The excellent Freakonomics blog has a story about an interesting idea concerning the Airline Industry. Apparently, ads for a fake airline, Derrie-Air, have been spotted in some newspapers. Derrie-Air takes the combined weight of yourself and you luggage and charges you by the pound. This is perfect for someone like me who is both skinny and tends to pack lightly. A government study said that Airlines where spending $275 million more dollars on fuel because of the 10 pounds the average American has packed on since 1990, and this was written in 2004! Airlines are already cutting the weight of everything else, are passengers next? Personally, I’m all for it. In fact, a lot of talk has been given about how the airlines have cut down on all the services they used to provide but I think, the more the better. I’d rather make and pack my own sandwich than get those “free” pretzels anyway. And if the TSA would let me, I’d take my own bottle of Mountain Dew instead of getting a half cup thats full of ice. I’m more than willing to pay the 2 bucks in the terminal to get a Dew from the vending machine. I think we are too spoiled now. We can’t even sit down for 2-3 hours without wanting a TV in front of us to show us a crappy movie or sitcoms from what ever network the airline has teamed up with. I guess all I want to do is pay for seat on a plane and thats it. I don’t want pillow, I don’t want a blanket (if i did, i’d bring my own), i don’t want a drink, i don’t want headphones, and i definitely don’t want to subsidize the fight of the obese person sitting next to me who’s butt is overlapping into my seat.
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you really should make your hyperlinks shorter in length. my eyes hurt.
besides that, i think it’s funny that you are complaining about airlines giving you blankets and pillows and movies that you didn’t ask for. I think it’s funny because that is exactly how I feel about the federal government giving me things I don’t want (social security). Sorry to inject politics into an apolitical blog entry, but I couldn’t resist.
Go browns.
Steve Cleveland
9 Jun 08 at 2:22 pm
Leave it to Steve to inject politics into something. However, Steve says he doesn’t want social security because he thinks it is limited to retirement, but doesn’t realize he would be eligible for social security if he suffered a debilitating injury and was never able to work again.
Anywho, the airline industry in America can only be fixed one way, by de-regulating the American skies. Let foreign airlines come into our country and fly domestic flights. Free market baby.
Don Swanzey
9 Jun 08 at 4:49 pm
Actually Steve does not want social security at all. Not when i’m 65, not when i get paralyzed, not ever. i am going to take it upon myself to protect my own livelihood. interesting concept, huh?
I also like how you complain about me injecting politics into this subject and then the comment you came here to post revolves around de-regulation. Standard left-wing double standard, gotta love it.
Steve Cleveland
10 Jun 08 at 8:56 am
I’m sorry, I thought de-regulation of an industry would give a Republican a boner, you know, free market economics and all, but then again, I mistook Steve for someone who actually was a conservative because he believes in the principals not because his daddy was a Republican.
Don
10 Jun 08 at 9:10 am
Great points hectorhector if taking away all that stuff means cheaper flights then I’m all for it, Ill sit on the floor if it means paying less.
Dallas Jensen
11 Jun 08 at 10:57 am
Have to agree Hec, finally a good idea. If airline cut all the frills and were basically like big ass busses just takin people across the country, no luxury, they just might figure out how to make some money. Plus Swanzey, I’m pretty sure Steve knows he’ll get SS if he’s a cripple, but trust if i know him he won’t take it. He’ll off himself first.
JaPat
15 Jun 08 at 12:38 am