A Rant.

We all know that the economy has been struggling. We hear it all the time... on the news... in people's conversations on the street... front page of the newspaper... But when it comes to economy in general, I have a very limited understanding of how it all works.

Regardless, I have a bone to pick. With this crashing of the economy, it seems to create reasons for businesses to charge more for their services. Somehow they justify it, even though it seems to go against the laws of economy. To me, if the economy is crashing, the average consumer is not going to have the extra cash to dish out towards a rise in prices.

All this to say, I'm annoyed with airlines- particularly American ones. I just got back from a trip to Michigan to see my dear friend Johanna and her son Xander. Here's how it seems to work: if you fly domestic (within the borders of one country), airfare is at it's minimum cost usually. As soon as you add flying over an international border, the cost dramatically increases, and if you fly over that border more than once (which most people do on a return trip) it can be even more. This trip I flew out of Seattle but landed back in Vancouver. Only one international border; fairly affordable.

But really, how does that make any sense? Do the planes have to fly higher in the air to hurdle that invisible fence between Canada and the US? Is there some sort of toll booth in the clouds that when we fly by, we drop a bag of money out the back of the plane?

Another thing I dislike about airlines is security. "Heightened security" in this day and age tends to equate to more rules and regulations that really don't help me feel any more safe but more like I'm entering a prison. Going through security I have to take off my shoes, my belt, my jacket, empty all my pockets, and show them my laptop. We can't take anything on the plane that is a liquid, gel or aerosol in a container larger than 100 mL. And all of it has to fit in a 1 L bag. Silly hassles that mean you have to arrive at the airport much earlier and pack your bags much more carefully.

Now you may think I'm being dramatic and yes, I know there are people out there who try to take knives and guns and who knows what else onto planes with negative intentions, but I have many stories from friends of mine in recent years who boarded planes numerous times with a forgotten pocket knife in their carry-on bag and "heightened security" somehow missed it... Boy, do I feel safe.

But here's the newest cause of my angst. Since it's not easy to carry-on anymore, you have to check your luggage. But now they are charging for checked bags. Because of this, I carried on for my flight out of town on my last trip, but I acquired so many gifts from Johanna when I was there that I had to check my bag on the way home. I flew with Delta and they charge $20 for the 1st bag, and $30 for the 2nd bag. If you fly internationally, you get the 1st bag free, but the 2nd bag is $50. Do the math. THAT'S THE SAME AMOUNT IN THE END. We're supposed to be thankful for our 1st free bag internationally I suppose, but they are making the same amount of money off of us in the long run. So now, not only do I pay more for the flight in order to cross that international border, but I have to pay to take my stuff with me two. Seems like a charge on top of a charge to me. All in the name of the "crashing economy."

"But wait a minute," you say, "Isn't flying to Canada an international flight? You shouldn't have to pay for that checked bag, should you?" Yes, yes it is an international flight and you are very observant, but Delta airlines has decided that Canada is no longer international when it comes to paying for checked bags. SERIOUSLY. And to that I say, "If Canada is no longer international, I should be able to just get off the plane and walk straight through customs without showing my passport, AND I shouldn't be paying more for flying over that invisible fence in the air. Mind you, I think I'll just drive down to Seattle every day and fill up my gas tank while I'm at it since it's cheaper and no longer international."

Seriously. Cut me some slack.

Let's be real people, those planes are stinking heavy and whether I check one bag or two bags or carry-on that bag that I would've checked, those planes are still stinking heavy. Blaming it on fuel costs is a load of garbage.

My flight from Seattle to Chicago was very full. And everyone was carrying-on to avoid the extra cost. Most people boarding the plane had a large briefcase and a rolling suitcase that had to be stuffed into the overhead compartments or under the seat in front of them. Needless to say, it filled up fast and people were struggling to get all their stuff on board. I had to listen to the flight attendants announce at least 6 times that "if you brought 2 carry-ons, you should put one under the seat in front of you and one in the overhead compartment as it is a full flight." It was ridiculous. IF YOU WOULD'VE LET US CHECK OUR BAGS MAYBE THIS PROBLEM WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.

So my conclusion is this: I would rather drive.

But then I'd complain about oil prices and gas companies and fuel taxes.

:)