Coffee, Tea, or Fees?

   In today's world of air travel, it's no longer the most fabulous or comfortable way of flying. What was once a  hassle free and glamorous way of travel has now becoming into nothing more than a flying cattle car. Not many airlines offer great amenities and you would be lucky if you even got a bottle of water with out having to pay for it. If you've ever flown recently in the past few years within the U.S. you can notice that airlines have been nickle-ing and dime-ing almost everything that was once free and basic and are now being charged as "extras". For example the no-frills low-cost airline, Spirit Air, is now charging people $30 dollars for your carry on. I think that's freaking ridiculous charging for your carry on bag on top of that if you're checking in your luggage you have to pay for that at $28 dollars, for the second is $40 and your third, fourth and fifth bag will cost you $90! Of course Spirit isn't the only airline to charge you for your bags, American charge you for both, so does Delta and Continental (now merged United) Jetblue only charges you for the second and third bag. The only airline that does not charge you for your bags is Southwest Airlines, they are the only airline that has refused to do so.

 There are so many fees that it's getting ridiculous! With all the money we're spending I'd rather fly in business because with the baggage fees and the fees they charge to change the date or destination plus the cost of difference, which by the way all together comes out to more than what you paid for in the first place. The airlines are getting so out of hand with fees that U.S. Senator Charles Schumer has stepped in and is calling on the Depart of Transportation to regulate airlines on fees. This issue has come to his attention due to the fact that he used an example of a family of four flying together were being forced to pay and extra $200 so that the family can sit together. Sen. Schumer said " Requiring parents to pay an additional fee to make sure their kids are sitting next to them and in sight is ridiculous and simply over the top."  
While I agree on him that paying $200 dollars to get seats you want is over the top but I don't believe safety is any issue because you're flying on a plane. I mean really where is your kind going to wander off too the back of the plane? Besides, that's why we have flight attendants, you can just ask them nicely to check on them periodically through out the flight.

 In the end all we can do is just try to avoid the fees as much as possible and if you're really just that cheap go driving or find other alternatives of getting to where you need to be. In the near future I do hope that the Department of Transportation does step in and put in some restrictions because I do believe what they're charging is excessive.