The crappy economy is taking its toll on airfares. Demand is sinking taking airfares with it, says USAToday.
fuel
United Adds $800 In Fees To $560 Trip, Loses Customer For Life
By 11.14.08
And let’s not forget the exorbitant booking fee for using miles for one of our tickets. The actual FLIGHT was only $280 round trip per ticket, but with the booking fee TO USE THE MILES TO PURCHASE A TICKET, we wound up paying over $500.
Gas Prices Have Fallen For 51 Straight Days
By 11.7.08
AAA says that gas prices have fallen for 51 straight days — and that the current average price is $2.31 per gallon. The current price is the lowest the nation has seen since February of 2007, and is 43.8% lower than the record high of $4.11 set during July of this year.
Delta To Add $15 First Checked Bag Fee
By 11.5.08
The AP says that the new mergeriffic Delta will be adding a $15 fee for the first checked bag and $25 for the second checked bag when traveling domestically, which is consistent with Northwest’s existing policies.
Yes, It's Official: That Stupid "Saved By Zero" Commercial Isn't Working
By 11.4.08
You, dear consumer, have abruptly stopped purchasing automobiles. GM’s sales are down 45%. Ford has sunk by 30% and Toyota, yes, that Toyota is down 23%.
Should An Infant With No Seat Have To Pay A $320 Fuel Surcharge?
By 11.1.08
Here’s an interesting situation. When babies fly domestically, they fly for free — but international flights require a ticket and, apparently, a huge fuel surcharge.
By 10.28.08
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The price of jet fuel is down, but those fuel surcharges? Nope. They’re up. [USAToday] (Thanks, J!)
Firewood Is The New Hotness. Literally.
By 10.14.08
Heating oil prices got you down? Thinking of burning some wood to stay warm this winter? You’re not the only one. In fact, Consumer Reports says that firewood prices are through the roof this fall. It’s gotten so bad that people are actually stealing wood.
Consumer Spending Will Shrink For The First Time In Nearly Twenty Years
By 10.6.08
Consumer spending, the engine that powers our economy, is probably going to shrink for the first time in nearly two decades, says the NYT — a move that will “all but guarantee” that the current economic crisis will deepen.
Hundreds Of Car Dealerships Are Apparently Doomed
By 10.2.08
After the failure of the nation’s largest Chevy dealerships brought the plight of the car dealer to everyone’s attention, the bleeding hasn’t stopped. The California New Car Dealers Association says dozens of dealerships in CA have also closed.
Gas Station Owner Accidentally Sells Gas For $0.35, But Is Glad To Have Made People Happy
By 10.2.08
Mimi Zidan owns the Lucky Mart in Pekin, IL, where a pricing mistake resulted in a mob of gas thirsty customers, rushing to take advantage of pumps that were dispensing gas for only $0.35 per gallon. You’d think she’d be upset about losing so much money, but she’s not.
Two More Weeks Of Gas Shortages In The South?
By 9.30.08
The New York Times has quoted an expert from Rice University who thinks that the gas shortages in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee could continue for two more weeks.
85% Of Gas Stations In Nashville, TN Are Without Gas Right Now
By 9.20.08
East Tennessee and Middle Tennessee both primarily receive fuel supplies through spurs of the Colonial pipeline, which carries refined gasoline from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Northeast. [Hurricane] Ike damaged and knocked out power to many of those refineries, cutting the amount of gasoline fed into the pipeline.
US Airways Saving Money Because Nobody Is Buying Their Drinks?
By 9.19.08
US Airways says that their decision to start charging for water, coffee and soft drinks is working — because no one is buying them.
United Airlines Is Apparently Crappy At Buying Fuel
By 9.19.08
United Airlines is just super crappy at fuel hedging, says Wired. Now that oil is trading at less then $100 a barrel, it turns out that United is paying more than that — and more than other airlines:
America's 10 Most Stressful Cities
By 9.18.08
Forbes magazine has put together a list of America’s most stressful cities and as a product of Chicago, the winner of the dubious distinction of being America’s most stressful city, I have this to say: “Yeah, so? Shut up and let me eat my hot dog in peace for once, goddamn it. No, I’m not yelling. Why are you always saying that I’m yelling? It’s not like you never yell! Pass the sport peppers before this gets ugly.”
United: Did We Say $25 For The Second Bag? How About $50.
By 9.15.08
United Airlines has decided that $25 was too generous a price to check your second bag with their airline, and have announced that they’ll be bumping the fee up to $50.
By 9.13.08
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If you’re planning to fly with Alitalia, better call ahead before leaving for the airport. “Up to tomorrow (Sunday) we have guaranteed flights,” said special administrator Augusto Fantozzi, “but not on Monday because no-one will supply us with kerosene.” [AFP]
