Continental to start charging extra for certain seats?

[jlewisinsyr]

Okay, smarty, then why don't they include the landing fees? Come on. I am sure that you have something for that, too. You know, the local home depot fees or something. You can come up with something...

Landing fees are a tax, just under a different name. This is like a mobile phone bill. You see the advertised price of $49.99 a month, but its exclusive of taxes and fees (just a direct tax). These are then layered on and itemized seperately. This is no different then a port fee, E911 service fee, etc. I guess I should have been more clear and specified that TAXES and FEES imposed by governmental (and quasi governmental) entities are not required to be displayed in an advertised price (and rarely are or have ever been).

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Landing fees are a tax, just under a different name...

See, I knew I could count on you. Which airline do you work for?

 

[bettymae1121]

Okay, smarty, then why don't they include the landing fees? Come on. I am sure that you have something for that, too. You know, the local home depot fees or something. You can come up with something...

I can answer this one. It's because not all landing fees (Actually it's call a Passenger Facility Fee, or PFC) are the same. Some airports are as little as $3, the max is $4.50. And that's per airport. If you take a connecting flight, the PFC can vary depending on which city you connect through. They can't quote it in the fare, they don't know what routing you're going to take until you book.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Your focusing on one thing he said versus the whole content.

The reason they do all this is to mislead the customer in a legal way.

It's not misleading, it's common business practice and law. Your example (I figured I'd drop the quote since it was so long) is also a long stretch, there is a difference between $200,000 and $299,900, but the difference is price relevant. But note, that price is before closing costs, taxes and fees, those are not represented in the price, why because they are pass through and are not routinely reflected in any sale price!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

See, I knew I could count on you. Which airline do you work for?

Just wait--they'll soon add an 18% gratuity for the flight attendant's time serving you a bag of peanuts.

You'll get a post crash landing charge for their assistance in an emergency.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

See, I knew I could count on you. Which airline do you work for?

I don't, I work in the Financial world.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I can answer this one. It's because not all landing fees (Actually it's call a Passenger Facility Fee, or PFC) are the same. Some airports are as little as $3, the max is $4.50. And that's per airport. If you take a connecting flight, the PFC can vary depending on which city you connect through. They can't quote it in the fare, they don't know what routing you're going to take until you book.

Sorry, but unless the flight to Orlando has an alternate landing location available, they still know what the fee will be before you book.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I don't, I work in the Financial world.

Ahh, so they pay you a commission or fee for each one of these posts?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Ahh, so they pay you a commission or fee for each one of these posts?

Not at all, I just like to make sure people are informed correctly based on fact and not emotion.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It's not misleading, it's common business practice and law. You're example (I figured I'd drop the quote since it was so long) is also a long stretch, there is a difference between $200,000 and $299,900, but the difference is price relevant. But note, that price is before closing costs, taxes and fees, those are not represented in the price, why because they are pass through and are not routinely reflected in any sale price!

I have no issue with not included taxes and fees that are legally imposed.

I have an issue with passing something off as a bargain, that truly isn't.

Southwest seems to have little issue in showing their pricing in this manner--but clearly, it is too much to ask of all the other airlines. Likely why they are doing so extraordinarily well right now.

My point is--they chopped off $100 (on the house) to get you in the door. But they know that once they get you in--they've got you and can upsell you. Given our circumstance, it resulted in a wasted trip.

A $100,000 window of pricing wiggle room--wayyyy too much and very misleading, though not deceptive and perfect for their marketing purposes.

I have the same opinion of airlines where the added OPTIONAL fees can add as much as 1/3 to 50% of the cost to the flight before the taxes and legally mandated fees.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Not at all, I just like to make sure people are informed correctly based on fact and not emotion.

Let's see - the fact is simple - their advertising practices are greatly different than they were 20 years ago. Your spin is that this is okay because everyone else does it. That isn't good enough for some of us rubes.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I have no issue with not included taxes and fees that are legally imposed.

I have an issue with passing something off as a bargain, that truly isn't...

...I have the same opinion of airlines where the added OPTIONAL fees can add as much as 1/3 to 50% of the cost to the flight before the taxes and legally mandated fees.

Again, here is the keyword, OPTIONAL, not required, not mandated. A person can choose to utilize the OPTIONAL service. Again, a person sees that a car is $14,990, but it's a base model, they can choose OPTIONAL features, which could dramatically add to the cost of the car, again before taxes and fees (ie. DMV). Same goes for a house, you could choose to buy the house for $299,900 but you may choose OPTIONAL features before taxes and fees.

One does not need to check luggage, sit in a specific seat, these are OPTIONAL.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not at all, I just like to make sure people are informed correctly based on fact and not emotion.

Bamafan rarely emotes.


Marketing and Advertising depend heavily on the emotion of the consumer and thus there are techniques to legally rope a customer via a misleading ad that is 100% factual and legal.

Emotion has everythign to do with why an airline opts to promote their pricing in the manner that they do.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Again, here is the keyword, OPTIONAL, not required, not mandated. A person can choose to utilize the OPTIONAL service. Again, a person sees that a car is $14,990, but it's a base model, they can choose OPTIONAL features, which could dramatically add to the cost of the car, again before taxes and fees (ie. DMV). Same goes for a house, you could choose to buy the house for $299,900 but you may choose OPTIONAL features before taxes and fees.

One does not need to check luggage, sit in a specific seat, these are OPTIONAL.

You're funny.

Do you go around implying people are ignorant or something?

Do you know anything about marketing and advertising?

It's comical that you try to present "facts" but don't realize that these entities depend heavily on emotion to get you in their door and to buy their product.

I coud care less about the seat I get--but for most, luggage isn't "optional".

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Let's see - the fact is simple - their advertising practices are greatly different than they were 20 years ago. Your spin is that this is okay because everyone else does it. That isn't good enough for some of us rubes.

No they are not, taxes and fees traditionally have not been previously included in advertised rates.

Sure, you may have been able to pick any seat in the class of service and received a free piece of checked luggage, but in essence what they were doing was charging $149.00 for the airfare and $0.00 for your luggage and seat choice, now what they did is charge $149.00 for the airfare and $30.00 for your luggage and seat choice.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Bamafan rarely emotes. ...

Come on. I am a man. I do not "emote" - I rant...

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

No they are not, taxes and fees traditionally have not been previously included in advertised rates.

Sure, you may have been able to pick any seat in the class of service and received a free piece of checked luggage, but in essence what they were doing was charging $149.00 for the airfare and $0.00 for your luggage and seat choice, now what they did is charge $149.00 for the airfare and $30.00 for your luggage and seat choice.

and 7.5% tax and the landing fee. 20 years ago, a $149 advertised fare meant $149 was charged to your CC when you bought the ticket. Now that means that $184 (or some such amount) is charged to your card for the base fare.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

You're funny.

Do you go around implying people are ignorant or something?

Do you know anything about marketing and advertising?

It's comical that you try to present "facts" but don't realize that these entities depend heavily on emotion to get you in their door and to buy their product.

I coud care less about the seat I get--but for most, luggage isn't "optional".

I am not implying. Fact of the matter people seem to pick and choose what they see as wrong, applying different rules for different aspects of their day to day life.

I know a lot about business marketing and advertising, and yes, emotions often come into play when a person chooses to spend their money, but you have to legal guidelines and facts for a business to run. Business is rarely about emotions.

Luggage is completely optional but it seems there is a disconnect between DIS world and the real world.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I am not implying. Fact of the matter people seem to pick and choose what they see as wrong, applying different rules for different aspects of their day to day life...

By "people", you really mean everyone but you, right?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

By "people", you really mean everyone but you, right?

Not at all, I am referring to some in this thread (yes, you included).