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Posted: Wed May 21st, 2008 08:49 pm |
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American Airlines to charge for first checked bag By ADAM SCHRECK, AP Business Writer
NEW YORK - For some time now, cash-strapped airlines have been doing away with once-complimentary perks such as earphones, meals and extra legroom in exit rows.
American is the first major carrier to charge for a single bag, but it is not the only U.S. airline to do so. Last June, low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines said it would begin charging $5 for the first bag when booking online, or $10 otherwise. Spirit's online charge for the first piece of luggage is set to rise to $10 next month.
With American leading the way among major carriers, other airlines will be tempted to impose baggage charges, too.
"We are actually seriously studying it," said Robin Urbanski, a spokeswoman for United Airlines, the second-biggest U.S. carrier. The Chicago-based airline has not yet decided whether it would match the fee, she added.
No other carriers immediately announced plans to match the fee. But like United, not all ruled it out either.
With energy prices climbing, "all options for reducing costs and generating revenues are on the table," said Tad Hutcheson, vice president of marketing and sales for AirTran Airways. "As bags add weight to the aircraft and burn more fuel, it may get to the point ... where checking bags is unbundled from the air fare."Now the largest U.S. carrier is testing the limits of passengers' willingness to pay for extras, announcing plans to start charging $15 for what many fliers consider a downright necessity: a single checked bag.
What's next?
"Pay toilets in the coach cabin, maybe," joked longtime airline consultant Mike Boyd.
American Airlines' move is part of a larger effort by the industry to find new ways to improve revenue in the face of soaring fuel prices and a slumping economy. The airlines anticipated a multibillion-dollar loss this year, even before oil's latest spike above $130 a barrel Wednesday.
Still, the latest effort could be a tough sell with passengers.
"It's ridiculous," said Louise Schum, a 23-year-old student from Steamboat, Colo., on a 10-hour layover at Miami International Airport. "Charging for luggage is the cutoff line."
Fort Worth, Texas-based American announced the change at the same time it said it would slash capacity and retire at least 75 older, gas-guzzling planes. Gerard Arpey, chairman and chief executive of American parent AMR Corp., said the industry cannot withstand sky-high oil prices and must find ways to cover rising costs.
Travelers are likely to see other carriers follow suit, assuming the change becomes permanent.
"They're always going to be looking for additional ways" to make money, said Ray Neidl, who monitors the airline industry for Calyon Securities. "Customers want low ticket prices, and they seem willing to pay for extra services."
The added baggage fee amounts to a fare increase, and it comes on top of a series of ticket price increases and fuel surcharges the industry has pushed through in recent months. But it is also the industry equivalent of a trial balloon that could pop before it gets too far off the ground.
"There comes a time when the nickel-and-diming starts to be annoying," Boyd said.
Under American's plan, many domestic passengers who buy tickets after June 14 will have to pay $15 each way for the first piece of checked luggage. The fee does not apply to passengers who pay full-price for tickets, elite members of its frequent-flier program or people traveling overseas.
Carry-on bags, popular with business travelers on overnight trips, will remain free.
"This is not going to apply ... to the people who can most afford it, the business traveler," said Bob Harrell of New York-based travel and aviation consulting firm Harrell Associates. "It's going to be the poor schmo, the vacation traveler, who ends up paying these fees."
American also said it is raising fees for a number of other services, including those to transport pets and check oversized luggage. The airline last month agreed to join other major carriers in charging $25 for a second checked bag.
That means a family of four, with each member checking two bags, must now spend an additional $320 just to get their luggage to and from a destination.
"I think that it's outrageous," said Bill Thompson of New York as he waited to board a flight at LaGuardia Airport. "You get the gas surtax, you get all these baggage fees ... It's awful."
Other passengers were resigned to the fact that flying will continue to get more expensive.
"It wouldn't stop me from traveling ... It's better than having to keep increasing the fares," said Sheryl Bennett, 58, an insurance underwriter from Woodstock, Ga., who was in Miami en route to Key West, Fla.
"If they start charging for carry-ons, then that would be going over the line," Bennett said, although she acknowledged that fliers are "stuck unless we start taking the train or the bus."
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Island Woman MJ
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Posted: Wed May 21st, 2008 09:55 pm |
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and so it goes...many of us here in the microcosm of Culebra have literally watched the outcome of the US recession, the consequences of higher fuel costs...and we'll do what we do, which is to figure out how to live our lives while the end results hit hard. A dichotomy for sure...less money available, everything costing more.
I'm thankful for the plan B's that are in my life...easy for me to say but I've been working on plan B a long time, because of what I, and many others, have seen coming. It's like long term hurricane planning. So...make your plan B, because the boat IS rocking.
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Posted: Wed May 21st, 2008 10:39 pm |
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Plan B or C is definately the answer -- the news tonight has precdtions of $5-$6/gallon gas by the end of the summer, and heating oil over $5 next winter. Feeding myself is expensive enough -- I can't imagine what a family of 4 with kids needing extra nutrution are doing. For the first time, it cost me over $50 to fill my tank today (13 gallons). That cost $35 last fall.
Our government needs to wake up and smell the coffee......our country is headed for serious trouble, and sticking their heads in the sand is not the answer. Get up, Speak Out, Make Plans.
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Island Woman MJ
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Posted: Wed May 21st, 2008 11:22 pm |
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I was talking to an older woman here the other day who was stunned about the new cost of 100.00 to get her propane tank filled. I told her about what I'm looking into, solar ovens. She wants to know more. They are used in many parts of the world, bascially a slow cooker. John (John and Lucy John) has been using one on his boat and he loves it. Says it makes the best rice he's ever cooked, and bread as well. Along with regular one pot meals. No, it isn't good for everything, but we have sun and we have time. I think I've figured out the one I want, with the extra bonus of every one this particular company sells, they provide one for someone in a third world country, getting them off the tit of propane or other cooking fuel (like...can we say deforestation?). A good thing. If you're interested, google solar ovens. They cost from about 8 bucks to big bucks, so just about anyone can get and try one before investing in a better one if they like the results.
Last edited on Wed May 21st, 2008 11:23 pm by Island Woman MJ
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Posted: Wed May 21st, 2008 11:24 pm |
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do you have the website of the one you have picked.....sounds great!! What time for fresh bread???
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Island Woman MJ
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 11:10 am |
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http://www.solarovens.org/
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=947680157041652869 (check out the related Hippy Gourmet videos too!)
http://www.solarovens.net/ (more kinds of ovens, variety of prices)
Take it from there....
Buen provecho!
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Diving Debbie
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 11:57 am |
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Until the airline lobbyists break the oil and gas lobbyists, I think we're screwed. 
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 03:48 pm |
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l LOVE the Hippy Gourmet -- I've been a fan for a long time......really fun stuff (and a great cookbook too).
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Abe Ross
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 05:24 pm |
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| I'm pretty sure that Jerry and Martha, who we met last year, have used solar ovens while they're on Culebra.
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Abe Ross
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 05:35 pm |
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Diving Debbie wrote: Until the airline lobbyists break the oil and gas lobbyists, I think we're screwed.
Debbie, sorry to disagree on this but I don't think we can blame this on the lobbyists (much as I would like to.) The US of A has been protected from oil increases that the rest of the world has been dealing with for a long time. Here in Canada we have been paying over $1.30 a liter for at least a month which works out to close to $5.20 a gallon. I think that the long term solution will be to reduce our dependence on petroleum products but I'm not sure how to do that.  Part of the problem is technological but part is psychological and lies with our unwillingness (or with the unwillingness of everyone else, not me of course (sorry, I couldn't find an emoticom face for "sarcastic")) to reduce use.
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It is all too common for caterpillars to become butterflies and then to maintain that in their youth they had been little butterflies. (Vaillant, 1997)
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Diving Debbie
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Posted: Thu May 22nd, 2008 11:30 pm |
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Abe,
I agree. I don't know what happened to my post, but it went on to say that many people in Atlanta were FINALLY beginning to use public transportation, and that I hoped that was occurring across the US in order to bring down demand. I didn't mean to imply that the lobbyists are solely responsible for the high prices, but I do think the airline lobbyists should be lobbying harder for their industry, or they are going in the tank again. Oh my - no pun intended!
Something's funky with this forum these days. . .
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 12:21 am |
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Diving Debbie wrote:
Something's funky with this forum these days. . .
you could edit your post if something is missing, but what exactly do you mean?
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Diving Debbie
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 12:37 am |
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A few funky things.
1 - I KNOW I wrote that lobbyist post last night. I actually went back to see what time, because I was wondering if I'd had a glass of wine. I might could take it on myself for not finishing it.  I know I wrote the part about the public transportation in Atlanta. Did I accidentally delete it? Or was I hallucinating? To my dismay, the forum date/time is this morning around 8 am. I KNOW I wrote it last night because I was hurrying to get out the door this morning to get to work on time because my manager is in town. I'm not even sure I looked at the forum this morning.
2 - All kinds of posts that I have already read show up as unread, and when I went to read them (thinking there was tons of new stuff), they were old, old, old posts.
3 - I used to be able to see who was lurking. That's been gone for a while, so maybe there was a software update.
Nothing big, just funky. . .
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 12:45 am |
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LOL....maybe Cleo was messin' with ya? Send whatever kind of wine you were drinking though, cuz it sounds good.
There was an issue yesterday where someone thought it would be "cute" (actually I don't know what the person was thinking) to post using a Guest account that I set up for use for family silly, sometimes stupid, replies to many old posts. I had to spend several hours going through the whole forum and delete them......needless to say, admin is none too happy.
And yes, because of the same person abusing the system a few months ago, I changed how the forum works.....but because you are who you are, I've made it magical for you again....you have inner vision.
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Doug
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 02:58 pm |
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Oh sure...give the hallucinator special powers...
Deb, what kind of wine was it? Was it leftover Segura, turned into a chemistry experiment by ambient fungus?
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Jim
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 10:19 pm |
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I'll try to be brief:
Knowledgeable sources say the price per barrel without the
rapacious newly tuned-in commodity investors (who hyped
the regular market and inflated it with so much air that
even they are afraid of it) would be 70.00 per barrrel.
When we invade countries and kill literally hundreds of
thousands of people including our own in the name of
"strategic interests", why can't the Government step in
and regulate or take control of this problem in the name
of our "strategic interests:. Why?
Because of the Reagan Revolution and Reaganomics,
buzzwords for "We don't know what these numbers mean,
Daviid Stockman, Reagan WH Budget Director" and
deregulation "The marketplace will deliver the best good
at the best price, Milton Freeman" and all those "scholars"
at the Cato Institute (I like to call them what they really are
..whores) How's it going so far boys?
Remembering Ronnie brings tears to my eyes, esepecially
when he looked into the camera and said "tell them,
win one for the gipper" oh how are hearts fluttered to
the images of Notre Dame and our minds raced away
with a bygone era of "Andy Hardy", "Boys Town" and "Mr.
Smith Goes to Washington" And while our hearts were
racing away.....the Reaganites were racing away too,
with our money!
What is stopping Congress from taking emergency action
or re-regulation to put some sense into the airlines or
Oil/gas industries? LOBBYISTS
Debbie you are right on the money!
If you want to defend this freemarket crap from the Cato and
Hoover whackos go ahead, but first quit watching Fox News
get up to speed and then take your best shot!Last edited on Fri May 23rd, 2008 10:28 pm by Jim
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Diving Debbie
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 10:26 pm |
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Doug wrote:
Deb, what kind of wine was it? Was it leftover Segura, turned into a chemistry experiment by ambient fungus?
My favorites lately are Erik's the Red - 18 grapes! http://www.toadhollow.com/available_NETSCAPE.asp#10
and Starry Night Zinfandel http://www.starrynightwinery.com/shop/item.jsp?itemid=21&catid=37
I scored the Starry Night for $10/bottle. It's $11/glass at local bars.
At least you know for sure I wasn't smokin' something when I posted the post I didn't post.Last edited on Fri May 23rd, 2008 10:28 pm by Diving Debbie
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Jim
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 10:31 pm |
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Sorry one more reply:
Our very own Greg Voelker has been doing
a solar oven for years check with Greg he
used to cook chickens in them.
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Island Woman MJ
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Posted: Sat May 24th, 2008 12:30 am |
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In response to your first rant, Jim, it's pretty obvious to those who follow the way of the world via American politics, why this is happening. Like cops say, follow the money. But my own rant is that as long as people are satisfied in the land of plenty, there won't be complaints. HOWEVER...screw with their play times (traveling long distances by car, air fare for pleasure) and the caa caa will hit the fan...and it is happening now. Gas, heat, which then hits electric which then hits toys...yes, it will be a ground swell building to a tsunami. It's going to be an interesting/scary summer.
As for Greg and solar ovens...um...I'll ask him about that. I've known Greg on a pretty close level for the last six years since he's my psycho landlord (no offense taken by him; I introduce him that way all the time - he laughs and calls me his little sharecropper) and we talk solar, wind, high end batteries for electrical power, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum and have done so for years. I've been to his home many, many times, sailed with him to other islands...point being, I know the guy and I've never seen a solar oven used by him, proposed by him, or talked about by him. No doubt he'd be into it and I'm sure when I get mine he'll be seriously interested...but where do you get that he's "cooked chickens" in one? I'll ask him tomorrow for veracity. If he has one and hasn't told me, well, POOH!!! We'll see about that! If he has one and I'm going to buy one, he'd give it to me first.
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Jim
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Posted: Sat May 24th, 2008 02:55 am |
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Oh yes outside his patio, when his tangerine tree was
bloomin, is the last time I personally remember. You
can make one quite easily, but his was store bought
I believe very shiny metal properly angled, the chicken
took a long time to cook, but at Greg's house its easy to
get lost in conversation and things and loose track
of time.
I took a peek at the internet there are solar cookers
all over the place, this one has one made from a silver
windshield accordion type sunshade
http://www.eduhosting.org/classes/windgens/solcooka.html
The tangerine tree? In case you missed it was 7-8'
tall with 50 tangerines on it! One of the most
beautiful things I've seen, except when I was
7 or 8 and I had a little girlfriend on the next
street, I can't remember her name or what she
looked like, but I sure remember the Cherry tree
in her yard we used to climb, then eat till we were sick!Last edited on Sat May 24th, 2008 03:16 am by Jim
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"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." -- John Kenneth Galbraith
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