Thursday, August 7, 2008

Intellect.

So, this post doesn't necessarily directly relate to intellect, but I think that intellect is another way of just being smarter about yours. (That's another topic though) But, anyways, if I was smart about mine I would have saved a lot of money on my vacation had I done this post earlier.

I'm sure you know by now that since gas prices are soo high that they put all those costs back into your plane ticket, baggage, etc. So, I did a little research and brought ya the airlines that are going to take all that cash, and what new technology to look forward to on your next flight. (Only major airline carriers)


1. Southwest: The one major airline that isn't bucking the trend of increasing fees.
- No charge for checked bags (up to two), nonalcoholic drinks, blankets or making a change to your flight. The discount airline has even launched an ad campaign to brag about that fact. Its new slogan: "Fees don't fly with us."

2. Delta:
- No charge for the 1st checked bag ($25 to $50 for the second), free drinks and blankets, and a flight-change fee that hasn't increased from $100.

3. Continental:
- No charge for the 1st checked bag ($25 for the second), and it's holding the line on the other freebies, like drinks and blankets, as well as still offering free meals like sandwiches, burgers and pizza. But it recently raised its change fee from $100 to $150.

4. Northwest:
- Fee for making flight changes to $150, to go along with a $15 charge for the first checked bag ($25 for the second). Nonalcoholic drinks and blankets are still free.

5. American:
- Also hitting you up for $150 to make flight changes, and charging $15 to $25 for the first and second checked bags, with soft drinks and bedding still gratis.

6. United A:
- $15 to $25 for checked-bag fees; $150 to make flight changes. Plus, the highest standby fee: $75 if you want to fly standby on a different flight the same day, a service that for years was free and now commonly costs $50 on several airlines.

Lastly, expect Wi-Fi if you plan to fly Delta airlines anytime soon. Yeah!!! or No!!! Delta has decided to incorporate Wi-Fi on it's planes as early as this month and by summer all flights will be equipped with the technology.
Oh course it's not free..you know better. Prices will be $9.95 for a flight less than three hours and $12.95 for the longer flights.

I personally was excited at first but then I started thinking about interference issues (Even though I know they test this stuff) as well as the whole isolation factor that I came to like on a flight. Now, all I'm going to hear is the constant typing when I try to go to sleep on the flight? Plus, the laptops do take up a lot room space wise when you try to work on a plane.

I don't know..I just think sometimes we (U.S.) just over do things. Can't we just keep it simple.. I would personally like more seat space than Internet?

How about you? Let me know, and I hope I helped you out a little bit. God knows I could have used the info a lot earlier, since American Airline popped me for $75 on my bags for my vacation.

Suga HiL


Sources: Time, MSN

5 Comments:

Dr Zibbs said...

You should update this. American just announced that they will be broadcasting the image of a peanut wrapper on all inflight tv channels. I believe the charge will be $5.

ODARA said...

you know when I first learned that the airlines will now have wireless internet available BUT for a fee...my reaction was "what are they smoking" LOL...they already try to kill you with all the other fees....my GOD what is the world coming too?

Suga HiL said...

@ Dr. Zibbs. Hilarious! But, they don't even have the tv screens anymore! Commercialism at it's worst.

Suga HiL said...

@ Odara, I know, don't try to hijack some free internet @ the airport. It's not gonna happen. My thoughts were that they can atleast give it to you for free on the flight. But you know there are gonna be people stupid enough to pay the outrageous fees for the internet access.

Ed The Sports Fan said...

Hilary! What up babygirl, yeah I'm on the blogging scene as well, but I'm glad you remember the Mobb 6 days, you definitely held us down.

Man, I just flew in on United last night, tell me why they were giving away phantom seats? People were like, "my seat is 21A?" and the rows end at 19! It was crazy, thank God I got that first class baby! I'll add you to the blogroll, take care of me, later babe.

-Ed.
www.edthesportsfan.com