Another reason to hate the Airlines

I know that the price of oil is hurting everybody. Heck, I don't drive that much and it's making a dent in my wallet.

But American Airlines borders on the edge of stupidity. I take that back, they've fallen over the edge. Blaming oil prices, the morons are now charging $15 to check a bag. Not your second bag, which I could see, but your first bag. If I recall, the carry-on size for AA is pretty small, and other than a one- or two-day trip, you can't get all your necessities in a carry-on. Does the fact that I've now paid you to handle my bag guarantee me that you won't destroy it on the conveyor belt, or that my bag will be actually traveling with me to my destination?

I don't know what genius marketing person came up with this idea, but it reeks of poor customer service. Just add the $15 to the price of a ticket for Pete's sake. I already get hit with over $100 in taxes when I buy a seat, so just add it there. What, you can't compete with the other airlines that way? Hmmm, perhaps you should take a look at your business model.

I find this almost as ridiculous as US Scare (Air) charging $5 for a window seat. Why not an aisle seat? Oh, that's right, because you bump my foot with that stupid drink cart when I sit there! What are they going to do when no one buys the window seat? What are they going to do when 2 people want to sit together, but there are only 2 seats on a row? How are they going to balance the weight of the plane when everyone is in the aisle and the middle seats?

Grr. Argh!

Airlines, let me give you some free marketing advice. You suck. Other than that, charge for drinks. Don't charge $5, but a soda in a vending machine runs $1 these days. Don't even serve those ridiculous drinks on a 1-hour flight. I think everyone can survive without liquid refreshment for an hour.

Stop overbooking flights and giving vouchers to volunteers. Here's a concept. Book the number of seats that you have. Then, stop losing my bags and you won't have to pay me for my stuff.

Stop wasting gas by sitting on the tarmac for an hour while you wait to be cleared for take-off. Wait at the gate.

I think they should charge a moron tax. You know those people who can't put a stinkin' carry-on bag in the overhead wheels first instead of sideways so the rest of us have nowhere to put our bags?

I'll be using about $50 in gas to head to Williamsburg tomorrow. Looking forward to it - mostly because the weather is supposed to be rain-free for the entire weekend. I can't remember the last time we had a dry spell over a day or so. My feet were beginning to grow webs for swimming.

Everyone have a great Memorial Day weekend!