More Airline Charges

Wallow in nostalgia for a moment.
Do you remember when flying was fun and an adventure?
No, neither do I. It has always been a chore. Just as one thing improves flying, online check-in for example, something comes up to make it more difficult.
It used to be that you could take up to 2 cases per person plus carry on luggage. That used to be enough for most people who were put off by expensive charges for overweight luggage. Then came the no-frills airlines who charged for cases put into the hold. Airlines in the US followed by charging on domestic routes.
Then came charging on second bags checked in when you flew on some North American airlines across the Atlantic. Now, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have both announced plans to charge for second bags as from next month. And some of the prices aren’t cheap.
American Airlines will charge $50 per extra bag if you fly in economy class as does Continental Airlines. Business and first class passengers will face no prices. British Airways will charge £35. Virgin Atlantic were going to charge £90 for long haul routes but is backtracking. US Airways and Delta charge as do United.
We know airlines are losing money and are trying every opportunity to make some. Is this the way to go about doing it?
I for one, agree. If you can’t live out of one bag, maybe you are taking too much. Personally I don’t travel with hold baggage. If I can’t carry it on board, I’m not taking it. I realise that’s unfair on people taking surfboards or skiing equipment and it seems right they should pay.
So in the long run, this attempt to raise money may fail and people will just pack better.

Another way for Airlines to get your Money

In this blog and in many newspapers, ways that airlines make money have been listed. Charges for leg room, drinks, snacks, getting on the plane first, sitting next to a window or the aisle, baggage and the overall weight of your luggage have all been used as ways to empty your wallet.
Now US Airways, yes that same airline that won plaudits last month for the superb landing by Sully on the Hudson River in New York, has decided to charge $7 if its' economy class passengers want to get a blanket/eye shades/pillow and ear plugs. You have just six days left to get it free before this latest money scheme is introduced.
The ear plugs at least would stop you hearing of all the ways they try to get your money!

Blue Monday & the Good News

Today is, apparently, Blue Monday, the day of the year when we are the most depressed. It coincides with credit card bills coming in after the Christmas extravagances and a combination of long, dark nights and lousy weather. And its dark here still, and raining and windy and I did get a credit card bill in the post today. But I'm not feeling depressed.
No I am thinking that after listening to countless hundreds of times of "In the unlikely event that we land on water" I realise although, mundane, although boring, it is important to listen and remember. And why? Because of the events on the Hudson River in New York on Friday.
Some people are saying that the pilot only did his job, as did the crew and the emergency services and to an extent that's right. But none of us know how we really would react until the time comes when you have to.
After US Airways airbus flight 1549, there was just 3 minutes before it landed on the river. In that time, there was less than 90 seconds to decide what to do. And when the decision was made, the pilot, Chesley B Sullenberger,(Sully) decided that landing on the river was preferable to gliding over a densely populated area. To land on water is, I am told, easy. To land with the wings level so you pancake and don't immediately break up is much more difficult and Sully did it. He is quoted as having said to investigators that he brought the plane down close to a boat in line with standard precedures
One passenger, Jeff Koldjay, say that water didn't even enter the plane until the exit doors were opened.
3 ferries almost immediately headed to the plane on what was the coldest day of the year so far and with the water temperatures only at 6 or 7 degrees celsius and began picking up passengers. No lives were lost and no-one was even seriously injured. Did the plane stay afloat for so long and stay intact because it was well engineered? Was the flying of the pilot responsible that non-one was injured? Was the action of the crew and passengers in getting out in what was described as orderly chaos or was it due to the quick thinking ferry captains and emergency services?
Probably all contributed a bit after Sully made his eventful decision to land on water and glided it down so gracefully.
Let them all enjoy their deserved limelight.
And the good news? That standard procedures worked and that gives me more faith that all the repeated information is worth listening to. Time and time again.