"Airlines may be forced to widen fee disclosure; US report attacks transparency of lucrative charges" by John Hughes, Bloomberg News | July 15, 2010
Carriers have added fees to boost revenue beyond airfares, after rising fuel prices and a recession dampened profits. Airlines collected $7.8 billion in fees last year for items such as luggage and reservation changes. The figures don’t include other levies imposed by the airlines for items such as food, drink, and pillows.....
Yeah, that's BILLIONS with a B!!!
And they STILL CAN'T TURN a PROFIT?
WHO FLEW AWAY with ALL the MONEY?
--more--"
And what does this imagine bring to your mind, readers?
The six biggest US airlines earned about $1.3 billion in the second quarter. Seats are in demand seats, and because of that deals on airfare are becoming less common. (David J. Phillip/ Associated Press/ File)
Do you see what I see?
"With airline profits soaring, travelers may feel the squeeze" by David Koenig and Joshua Freed, Associated Press | July 27, 2010
Why would we be feeling a squeeze?
Wouldn't the airlines start treating us better with the BILLIONS in PROFITS they are MAKING?
DALLAS — Good times are finally back for the nation’s airlines. For travelers, that means it’s getting harder to find bargains.
The summer travel season got off to a roaring start, fares are up, and money is rolling in from fees on such things as checked baggage.
Yup, FEES upon FEES so airlines can GENERATE PROFITS as the SERVICE gets WORSE!!
Who would EVER want to FLY ANYWHERE now?
The six biggest US airlines earned about $1.3 billion in the second quarter, and more profits are expected for the rest of the year.
Yup, the "RECOVERY" SLOGS ON but it is GREAT DAYS for the AIRLINES!!
Even so, airlines are still woozy from the one-two punch of record-high fuel prices followed by a recession.
Now the CORPORATE PAPER is trying to MAKE YOU FEEL SORRY for the BILLIONS in PROFITS airlines!!
Un-flipping-real!!!
No wonder NEWSPAPERS and CORPORATE MSM are DYING!!
Btw, did you MANAGE to HOLD ON TO that HOME and JOB, Amurkn?!!
Those six big carriers lost $22.7 billion in 2008 and 2009. And that’s just a portion of the $63.35 billion that US passenger airlines lost from 2001 to 2009, according to the Transportation Department....
Am I supposed to feel sorry for the arrogant, inconsiderate a**holes at the airport and airlines after they made BILLIONS this last QUARTER?
Normally when airlines start making money after a slump, they’re tempted to add new flights.
This time might be different. Sluggish bookings and concern about the weak economic recovery will put pressure on airlines not to add flights that might operate half-empty....
Then there HAS BEEN NO RECOVERY and there NEVER WAS a RECOVERY -- except in the CORPORATE PROFITS SECTOR of this s*** economy!!
--more--"
And THIS is what you are PAYING FOR, passengers?
"Passengers waited hours on plane; Calls renewed to extend rules to overseas flights" by David Porter and Joan Lowy, Associated Press | June 24, 2010
NEWARK — A hot, dark, and miserable four-hour stretch at Bradley International Airport outside Hartford.
Now that is where I would go if I ever wanted to take a plane ride again.
Chaos and desperation in the cabin as temperatures and tempers rose....
Any fights?
Tuesday’s flight was delayed for more than an hour at London’s Heathrow Airport. Storms then diverted it to Bradley, though some passengers said they were not told where the plane was heading or why. The plane sat on the tarmac from around 8:20 p.m. to 1 a.m., passengers said, as the temperature inside the plane rose and darkness permeated the cabin.
Oh, I wouldn't have lasted long there. Couple of hours and I'm starting to get pissed!
Travelers said they were offered water but no food.
Yeah, I'll bet the CABIN STUNK because of the USE of TOILETS, too!!!
--more--"
"FAA opens safety inquiry into recent rash of airliner near-collisions" by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | July 8, 2010
WASHINGTON — Alarmed by an increase of near-collisions involving airliners, the government is trying to find out why air traffic controllers and pilots are making so many dangerous errors....
--more--"
Maybe they are overworked and underpaid:
"FAA to propose rules on pilots’ work limits; Delays since ’09 crash frustrate safety advocates" by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | September 10, 2010
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers, industry officials, and union leaders familiar with the process say the difficulty is in demonstrating that the safety benefits of stricter rules — lives saved and injuries avoided — would outweigh the cost to the struggling airline industry.
They JUST MADE a COLLECTIVE BILLION in PROFITS last quarter with MORE TO COME!
So what is with the LIE, corporate MSM?
Depending on how they are written, new regulations could cost the industry billions of dollars over the next decade....
Wow, my ears just popped and not because of altitude.
--more--"
You know, I'm just not that excited about the plane ride as I used to be.
Maybe I should take the train:
"RAILWAY TRAGEDY -- Orange County sheriff's deputies, coroner officials, and other investigators combed the scene for clues after a Metrolink commuter train struck and killed two teenagers and injured another yesterday in Mission Viejo, Calif. According to officials, the youths may have been sleeping on the tracks. The trio included two young women and a young man, authorities said. It was not immediately clear why the three were on the tracks (Boston Globe September 10 2010)."
Readers, WHO goes to SLEEP on TRAIN TRACKS?!
You guys HAVE TO COME UP with something BETTER than THAT!
Drunk maybe?
Related: A Stunning Death
Drive then?
"The number of people dying on the nation’s roads has fallen to its lowest level in six decades, helped by a combination of seat belts, safer cars, and tougher enforcement of drunken driving laws....
And the lousy economy.
Less people on the road, folks.
--more--"
