Oh, the irony! Airlines decry oil speculation — then lose money doing it
Oh, the irony! The domestic airlines, which only a few months ago were asking for your help in stopping oil speculation, are losing money — lots of money — because they speculated on the price of oil themselves.
With oil at $75 a barrel, another airline lowers its fuel surcharge
Another airline is lowering its unpopular fuel surcharge. Lufthansa announced this morning it will reduce its energy fee by $3 to $100, depending on the route. The move follows several unofficial fuel surcharge reductions we reported earlier today.
A surprise fee for my hotel room
Ilene Coffey’s room at an Orlando hotel comes with an unexpected surprise: a $50 fee for a “short stay.” When she protests, her hotel and online travel agency tell her she must pay. What’s worse, she can’t back out — if she does, her credit card will be charged for the stay. Is there a way out of this mess?
Ayy! Mexican hotel “forgets” to mention $15 phone connection charge, minimum bill time
As a general rule, I know enough not to use the telephone in my hotel room. But at the Villa del Palmar in Puerto Vallarta the phone in the lobby uses only phone cards they sell at a ridiculous price.
Cruise passengers battered by unethical surcharges
Cruise lines are taking a hard line when it comes to fuel surcharges. Consider the recent case of Ron and Gwenda Bennett, who paid a £900 deposit on a £9,000 Mediterranean cruise but were told by the travel company that a surcharge was also due.
Doing the math on Spirit’s new seat assignment fees
Want an advanced seat on Spirit Airlines? Prepare to pay up. Adding insult to injury, Spirit Airlines has decided to charge you between $10 to $15 if you want to book any seat in advance. Additionally, that fee is for each leg.
When will hotels start their Motel 6-ization?
Airlines are reducing services and nickel-and-diming us for everything from checked luggage to Cokes. Are hotels next? David Burns thinks so.
Fuel surchage madness: the 5 most ridiculous airfares
If you think airlines are using high fuel costs as an excuse to jack up their prices without bothering to tell anyone — well, you’re right. As a travel agent, I see airlines trying to double their fares with clever energy surcharges every day. Here are five examples.