” The downsizing from 96 to 89 ounces wasn’t a decision we took lightly. As you are aware, oil costs have skyrocketed. ***Oil is used to make plastic bottles***, fuel our factories, and ship our juice across the country in refrigerated trains and trucks. We had the choice to either increase prices or to downsize the bottle. We chose to downsize the bottle but add value through the innovation of the SNAP cap and new bottle, which consumers were seeking.

Although you may not agree with our decision, we hope you can appreciate that they were made in the best interest of our consumers and shareholders.”

source: http://www.mouseprint.org/?p=449#comments)

Next we run into more price hikes all in the name of “fuel prices souring”. We have checked baggage at $15 per piece, charges for crackers and sodas that were once free, charges for weight of baggage, size etc. It’s been reported on several occasions that many of the airlines pay less for their jet fuel then we as Americans pay for a gallon of gasoline for our cars.

So my question is this, how can these airlines charge higher fares and charge for baggage and grossly overpricing and call it in the name of “fuel prices souring” when they pay less for their fuel then we do to gas up our cars?

The airlines are going to eventually price themselves out of the market shutting down more airlines and job losses to hard working Americans. This whole process will end up in the same situation of the pre-Amtrak days when passenger rail line priced themselves out and were eventually taken over by the US Government. Eventually, the Government will have no choice then to buy out airlines and consolidate. This will bring prices under control, since they will be a government subsidiary and will have to answer to Congress on price changes. Mark my word- this will happen unless the industry works together and fixes the issues without grossly over charging customers.

I face this very dilemma. During the 2000 “Summer of Love” (where pilots worked to rule and refused overtime). I was delayed for hours so many times I swore I would never fly UA again and switched to AA and Alaska. Unfortunately, Alaska has recently eliminated the two most important routes for me and one of them is only served now by UA or Air Canada. The other is mostly served by Southwest and American.

I will suck it up and fly American, where my Platinum status helps when things inevitably go wrong.

That is a very good question. If I take my larger then life suitcase with me past secuirty (so long as I dont have more then 3oz of liquids), and then they have to gate check it, are they still going to charge me for that or is it free?

Chris, do you have any insight into what will happen with this?

I am so sick of all these new fees! Time to stay home!

…thus cementing United’s reputation as the worst U.S. airline.

The best solution: don’t fly United or American. Vote with your dollars.

BTW: I think we need to shift our focus from trying to influence the airlines to getting all the travel websites to show true pricing in their comparative tables. They should start including all the fees and surcharges, so that customers get a real price when they compare prices in stead of the current ‘airplane-entry-ticket’ prices we get to see now.

All they need to do is add a little field where you can say how many bags you want to check. Or they can simply increase the tickets prices of AA and UA by a standard $15.