Cutting Costs on Gas with a Cash Back Card

Rising fuel prices combined with fewer passengers has forced airlines across the world to find ways to cut costs. With the ever present risk of bankruptcy many airlines are finding themselves in dire circumstances. As a consumer we should recognize the problems airlines face today and accept some changes. But, are some airlines going too far? The airlines are having to draw a fine line between cutting costs and providing quality service to its passengers.

As the consumer we expect that when we give our credit card number to an airline that we will receive a certain amount of comfort. Many carriers are reducing cost with such policies as removing pillows from domestic flights, reducing leg room for coach passengers which leaves them enough room to add additional seats, charging for traditionally free services such as meals and drinks, and charging for extra baggage. . There are however many cuts being made that are to the point of outrageousness.

The rumors and realities are many. Some airlines in the world are even asking their passengers to use the bathroom before boarding to reduce the amount of fuel the aircraft uses flushing the toilets. This seems pretty extreme but goes to show that anything that helps save money is a possibility. Most airlines are charging for meals and drinks and even eliminating the rider’s ability to pay cash. They say that if their passengers pay with a credit card it saves the company the time it takes to make change. This, they say, is to make service on flights better to offset the inconveniences that the consumer is experiencing. Some airlines are even asking passengers for their credit card number to charge as they go.

Those of us who have ever flown coach know that leg room is already at a premium. But, by adding additional seats the carriers are hoping to be able to fit more passengers on each flight. To most people this seems reasonable, unless you are bigger than average. It seems that as Americans are getting bigger, the space on flights is getting smaller.

Charging flyers for extra baggage also seems like a reasonable policy. However, it has been reported that some airlines who are transporting soldiers to war zones in Iraq are being charged for their baggage out of their own pockets. They either have to pay cash while checking in or use their personal credit cards. The military says that they eventually reimburse soldiers these expenses, however this takes time to fill out paperwork which has to be submitted to their finance departments. This can take months sometimes. All this has to be taken care of while the soldier’s minds and energies need to be on surviving in a war zone.
In conclusion, while we as consumers must accept the reality of today’s economic environment, the airlines need to make sure that their cost cutting measures are appropriate and necessary. We expect a lot when we have to hand over our credit cards and we should, but a little compromise by both the industry and the customer we will all come out a little better off.

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