Why air travel is hell

Why air travel is hell
Delays, cancellations, miserable service, soaring prices . . . and it's only getting worse. The golden age of travel is over.
JASON KIRBY | July 16, 2008 |
Also on Macleans.ca:
Way back when the skies were friendly
Delays, cancellations, miserable service, soaring prices ... and it's only getting worse. The golden age of travel is over.
Last week, US Airways announced it was ripping the entertainment systems out of its planes flying domestic routes. The move would lighten the aircraft by 500 lb. and reduce fuel costs by $10 million a year, and if passengers were dismayed by the loss of another basic airline perk, well, they could always just stare out the window. The real surprise was that it didn't happen sooner. With fuel prices on the rise, nothing is sacred as carriers hunt for ways to save.

An official at one Indian airline recently warned that the taps in its airplane washrooms may run dry since aircraft now carry less water on every flight, something several European airlines are also considering. In China, they've gone even further. For some time now, according to reports, at least one airline has asked passengers to avoid using toilets because a single flush at 30,000 feet consumes enough fuel to power a car for 10 km. No doubt airline CEOs in North America have already done the math on that one, and are just trying to come up with a delicate way to ask passengers to hold it until they land.
http://www.macleans.ca/business/companies/article.jsp?content=20080716_57576_57576

It will be interesting to see what else they can cut....

- Thinner foam padding in the seats - another 50lbs
- Load your own luggage (after security naturally) you get a slightly used set of coveralls and 5 minutes to load your stuff, then you have to climb up into the plane from the belly.
- No luggage or overhead. One small walmart bag only allowed. No tape!
- Over 200lbs - You pay and additional $10 a pound. (sorry big guy)
- Join the Taxi Team! Save when you volunteer to push the plane out to the runway on takeoff and back to the gate upon landing!
- Hey you could be a co-pilot! Yes just attend the 4 hr seminar prior to your flight and you ride shotgun.

Yes, lots of room to save in the future.

I heard on the radio that air Imaliar the Icelandic National air line is considering lower fares if the passenger can prove he or she had an enema within two hours of departure. How would you prove that