In this time of economic uncertainty and rising fuel prices many airlines are facing the difficult decision of whether to raise ticket prices on a consumer who is already facing economic pain as well.  It is a fine line to draw.  If prices are raised too much they will lose passengers.  If they are not raised enough many airlines face the real possibility of bankruptcy.

The industry is doing anything possible to reduce costs by cutting many of the usual necessities that we, as the customers have come to expect.  After we have already paid for an expensive flight with our credit card, many carriers are now expecting us to put more charges on our credit cards by charging for extra baggage, in flight movies, and meals.

The industry says that they are taking every measure necessary to keep from raising ticket prices.  Through surveys they say that the average passenger would rather pay lower fares than higher fares even if it means giving up some of the luxuries they have become used to expecting.

When we, as consumers give our credit card numbers over the phone or through the internet we expect to get what we are paying for.  Unfortunately, we have to also realize that with economic instability we cannot expect the same service for the same cost. We have to understand that getting what we pay for is not what it used to be.  With the economic problems the airline industry is facing maybe we are getting what we pay for.  

All these cost cutting techniques are helping, but they are not doing the whole job.  Even with these cuts, fares are still rising across the board.  The days of cheap airfare are quickly becoming a thing of the past.  In the future, times will probably improve, but will the airline industry keep fares to what we have become accustomed to paying?  Probably not, if they follow in the footsteps of other corporations. 

For example, oil companies have charged consumers outrageous prices while at the same time receiving record profits.  It is a sad time in history when we are happy when we see gas prices at the pump fall below $3 a gallon.  Because we became used the idea of $4 a gallon.  We think we are getting a bargain.  It works this way for every industry in existence.  The only purpose a corporation has is to make money.  They will do anything to sustain themselves, and if that means raising prices they will.   We can’t fault a corporation for doing what it was designed to do.  What we can change is our own attitudes and practices when it comes to buying whether it is for gasoline, credit card debt, or airfare.

It is an unfortunate reality that prices are going up for everything.  Credit card companies are charging higher interest rates and lowering credit limits.  Milk and other dairy prices are at all time highs.  Now, airline tickets are also on the rise.

What we have to understand is that we, the consumer have the power.  Big business doesn’t want us to realize that fact but it is true.