MSGID: 2:292/854 1a3e1351   
   REPLY: 6.fido_aviation@1:135/395 2988196f   
   TZUTC: 0200                     
   CB> found this on a simple google search... i really hope so because it's   
   CB> rediculous. My partner just went to New York on Avelo.... you are allowed   
   CB> ONE carry on which MUST fit under the seat... if you wanted to use the   
   CB> overhead bins, you had to pay extra... and no it's ONE item TOTAL... not   
   CB> even one plus a personal.   
       
   It is common knowledge that in the golden age of aviation, airlines often   
   suffered because of the chaotic settlement of tickets. There were sections on   
   planes with "open reservations" and any travel agent or airline could issue   
   tickets without knowing if reservations could actually be made. At that time,   
   overbooking was sometimes scandalous...    
       
   I know of Aer Lingus and Delta flying in pool to Dublin and Delta was allowed   
   to sell 20 seats on an Aer Lingus flight. You arrive at Dublin airport with a   
   regular Delta ticket and it turns out that Delta sold over 60 without making a   
   reservation and the ticketing agents had to sort it out. Happened to a friend   
   of mine.   
       
   In the days of paper tickets, it also took at least 2 months after flying a   
   flight before they received their money... they had to cover that period of   
   costs (wages, rental fees, services, fuel, parking fees, landing fees, etc.),   
   pre-finance themselves.   
       
   Nowadays, with the ubiquity of PCs and smartphones and websites directly from   
   the airlines, it is the passengers who pre-finance the activities of the   
   airlines ... anyone ... the earlier you book, the better the fare, so you   
   could book q flight 6 months in advance, and pay for it. That way the   
   companies already have the money for 6 months before they have to provide the   
   service.   
       
   Also all the extras... seat selections, luggage, overhead bins, early   
   boarding, window seats, meals, drinks... the airlines now have all those   
   things under control and make more money from them than from the actual flying   
   itself... you think you'd found a cheap rate on their website and then it   
   starts... you go to the USA from Europe with your kids and you easily pay $250   
   extra per person just to sit next to your kids... $70 to get to take a   
   suitcase with you either way. Want to have a beer with your meal? Pay!   
       
   A meal? In the past, in the golden age of aviation, a meal was a real meal.   
   Then the period of "Chicken or pasta" started and that chicken was a chicken   
   breast. A little later it became a very small chicken breast of which you   
   could wonder whether it came from a chicken or from the pigeons that are   
   regularly caught in Central Park. And then it became 3 slices of a very small   
   chicken breast and now you end up with 4 dice-sized pieces of chicken. And the   
   entire meal fits in the palm of your hand, it's not even a snack. Do you want   
   to have more? That is possible, provided you pay...It has become a rip-off,   
   even the mafia would treat you better.   
       
   And that is why this hopefully expected European action is very welcome, but   
   it will simply lead to higher fares than ...   
       
   Have you noticed how few airlines go bankrupt these days? Virtually none   
   anymore, and there is a reason for that... the technology to extract money   
   from travelers' pockets has been greatly refined.   
       
   If they need more money they will find ways ... coin-operated restrooms,   
   standing-up space only, 7-abreast seating in a 737 ...    
      
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