Quote: (Originally Posted by
CCR900)
I once got charged €50 for 10kgs over which I didn't think was too bad until I saw the guy slip it in his pocket. Alitalia that one - Sardinha.
So you reported the theft, right?
Quote: (Originally Posted by
CCR900)
As fuel prices climb they cry their little hearts out but in reality they've locked in the fuel prices for next couple of years, so as fuel prices rise the cash the diference.
They cry their little hearts out like any other industry reliant on fossil fuels. They just know that if they raise the ticket price enough to cover the cost of the fuel, so many people would stop traveling by air and they would go out of business. They make up for it on those that carry heavy equipment.
The locked in fuel pricing you speak of is called "fuel hedging". The cheap fuel hedges have all run out years ago. The hedges they are working off now are quite high in price. As they forecast the future hedges, the profit margin is looking negative. They are banking money as you say now to ensure survivability in the near future.
This is no different than the fuel station owner that reflects the increase in cost per barrel into his immediate pump prices. He is also working on a hedge, but banks profit immediately. It's called business. Most of these stations are privately owned franchises. Believe it or not, most stations in the US sell fuel at a very thin profit margin. It is a loss leader to get you into buy the real rip off: food, soda, candy, etc... If you don't believe me, talk to an owner over beers. My brother used to do financial analysis for some Conoco owners.
If the airlines were charging you an extra 100 for the ticket price, but not for the baggage, would you as a diver carrying all that gear be whining? Probably not. The other passengers just going about normal travel would. It's all about perception and where you get sacked.