Airline fees: The ultimate guide

SMS wrote:
> Ablang wrote:
>
>> Two dollars for a soda? Ten bucks for an aisle seat? If you're
>> confused about which airlines are charging for which "perks," we can
>> help.
>
> There's a very simple way to avoid these garbage fees, but it requires
> cooperation. I first read about it many years ago. The flight attendants
> carry very little change. When paying for something costing $2-5 offer a
> $100 bill and insist that you have nothing smaller. The airline policy
> is for them to give the the drink, etc. and tell you that they'll come
> back to collect the money when they have enough change from selling to
> other passengers. However if enough people use $100 bills they'll never
> have enough change. I only ever tried this once, when I really only had
> a $100 bill, and it worked, though I don't know if she just forgot to
> come back to get the money or if she really never had enough change.

No, I couldn't do that. WHY would I want to add to their stress by
pulling a stunt like that? It isn't the FA's fault about airline fees.
It just is mean spirited, and not honest. Not how I choose to treat
others just trying to do their jobs.

In article <UDsak.8698$89.1446@nlpi069.nbdc.sbc.com>,
SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

>There's a very simple way to avoid these garbage fees, but it requires
>cooperation. I first read about it many years ago. The flight attendants
>carry very little change. When paying for something costing $2-5 offer a
>$100 bill and insist that you have nothing smaller.

That's a great idea for a con, but why not reach into the flight
attendant's purse when she is not looking and grab a few bills?
Or help yourself to the till at the check-in counter? That'll show
those airlines what you think about their garbage fees.

In article <%Fvak.11849$N87.1730@nlpi068.nbdc.sbc.com>,
SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

>>> When paying for something costing $2-5 offer a
>>> $100 bill and insist that you have nothing smaller.
>>
>>That's a great idea for a con, but why not reach into the flight
>>attendant's purse when she is not looking and grab a few bills?
>>Or help yourself to the till at the check-in counter?
>
>Because those would be stealing. Offering to pay with legal tender is
>not stealing.

No, it's merely lying (``insist that you have nothing smaller'').

Goomba wrote:

> SMS wrote:
> > Ablang wrote:
> >
> >> Two dollars for a soda? Ten bucks for an aisle seat? If you're
> >> confused about which airlines are charging for which "perks," we can
> >> help.
> >
> > There's a very simple way to avoid these garbage fees, but it requires
> > cooperation. I first read about it many years ago. The flight attendants
> > carry very little change. When paying for something costing $2-5 offer a
> > $100 bill and insist that you have nothing smaller. The airline policy
> > is for them to give the the drink, etc. and tell you that they'll come
> > back to collect the money when they have enough change from selling to
> > other passengers. However if enough people use $100 bills they'll never
> > have enough change. I only ever tried this once, when I really only had
> > a $100 bill, and it worked, though I don't know if she just forgot to
> > come back to get the money or if she really never had enough change.
>
> No, I couldn't do that. WHY would I want to add to their stress by
> pulling a stunt like that? It isn't the FA's fault about airline fees.
> It just is mean spirited, and not honest. Not how I choose to treat
> others just trying to do their jobs.


Yup, cabin staff are stressed enough as it is without having to endure
infantile stunts like this...

And folks wonder why airline employees don't "smile" enough...

Common decency and courtesy towards airline staff will help ensure that your
trip goes a *lot* smoother, if you act like a dillwad you'll be treated like
one. It's elementary common sense and even a "life skill", unfortunately
many don't realise this...


--
Best
Greg

In article <AMdbk.6357$LG4.422@nlpi065.nbdc.sbc.com>,
SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

>The $100 bill idea, also mentioned in Arthur Hailey's novel _Airport_
>isn't really doing anything wrong.

That's because you don't view lying in order to save two bucks as
doing anything wrong.

>If everyone did this, the
>airline would get the message about nickel and diming passengers.

Everyone would not do this. I suspect that most normal people find
lying to save a few bucks distasteful.

>Personally I think that charging for non-alcoholic beverages isn't going
>to catch on simply because it would take an inordinate amount of time to
>collect money from every passenger.

Ryanair and other European discounters do it all the time, no problem.

>Also, if you ever notice employees
>at snack bars that both handle money and serve food, they have to put on
>a new set of latex gloves every time they switch between handling money
>and serving food

An airplane is not a snack bar. Even now, flight attendants don't put
a new set of gloves when they switch between taking money for alcohol
and serving food.