I received this letter in an email yesterday. Because of speculative investors adding to the rising cost of oil prices, the airlines are going to be cutting back on extras that we have grown accustomed to receiving in an effort to keep ticket prices down. We will have to pay for extras like drinks and extra baggage but they are also taking off things to reduce the weight of the plane to use less fuel. The letter is asking for help in contacting Congress to look into this type of investing and put limits on it.
Making the changes to the extras you receive is probably a good idea. It’s always been my opinion that safety should come first. To be blunt, arriving at your destination alive is priority. I can bring my own food and water on a flight. I don’t read magazines and I don’t watch the movies they play. Most people have laptops and can watch their own movie if they’re bored. They can bring a book or magazine and leave it for the next passenger. I usually only bring one suitcase and $25 is not too much to pay for a second one. I’ve observed most people don’t watch the movies anyway and they always have a way to entertain themselves. Times are changing and we have to change with them. Ever since the security changes since 9/11, we’ve been having to adjust the way we travel.
If you’d like to read the full letter, just click the link to the other side. Safe traveling to everyone.
 |
|
|
|
AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL AIRLINE CUSTOMERS From 12 Airline CEOs. |
 |
|
Hello, | |
|
Our country is facing a possible sharp economic downturn because of skyrocketing oil and fuel prices, but by pulling together, we can all do something to help now. For airlines, ultra-expensive fuel means thousands of lost jobs and severe reductions in air service to both large and small communities. To the broader economy, oil prices mean slower activity and widespread economic pain. This pain can be alleviated, and that is why we are taking the extraordinary step of writing this joint letter to our customers.
Since high oil prices are partly a response to normal market forces, the nation needs to focus on increased energy supplies and conservation. However, there is another side to this story because normal market forces are being dangerously amplified by poorly regulated market speculation. Twenty years ago, 21 percent of oil contracts were purchased by speculators who trade oil on paper with no intention of ever taking delivery. Today, oil speculators purchase 66 percent of all oil futures contracts, and that reflects just the transactions that are known. Speculators buy up large amounts of oil and then sell it to each other again and again. A barrel of oil may trade 20-plus times before it is delivered and used; the price goes up with each trade and consumers pick up the final tab. Some market experts estimate that current prices reflect as much as $30 to $60 per barrel in unnecessary speculative costs. Over seventy years ago, Congress established regulations to control excessive, largely unchecked market speculation and manipulation. However, over the past two decades, these regulatory limits have been weakened or removed. We believe that restoring and enforcing these limits, along with several other modest measures, will provide more disclosure, transparency and sound market oversight. Together, these reforms will help cool the over-heated oil market and permit the economy to prosper. The nation needs to pull together to reform the oil markets and solve this growing problem. We need your help. Get more information and contact Congress by visiting www.StopOilSpeculationNow.com. |
|
|
|
Related Articles
1 user responded in this post
I agreed with you