I flew TWA and Braniff. I miss Braniff.

[brooklynite]

83. Braniff? The one that had their stewardesses do a "strip-tease" on board?

[mnhtnbb]

98. There are whole body scanners

at most large airports now. I have both hips and a knee replacement. I tell the TSA agent and they have me walk through the scanner. Occasionally, a female agent passes a wand over me. No stripping is involved.

I have only flown twice since COVID began in March 2020. I hated flying before COVID--because of flight delays and cancellations-- and I'm still not anxious to be jammed in with a lot of unmasked people in order to travel.

There aren't a lot of places I'm dying to see at 72, so I've decided to be content at home or limit my travel to where I can drive.

[betsuni]

100. +1

[SunSeeker]

81. Hell yes. Hotels are just as bad. And they got all that covid relief money!

[brooklynite]

85. " What Flying Was Like 50 Years Ago"

Flights were really, really expensive

According to HuffPost, for domestic flights in 1969 you would have forked over almost $1,200 (in today's money) for a round-trip from Chicago to Phoenix. International tickets were even more prohibitively expensive. One-way to Rome? $3,000 when adjusted for inflation. And that's in coach.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/what-flying-was-like-50-years-ago-when-man-first-walked-on-the-moon

[LisaM]

95. It is nickel and diming, but....

It also didn't used to be that every flight was crowded with full families that all wanted to be together.

Granted, I usually fly alone. But I pay more for comfort or first class, and I always, always, have to wait in line behind families and kids, who in my opinion, should be boarded last anyway (accounting for disability, of course). When did this happen? I am a courteous passenger, I pay extra to get amenities, I DO NOT, and I stress this, bring any overhead luggage, and I still don't get treated as if it matters. Sure, bring your squirmy kids and your twenty bags and I'll wait while you are given priority and squish your bags into the overhead.

Don't get me started on families who try to guilt me out of my aisle seat so they can sit together.

[betsuni]

99. +1

[mdelaguna]

102. And God forbid you need to go south during spring break weeks

Gouging is ridiculous, so frustrating when you are flying for normal (not Sp Break) reasons. Like $800-1000 to fly to Tallahassee (not a Sp Bk destino) from an east coast city.

[old as dirt]

103. The older I get, the more I hate flying.

Sending you a valentine's heart to get you safely to your destination.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

104. I must be missing somwthing

Every airline ticket I book or hotel room I book, I know the full price upfront.

Sure, they may try to get me to pay more later for something additional, but I just done.

I fly American fairly frequently, and they normally offer three fares - lowest has no seat selection and I think no overhead, the middle has seat selection and two carrryons, and the third is first or business. Since it’s important to me to be able to choose my seat, I pay the middle fare. I don’t pay the basic fare and then expect to choose my seat in advance for free.

Same with resort fees - they’re shown upfront in booking, if I don’t want to pay or, I stay elsewhere.

[FoxNewsSucks]

116. The "resort fee" is generally shown

But on sites like Expedia, it's not made clear until you either are about to click "book" or click the little "price details" popup. It's not big, or in the same place for every hotel.

It makes comparisons maddening sometimes. Several hotels may be within $5-10 of each other in the advertised rate, which is what gets used for "sort by price", then screw you over with a $15-90 fee. So you end up having to search out total cost for each place and it wastes a lot of time.

Same for pet fees. No hotel that charges $90/day for a pet fee should be allowed to be called "pet friendly" and show up when the pet filter is checked. But the difference is that not everyone is traveling with a dog so they don't need to look that up. The advertised rate should not exclude random "resort" or "property" fees that are automatically charged to everyone.