Comments on: Money talks, B.S. flies http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:55:54 -0700 hourly 1 By: Upgrades and Downgrades — Pigeon carriers, Million mile movie, fees, tantrums, and much more | Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-27021 Upgrades and Downgrades — Pigeon carriers, Million mile movie, fees, tantrums, and much more | Upgrade: Travel Better Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:38:58 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-27021 [...] buying tickets on their own website. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it is: The airline tried this last summer, but retracted it within a few days. In the WSJ, Scott McCartney has this summary: [...] [...] buying tickets on their own website. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it is: The airline tried this last summer, but retracted it within a few days. In the WSJ, Scott McCartney has this summary: [...]

]]> By: Consumer victory: Spirit reverses its “web convenience fee” » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22544 Consumer victory: Spirit reverses its “web convenience fee” » Upgrade: Travel Better Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:10:57 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22544 [...] been taking a number of hits lately, but one of the most egregious was Spirit’s recent “web convenience fee,” whereby they charged an extra $10 for booking a roundtrip ticket [...] [...] been taking a number of hits lately, but one of the most egregious was Spirit’s recent “web convenience fee,” whereby they charged an extra $10 for booking a roundtrip ticket [...]

]]> By: Lindsay http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22520 Lindsay Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:46:20 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22520 Honestly, at this point, anyone who flies Spirit deserves what they get. It's just horrible from beginning to end. The fees are just a clue, people! Follow your instincts and avoid Spirit at all costs! Honestly, at this point, anyone who flies Spirit deserves what they get. It’s just horrible from beginning to end. The fees are just a clue, people! Follow your instincts and avoid Spirit at all costs!

]]> By: james http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22507 james Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:15:09 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22507 Ugh - why why why why can't these fees just be built INTO the price of the ticket? I'd rather pay more and not take it "a la carte" - especially if its something like BUYING the damn ticket where I don't have a choice. Ugh – why why why why can’t these fees just be built INTO the price of the ticket? I’d rather pay more and not take it “a la carte” – especially if its something like BUYING the damn ticket where I don’t have a choice.

]]> By: K http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22506 K Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:56:45 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22506 "Cash discounts" make sense, as the card companies charge a per-transaction fee, in addition to a percentage of each transaction. Can't blame them for that one, they're legitimately reducing their costs with that deal. A "convenience fee" for online transactions isn't reducing costs, however, since it costs the company more to have you call or show up at the counter than it does to sell you a ticket online. “Cash discounts” make sense, as the card companies charge a per-transaction fee, in addition to a percentage of each transaction.

Can’t blame them for that one, they’re legitimately reducing their costs with that deal.

A “convenience fee” for online transactions isn’t reducing costs, however, since it costs the company more to have you call or show up at the counter than it does to sell you a ticket online.

]]> By: S A http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22505 S A Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:01:20 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22505 And to commenter Mark, your Consumerist link was broken. Try this: http://consumerist.com/5025123/is-this-010-creditdebit-surcharge-on-gasoline-allowed and linked within that post http://consumerist.com/5023643/10-things-you-might-not-know-about-your-credit-card How soon before we start seeing "cash discounts" for plane tickets? They charge fees in Europe for using the credit card to buy tickets, don't they? And to commenter Mark, your Consumerist link was broken. Try this:

http://consumerist.com/5025123/is-this-010-creditdebit-surcharge-on-gasoline-allowed

and linked within that post

http://consumerist.com/5023643/10-things-you-might-not-know-about-your-credit-card

How soon before we start seeing “cash discounts” for plane tickets? They charge fees in Europe for using the credit card to buy tickets, don’t they?

]]> By: S A http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22504 S A Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:59:29 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22504 How dare they? Who do they think they are, Ticketmaster? ;) How dare they? Who do they think they are, Ticketmaster? ;)

]]> By: mark http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22500 mark Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:42:53 +0000 http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2008/07/21/money-talks-bs-flies/#comment-22500 These people ought to be publicly horsewhipped, if only for crimes against the English language. "Convenience," my @ss. Can you imagine the reaction if your local grocery store or gas station tried to tack on a "convenience fee" for every transaction? (Actually, you don't have to imagine: gas stations have tried this stunt repeatedly over the years whenever gas prices spike. Consumerist has <a href="http://consumerist.com/tag/gas/?i=5025123&t=is-this-010-creditdebit-surcharge-on-gasoline-allowed" rel="nofollow">the latest smackdown.</a>) These people ought to be publicly horsewhipped, if only for crimes against the English language. “Convenience,” my @ss. Can you imagine the reaction if your local grocery store or gas station tried to tack on a “convenience fee” for every transaction?

(Actually, you don’t have to imagine: gas stations have tried this stunt repeatedly over the years whenever gas prices spike. Consumerist has the latest smackdown.)

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