Not Moxie: American Airlines Isn’t Your Friend
Living in Dallas, TX allows me the opportunity to read and hear a lot of things about American Airlines. Well as of today, they’re no longer flying the friendly skies, in my opinion. Thanks to rising fuel costs, American stated today that they will begin to charge each passenger for all of their checked luggage. Yes, you read it correctly, even if you’re checking one suitcase, you’re going to be charged!
I understand that companies must make profits. That’s the nature of business. But when does it cross the line? American states that their rising fuel costs (billions of dollars per year) are one of the main reasons that they’ve decided to charge for each bag checked. So, to me, this brings up an even bigger problem: when is America going to stop our dependency on foreign oil? And why is the cost of oil so high? No one seems to know.
This is just another reason why the 2008 Presidential Election is so important. Make sure your candidate of choice is going to DO SOMETHING about our dependency on foreign oil or else we’re all going to be in a world of hurt.
What’s your opinion? Will American Airline’s decision on charging passengers for every bag checked make you stop flying the friendly skies with American Airlines? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your opinion.
Tags: American Airlines, Economy, Fuel, Not Moxie, Prices
May 21st, 2008 at 6:49 pm
I think the only thing that is gonna make the right changes are the things like your complaint above. The environment of transportation is quickly becoming obvious that there is gonna have to be some down to the finish line innovation. Studies on Oil production decades ago predicted that between 2007-2008 we would hit the tipping point for when major rearrangement of living would occur due to the price of oil no longer economical. According to these studies the Suburbs would quickly become ghost towns due to there gas dependent infrastructure creating an even stronger gold rush like effect than the already well known current trend to the inner city. Certain highways will slowly decline in size and capacity needs depending on how urban the city that surrounds it. Inner ring suburbs like Garland Texas northeast of Dallas is a mostly residential city will quickly urbanize. Garland is already looking at changing zoning to a new method that allows more mixing of uses without zoning an entire area for residential only or commercial only. This kind of zoning structure will increase the speed of the potential for cities to urbanize their infrastructure and make their neighborhoods more walkable. The large Suburban Home Builders will need to look at how to build the modern family urban home cause their market for mass production of ranch homes on the prairie will practically melt away. These changes will happen even though we have known they were coming, will happen because our way with our cars forced us to the end of the line. We refused to acknowledge that the Gas companies bought up Trolley companies during their dominance in urban America in the past decades and slowly turned them all into buses using gas a diesel then terminated just about all of them when they marketed a car to everyone they could. We went down this road but we change its course we have the technology.
May 21st, 2008 at 8:23 pm
It's one of the reasons we're working on buying a bus!
May 21st, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Something has to happen. We can not go on paying these unbelievable prices for everything. Something will crack. It will probably end up ruining our economy for years to come. We need a new technology that will allow us to use renewable energy to transport us and our goods. A technology like this " http://www.theaircar.com/acf/ ". We need a major American car company to buy this company soon. They need to make an american road worthy car from this tech, and sell it to us before 2010. Look on my blog ( http://www.geekhangout.wordpress.com ) tomorrow for a post about possible solutions to this problem.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I don't blame you Neal. It's truly insane. Although you guys will have an added cost thanks to the insane fuel prices. It's just not right and REGARDLESS of people's political beliefs, George Bush has FAILED us yet again. Did you hear the "talks" he had w/ Saudi Arabia? They basically laughed in his face.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Ben – what awesome comments! Thank you, man! And I totally agree… it will be on OUR generation's shoulders to find a new energy… it's truly that simple.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:55 am
Good Morning Jeff I am a new Canadian transplant in Texas and I have a different take on the problem. I think the American citizenry needs to take some ownership of this problem and force the government to make the changes. I find it slightly ironic that my new recycling boxes are made in Canada. That is because Canadians have made recycling a priority. This is just an example to say that unless the people want change, it won't happen. When I moved to Texas I was shocked by the amount of Suburbans, Escalades and full size trucks for non-business use. That is why the mindset of the public needs to change first. This is part of the need of foreign oil and gas. BTW, I am assuming that you know that 65% of the oil and gas that is produced in Alberta is for the US market. I know that I am planning my trips more effectively so that I use less gas and I definitely have reduced my speed too. But oil and gas are one problem; wait until the hot weather hits and our electric bills exceed $600. I am looking at the ability to retro-fit my home with solar panels. But the cost is still prohibitive. I agree with Ben, until the public demands new technology we will have 8 dollar gas shortly. I travelled to Europe for work in my past job and you honestly would be shocked at the price of gas there. (7 Euros per litre= 3.8 Litres per US gallon). This causes people to take public transit and to drive small cars (Smart cars are very popular) We can all complain about the prices of things to come or we can change our mindsets and affect a positive change for the environment and our economy. Let's replace our dependence on oil/gas and make a new economy of environmentally positive products. One final thought: this change will take a generation to happen. Keep up the pressure. Bruce
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
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