Airlines

My guess is that some of those taxes are not really taxes at all, although the airlines might like you to think that they are. A fuel surcharge is not a tax; it is just a price increase dressed up in a pretty little outfit. These airlines are a bunch of lying motherfuckers.

But that is still not too bad of a price.

The huge markup between 'ticket price' and 'total you pay' on an American Airlines ticket purchased on Orbitz is not just "tax" but is for "taxes and fees." And that "taxes and fees" includes AA charges of the fuel surcharge variety, which Dickhead had prior identified as a part of the ticket price with a cute little outfit on.

This Dickhead sounds like a smart fellow. Maybe I will buy him a beer sometime.

I will buy you a beer on June first. June first. June first. I feel bad about that.

I usually go to BA late to mid April each year. Do you guys think it is a good idea to buy tickets now to prevent future rate increases or wait?

Also, has anyone looked at deals on Travel Zoo. They have pre-arranged trips that go to BA and other deals where you go to Rio, Foz de Ignazu and BA for a few days in each city. Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

Mongers-

I just started looking up flights for my annual Christmas time return to the NYC area, and, quite predictably, prices are sky high as a result of the price of jet fuel. My usual EZE-JFK flight on AA that cost me $800 USD last year is now be quoted at an astronomical $2300 USD. However, it looks like Delta is starting a non-stop EZE-JFK flight as well, and that showed up around $1600 USD (still outrageous) Maybe Jaimito Cartero can come out of hibernation and give us the scoop if this is really the case, as it would be welcome competition to AA in this market. I am not going to book anything now because I honestly believe that prices cannot get any higher than they are currently quoted. UPDATE: I just googled and got information saying that Delta is indeed starting a EZE-JFK route starting December 18th; I may never fly on AA again.

Suerte,

Rock Harders

Airlines are like hookers, prices should reflect supply and demand but they don't. Flights that are far in the future don't have much interest, either to travelers or airline pricing execs. As the dates get closer and the flights remain empty, the bosses ask why? Then like a hooker that has rent coming they become more open to negotiation.

Companies like Orbitz, Travelocity, and Priceline bought their seats last year, they buy the unused seats on flights, so their costs are pretty much unaffected by fuel price. On the legacy airlines, figuring a 767 with a max fuel load of right at 24,000 gallons, and 160 people for a full load of passengers gallons an increase of 1 dollar a gallon is 150 bucks a seat, 2 dollars a gallon is 300 a seat. 800 bucks for the round trip prolly will not happen this year, but 1000-1200 I think would be within reasonable expectations for a 1 stop flight.

Be prepared to buy, keep checking prices, use their notification options regarding pricing and you will get a decent deal. Decide what a good price is and buy it if it gets close to that number.

Priceline should be the company of last resort as you can't earn miles on their tickets. Right now Taca has a flight, through Travelocity, with a butt fucking ugly itin through Peru and Costa Rica, leaving BsAs 16 Dec returning 1 Jan for 1285 bucks taxes included.

Jaimito uses this site [url]http://www.zuji.com/web/content/splash_index.html[/url]

[QUOTE=Rock Harders]Mongers-

I just started looking up flights for my annual Christmas time return to the NYC area, and, quite predictably, prices are sky high as a result of the price of jet fuel. My usual EZE-JFK flight on AA that cost me $800 USD last year is now be quoted at an astronomical $2300 USD. However, it looks like Delta is starting a non-stop EZE-JFK flight as well, and that showed up around $1600 USD (still outrageous) Maybe Jaimito Cartero can come out of hibernation and give us the scoop if this is really the case, as it would be welcome competition to AA in this market. I am not going to book anything now because I honestly believe that prices cannot get any higher than they are currently quoted. UPDATE: I just googled and got information saying that Delta is indeed starting a EZE-JFK route starting December 18th; I may never fly on AA again.

Suerte,

Rock Harders[/QUOTE]Rock Harders,

Try this website, there airline consoliders and sometimes have good deals.

I just checked and from my home town the fair has gone down.

[url]http://www.carbone-travel.com/[/url]

Exon

I wonder what they are after taxes and fuel charges.

[QUOTE=Daddy Rulz]I wonder what they are after taxes and fuel charges.[/QUOTE]And the first bag fee. And the second bag fee. And the cubside checkin fee. And the takeoff and landing fee. And the 9/11 security fee. And the pillow fee. And the blanket fee. And the window seat fee. And the economy plus fee. And the dinner fee. And the lunch fee. And the breakfast fee. And the toilet fee. And the enema fee. And the "extra fee so we won't lose your luggage" fee.

(Those last three not yet charged, but doubtless coming.)

Fuck all the airlines except Southwest, which has none of these things.

[QUOTE=Hunt99]And the first bag fee. And the second bag fee. And the cubside checkin fee. And the takeoff and landing fee. And the 9/11 security fee. And the pillow fee. And the blanket fee. And the window seat fee. And the economy plus fee. And the dinner fee. And the lunch fee. And the breakfast fee. And the toilet fee. And the enema fee. And the "extra fee so we won't lose your luggage" fee.

(Those last three not yet charged, but doubtless coming.

Fuck all the airlines except Southwest, which has none of these things.[/QUOTE]Hi Hunt,

You forgot the "Emotional Outburst" fee, which is imposed whenever a passenger vocally protests the other fees.

Thanks,

Jackson

Mongers-

I think the time has come to accept that traveling on any US-based airline (in economy class) has become the equivalent of taking a flying Greyhound bus. You get on, you suffer the entire trip, and you arrive at the destination hungry, tired, pissed off, and delayed.

Suerte,

Rock Harders

[QUOTE=Rock Harders]Mongers-

I think the time has come to accept that traveling on any US-based airline (in economy class) has become the equivalent of taking a flying Greyhound bus. You get on, you suffer the entire trip, and you arrive at the destination hungry, tired, pissed off, and delayed.

Suerte,

Rock Harders[/QUOTE]As a 7 year veteran of a legacy carrier I swear to you that time has long passed for the Airlines themselves. You are less than a number. I fucking HATED the traveling public, it came after years of being cursed and abused about circumstances beyond my control. Yes dickweed there really is a delay. If I could put you on the airplane you see sitting out there and get you out of my face believe me I would.

Sometime over a coffee ask me about Kangaroo Island and the assholes bag.

My friend was assistant manager of the Durango, Colorado airport. A Mexican gentleman who spoke no English got off the plane, thinking he was in Durango, Mexico. My friend is customer service oriented and also understands the difference between marginal cost and absorption cost so he immediately poor the nice, befuddled gentleman on a (sparsely loaded) plane to Durango, Mexico. He felt this was a good solution to a potentially serious business problem.

This act of kindness and customer service, which cost very little on a marginal basis (fuel was a dollar gallon then) earned him a week's suspension without pay and a reprimand that stayed in his personnel file for a year.