Prices...Chapter One...

vc1111 · 11-20-2007, 07:03 PM

My plane was delayed today for quite some time. Continental showed a bit of graciousness and passed out $6 vouchers, which could be used at any of the airport's vendors.

I bought a cup of yogurt with three slices of strawberry and about 5 blueberries...and a USA today. Cost $5.75

(However, my ticket for the flight was bone cheap so I'm not seriously complaining; we're just talking here.)

I did negotiate parking with shuttle service to the airport for about $6 a day, and a room in Suncoast in Vegas for $20 a night, plus room tax...which is nearly as much as the room rate.

Sometimes a buck goes a long way; other times its nothing.

As it turned out, I was able to jump another plane to severely reduce the delay...at no extra cost.

The airlines are still a pretty good bargain...for now

Lubricious · 11-20-2007, 11:03 PM

I got stuck once and they handed me a food voucher, too bad it was like 2 am and everything was closed. Did you hear the hoopla about charging fat people more for their seats? Im all for it, makes perfect sense.

Champlain Islander · 11-21-2007, 07:26 AM

I usually try to drive if the trip is less than 8 hours. Some routes are more problematic than others by air. Anything going through JFK or the other NY airports are bad news. I liked Jet Blue but JFK is their hub so that makes them less appealing now IMO. Good luck in Vegas.

Sureisaniceskimask · 11-21-2007, 07:44 AM

Fat people should be required to pay more, but of course in the PC world we live in they will just cry discrimination instead of putting down the donut.

mudhead1s wife · 11-21-2007, 08:23 AM

I have never flown anywhere. My in laws go to Mexico every year but this year they decided to take a fishing trip in Canada one of those fly in ones. And they are not cheap but you are right VC a lot of places are willing to barter because they are smart and understand giving a discount is better than you not using their service at all. I have never paid full price for a hotel room.

I hope your hotel is clean. The last hotel we went to we had to change 3 rooms before we got a clean one. The first one the counter was not clean, nor was the bathroom floor, yuck[:'(][:@]I told the guy at the front desk that if it wasn't clean I would be back for supplies to clean the room. He switched me again and the last one the bathtub was disgusting. I cleaned it with one of their washrags and some soap. I know I sound really picky but I used to clean hotel rooms so I know full well what happens in them and there was a housekeeper there that would cut corners and one of them was by not changing the sheets.

vc1111 · 11-21-2007, 12:00 PM

Mudhead's wife, it was really nice. Great view too.

I'm heading out to go for a nice run in the desert. The temps are about 65 degrees and the sky is crystalline blue.

I put 1 dollar in a 5 cent slot machine and hit for 10 credits. I immediately cashed out.

I'm up 45 cents.

I'll need to take the rest of the day and ponder how I can parlay my winnings.[8D]

hntngirl · 11-21-2007, 12:47 PM

The last time I flew was for one of my son's Navy graduation. We flew Northwestern out of Portland to Chicago. We were supposed to switch planes in Dallas.I wasexcited about that because I'd finally be able to say I'd been to Texas.

Turned out our flight was delayed taking off, which meant we would miss the plane in Dallas. The only choice was to wait for the next flight out of Portland, 10 hours later, departing to Chicago at midnight. I, my husband and my then 14-year-old daughter got real creative with ways to amuse ourselves. We finally arrived at O'Hare just in time to rent a car, drive to the base and watch our son graduate. We looked like death warmed over.
Nobody from the airline offered us so much as a Cheetoh. Guess I need to get better at giving the evil eye.

Champlain Islander · 11-21-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: vc1111

Mudhead's wife, it was really nice. Great view too.

I'm heading out to go for a nice run in the desert. The temps are about 65 degrees and the sky is crystalline blue.

I put 1 dollar in a 5 cent slot machine and hit for 10 credits. I immediately cashed out.

I'm up 45 cents.

I'll need to take the rest of the day and ponder how I can parlay my winnings.[8D]

Better get right back there VC. Vegas casinos are in the business to make money and when an outsider blows into town and fleeses them they want the chance to recover their losses. You don't want to wake up with a severedhorse head in bed with you do you? Too bad your bet wasn't a million.

Big Duane · 11-21-2007, 02:15 PM

how are airlines such a "good bargain" ??

rising fuel costs, labor strikes ..... how is it that airlines STILL offer such cheap transportation with no signs of increase in costs ?

vc1111 · 11-21-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Nobody from the airline offered us so much as a Cheetoh. Guess I need to get better at giving the evil eye.

Huntngrl, I never travel without at least 2 of the team members on my staff whose job decsription includes negotations skills.

Quote:

You don't want to wake up with a severed horse head in bed with you do you? Too bad your bet wasn't a million.

I'll make my big play at Caesar's later.

Quote:

how is it that airlines STILL offer such cheap transportation with no signs of increase in costs ?

They buy fuel in bulk, they capitalize on economies of efficiency, and they do business in volume. Business is a art, not a science. Certain sectors are gifted with talented people at the top.