OK so I figured since we fly out tomorrow to CUBA this post was very fitting. I touched on the cost of fuel in a previous post, however I did not touch on the ways that the increases impact our lives. In the post linked here (FYI if you ever read my original posts, this is taken from one of the bloggers that got me into this), the pilot tells the story as it is. He touches on the costs of fuel and service as well as the implied security or "false security" that people feel because they had to be inconvenienced at check in. In my opinion, he hits it on the head.

I am what I think you would call young-going-on-middle-aged. I have done a fair bit of travel for work and pleasure and have seen the service levels tank. I have seen the freebies go by the way of the Dodo. However, when I see the ticket prices going up now due to the ever rising cost of fuel, I can say I do not like it (who likes to spend more) but I will not blame the airlines. They need to make money. Since 9/11, we have seen so many airlines go under that we see the effect that losing too much money can have on an airline. I do not think bankrupt airlines will solve our problem so for them to continue to operate losing money makes no sense. Who thinks I am worng? {I do have to qualify my statement that I have no tolerance if a company (airline or otherwise) loses money due to mismanagement}

I have family that works for some of the major airlines, and they are forever defending the actions of their employers (and all other airlines). My gut tells me that if someone is willing to argue on behalf of their competition, and that argument is true for their company as well: they may be speaking the truth. I am still a bit of a perfectionist though so I sit back and say....less money does not have to translate into rude and crude employees making my travel experience unsettling and unpleasant. I look at just how great most of the employees are at Westjet and how miserable (in my humble opinion) they are at Continental....why??? Be reasonable to the customer (I am not saying kiss their arse) and 99% will be reasonable to you. If all airport employees do not follow this rule, guess what? It all falls apart.

Well, I will be travelling through the airport tomorrow being nice to everyone in hopes that they are all nice back to me. I am on vacation and will be in the warm ocean Sunday morning. Excellent. I will raise my glass each day to the single person that reads these posts...me. Ah heck, I will raise it enough each day that I should cover the people that might by chance stumble on.

CIAO for now