What's next for airlines, pay by the pound?
The story on the airline industry's shift to à la carte pricing is interesting and fitting. ("Airlines shift more costs to travelers," May 4.) Why shouldn't passengers who enjoy better seating or perks pay more? With the high cost of fuel, it makes sense that airlines will do what they can to pass on operating costs to passengers. So, I found it odd that one obvious cost allocation was not mentioned, namely passenger weight. According to the article, JetBlue saves $1,500 per day for every 100 pounds removed from its fleet. One has to wonder when the first bold airline will require passengers to step on a scale before boarding and pay by the pound for their allocated share of fuel consumption.
ED ENGLISH, Scituate
Just keep pricing straightforward
Very interesting article. I wish the airlines would just raise their fares. Our gas stations do it every day and sometimes twice in the same day. The extra expense of aisle, window, and row, I cannot believe these executives. Keep it simple guys.
BERNARD GAOR, Middleborough
Good to see businesses embrace global challenge
What a great story! ("Corporate volunteers reaching worldwide," May 4.) Not only positive, but timely.
I think that the only thing that may be happening as fast as the "flattening" of the world, is the need for all of us - even those who think they're not affected - to acknowledge and understand that there's not just a challenge to embrace a global context in the things we do, but an irrevocable and growing need to do so. I would love to see some more stories like this!
JAMES DRISCOLL, Norwood
Travel agents can secure discounts, too
I read today's Consumer Alert and smiled at the plight of Bryce Cunningham. ("It can be nearly impossible to change airline tickets bought online," May 4.) I am still a travel agent and have seen my business dwindle because of the Internet. People seem to believe that buying travel online is the only way to save money. Wrong. A good travel agent can usually meet or even beat an online price for international tickets.
There are many good travel agents and agencies out there. But for how long if they are not used?
WALTER CHORNEY, North Attleborough
Posh mall not such a good fit
Around Christmas, I ventured out to view the pièce de résistance mall of all malls, the Natick Collection. ("Downscaled hopes for an upscale mall," May 4.) It was a Herculean task to navigate parking, and my mood soured almost instantly when I became stuck in a traffic jam - not on the highway, but in the parking garage. I could have accessed valet parking if, of course, I wanted to cough up 10 bucks to get it.
It seemed like I had to walk miles before I shopped. When I viewed a pair of shoes for $1,000, I knew immediately that part of the mall was not for me. I would never pay ridiculous prices for anything when I could get a similar item or better for one-20th the cost.
I am a Framingham townie. I cut my teeth at my father's store, the only small-business wallpaper store in downtown Framingham. Ah, for the good old days when prices were sane, customers felt valued, and owners would do anything for them to make a sale.
I thought, from the very beginning, that those demographics experts who put snob wear in this neck of the woods were barking up the wrong fake birch tree!
NATALIE ROSEN, Framingham
Happy to take her money elsewhere
How many customers wish to be told that they don't have the taste to shop here? When I want to be educated about style, I will take my bad taste elsewhere, thank you very much.
RUTH L. KAPLAN, Newton
More to love about East Cambridge
We enjoyed the East Cambridge Community Snapshot from May 4. We wanted to add more information about the neighborhood:
1. East Cambridge does enjoy easy access to a large grocery store: Shaw's in the nearby Twin City Plaza is a five-minute walk from the heart of East Cambridge (along with a Marshalls, RiteAid, and other stores). A great fish market, bakery, and other smaller restaurants are also just around the corner in the neighborhood.
2. A good amount of open space is nearby; not only in the many smaller playgrounds dotted around the streets, but also the larger Gore Park and the playing fields adjacent to the Kennedy-Longfellow School.
3. The Kennedy-Longfellow School also deserves mention as a great choice for a neighborhood school with good facilities and lots of playground and sports space. There's also the East End House offering day care and community activities.
4. Finally, we would be remiss in not mentioning the wonderful local library, and the super library staff headed up by branch head Yan Qu.
We love East Cambridge, and find living here like living in a small friendly village, but just steps away from big city activities.
ABIGAIL and ALISTER LEWIS-BOWEN, East Cambridge
New auto insurance system is welcome news
I happily switched to Progressive for my car insurance the first day it became available in Massachusetts for a $300 savings per year. ("Insurer's sales tactics questioned," May 7.)
My daughter with a learner's permit was in an extremely minor accident in August 2006. She was turning into a parking space and connected with the front bumper of a minivan (no damage at all to my Celica, small dent visible in minivan bumper). Incredibly this turned into a "major accident" by the time my policy came up for renewal in May 2007, with a 42 percent increase in my rate for the next six years.
It's about time Massachusetts allowed competition among insurance companies. How about looking into fraudulent, inflated claims next?
CAMILLA J. MORRILL, Reading
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