Even if you haven’t travelled by air recently, you probably have heard about airlines cutting operation costs by reducing services. Obviously, domestic travel has been hit the hardest. On United Economy Class, beverage service no longer includes any 0.05oz bag of pretzels to accompany the drinks (for flights < 2hrs). United has also opened up a dozen or so “Economy Plus” seats on their 737′s that offer an extra 5 inches of legroom. Their website states that these seats are available for one-time upgrades starting at $14. No bad right? Bad indeed. The $14 only gets you the seat on ultra-short haul flights only (Chicago <-> Detroit). On my flight from Chicago -> Philadelphia the other day, the upgrade was available for $40. Indeed, it was such a hot item that it seemed like the only takers were those willing to shove through the flight attendants barracading the division between economy and “economy plus” class.

When it was becoming blatantly obvious that the first 8 rows of the plane were unoccupied while the rear was crammed with screaming kids and agitated traveler, the attendant announced that those “plus” seats were available only for purchase.  An audible grumble from the crowd ensued.

The flip side of all this? I got to read my favorite airline magazine and check out the hilarious Rosetta Stone ad on the back:

Midwestern farmboy impresses Italian supermodel with Rosetta Stone

misc rant, travel