MORE FEES AT THE AIRPORT
"Why not raise fares? . . . It seems that the airlines are continuing to sell airline tickets for less than it costs them to actually transport the passengers and then attempting to make up the difference with a plethora of obscure fees and income from frequent flyer programs . . . According to airline pricing gurus, I am way off base, however, it seems that common sense should be explored every so often."-CHARLIE LEOCHA, Tripso.com
"It's turning into a fill-in-the-blank exercise: [Name] Airlines announced a new fee of $[amount] today for [service previously included in ticket cost] . . . Latest one: US Airways charging $5 and up for an aisle or window seat in the first few rows of coach. Pay up or sit in the middle. Or the back. They call it Choice. How droll. One may choose to pay the fee, whereas one used to get to choose the seat without the fee."-JEANNE LeBLANC, Courant.com
"In the age of Web commerce, shoppers can find the lowest price with a click. The grim reality for businesses is that the lowest price tag usually wins. How can a business raise prices and still compete? Isolate a cost, tack it on to the bill and call it a fee. The price tag is intact, and 'fee' and 'surcharge' sound almost inevitable, even downright governmental . . . in this age of fees in flight, the travel experience has been deconstructed."-KAREN AHO, moneycentral.msn.com
"On the brighter side, I've been seeing lots of air fare sales lately, so you can still get a good deal if you check only one bag, don't change your ticket, are willing to sit in a middle seat, don't mind living in the airport for several days if your flight is cancelled, and can last a six-hour flight without eating. Happy travels!"
-MICHAEL STRICKLAND, stricklandia.com
MENINO'S POPULARITY
"A poll . . . seems to indicate that Mayor Tom Menino would coast to victory if he decides to seek another term in November . . . It may be that the most interesting number in the poll is that 54 percent of respondents said that they have personally met the mayor. That appears rather impressive." -THE HUBSTER, thehubsterblog.blogspot.com
"The Globe headline declared the city was 'smitten,' which is not a word Bostonist would use to describe how the city's residents view the mayor. Then again, he appears to be quite a hit with the ladies. Compared to what mayors in other cities get embroiled in . . . Mayor Menino is pretty tame and keeps himself focused on the business of the city. How successful he is at getting city business done is a matter of debate."-CAROLINE ROBERTS, bostonist.com
"Mayor Tom Menino is like the Union Oyster House or Fenway Park - an institution that's been in the city for as long as anyone can remember and isn't going anywhere anytime soon."-AMY DERJUE, bostonmagazine.com
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