Day of the week matters a lot. My flights have stayed essentially the same price for several years now...Originally Posted by melon8r
Day of the week matters a lot. My flights have stayed essentially the same price for several years now...
Well, I thought that someone might point out the fuel surcharge. That is a valid point, but the fuel surcharge is added on when fuel prices have a rather drastic increase and do not make up for the increased fuel cost to the airline. I personally think that the fuel surcharge while not immediately added to the ticket price, is very slowly-too slowly- removed. The increased taxes and fees charged to the airline and to the passengers have been one of the big factors in increased ticket prices. In years past, when I traveled internationally, my airline as a courtesy, paid my international taxes and fees. The cost increased to the point that they could no longer do that. I was shocked when I was billed at the end of each month for those taxes and fees. I have seen fares offered by my airline from a US city to Montego Bay where taxes and fees added up to one half of the total ticket price. From that remaining half of the fare the airline had to pay for insurance, fuel, other airport fees,labor cost. food and beverage cost and the amortized cost of a 60 to over 100 million dollar aircraft. Sometimes, I think that the airline business is some sort of cash flow scam! We, the American middle class and working class which are pretty much one and the same, are so fortunate to be able to enjoy air travel that was once primarily the domain of the well off business men and the so called "jet set". An older friend of mine that flew as a pilot from New York to Europe in the 1940's and the 1950's said that the passengers were almost exclusively the very wealthy and movie stars. Then with no security threats, passengers were welcome in the cockpit. I was fascinated with his stories of meeting people such as Charles Lindberg, and just about every major Hollywood star. In fact, he was a rather good looking guy, and as a result of meeting so many stars and Hollywood big shots, he was signed to a contract with a major studio and appeared in some productions. When I flew with him as a young pilot, we teased him about being a "ham" when he made PA's using his stage voice.
Yesterday Oil prices fell again to recent record lows. Several perspectives have been offered on this thread. Below are two articles that seem to make sense????
I just find it hard to believe that over the course of last few months the fall has been so dramatic!!! Looks to me like we were REALLY over charged (everybody) for petroleum products for the past 5 or 6 years??? Despite political debate on this subject from my view this cost (to power the world) has been costly and unnecessary to the world economy. I know I am not an economist or petro scientist so the why and how perhaps escape me but it all seems to reveal the inevitable truth. Too bad it takes close to economic collapse to bring about some changes.
As I said before many more people would travel if they could afford it more easily (federal student loans 6.8%, utility increases, insurance costs, food, etc.... all up). Perhaps to many this is not a concern but for others (like myself and family) travel and vacations take a back seat to paying the bills!!!
Wishing everybody a great 2015 and hopefully see you in Negril again!!!
http://theweek.com/article/index/273...doing-the-same
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0KE06V20150106
Wish it were that simple Johng. So much politics and taxes involved. High prices have been very good to the economy of some. I think consideration of retribution for the Russian actions in Crimea and Ukraine may have some effect. The Russians are hurting bad by sanctions and low oil prices. Now look at the rejuvenated US dollar and how much further your dollar goes in other countries.
You're on the right track dash. Russia is only a part of this though, these are major power plays between world economies. The prices falling this low are devastating US shale production, as it just isn't profitable at these prices. We'll see how long the Saudi's can afford to keep this up.
dash & TAH,
Like I said on my post Politically speaking the debate can be long without conclusion to who is right or wrong. My original question on this thread was what can we do (if anything) as individual citizens to have some impact?? Don't vote??? Protest??? Write letters to politicians??? Become politicians???
It becomes clear to me that Russia and Iran are suffering currently by sanctions and now the crash in oil prices. Unfortunately we receive our world news through the mouthpieces of the media so the factual content can be questionable.
Dash, simple it is not nor do I pretend to have answers. Many have made a killing in the Markets recently (maybe not the past week) but for me as previously stated I don't have extra funding to invest at the moment.
Here in New England the economy is still very precarious despite the constant rhetoric from the politicians stating positive growth.
Not wanting to turn this board or post into a political commentary I will close by saying Jamaica is a great country, Negril is a beautiful beach town and the Jamaican people are some of the nicest I have ever met. Let's hope that the island and the people benefit by the current downward trend in Lower Fuel Prices!!!
Posting Permissions
