Economy is Down. What to Do? Part 1.

So many businesses are responding to the current economic situation in what I perceive as misguided efforts. But then, what the heck do I know?

I'm a customer. A client. A patient. A purchaser of goods and services. I know how I like being treated by businesses. I also know when I'm not being treated well by businesses.

Some of these messed up businesses are American airlines. Sure, we know that fuel prices are soaring. Sure, we know that times are tough. However, as many writers have said, the airline companies are trying to make do by being "cheap". They are having price wars--by trying to out-cheap each other with their fares. But then they try to sneak in other charges to make "make up the difference". And then, they also get cheap by charging extra for inflight meals, inflight peanuts, inflight movies and some are even charging for blankets and pillows.

Am I the only one who sees this? Maybe the airlines should be competing on having the best service! Maybe they should price their flight fares to take into account the higher fuel prices. Passengers would understand. Hey, we know that fuel costs have gone up. We've seen our food prices go up. We've seen our other living costs to go up. So, it wouldn't be a surprise if other prices (such as airline flight tickets) went up.

What we don't like is when airlines think they can sneak things past us with their "nickel and diming"--charging for each bag, charging for inflight meals, and so on... to make up for what they really should have done... which would be raise the airfare prices to keep up with the price of fuel and the wages of their employees.

But then, we already know this. And, this is just one more "cry in the wilderness". Thanks for listening.