Virgin America Airlines Sucks!

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/worst-airlines-extra-fees-saving-money-flying-discount/story?id=10543922
"Last year, U.S. airlines took in more than $7.8 billion in fees from passengers, according to the Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics. And those fees are rising quickly. In the last three months of 2009, the airlines charged passengers $1.9 billion in extra fees, up a whopping 18.3 percent from the same period the prior year."

I was initially thrilled w/ this new airline, that promised to be different. They have purple lights on the ceiling and music that plays as you enter. I thought WOW, maybe this airline is different and not just after $$$$ like the other airlines.

Their was a song playing on the Virgin music station that had the lyrics "What will you fight for? What will you die for?" And I thought, wow. Maybe the people behind this give a damn. Maybe this is not about taking as much money from people as possible. Maybe this is different.

On the way to elope in Vegas, they didn't let us hang my finace's suit (in a thin small bag), in the front part. But okay, we understand. Maybe there wasn't room, etc. We stored it in the top of his carry on.

On the way back, they didn't even let him take his suit onto the plane! So here we are giddy and just-married, still looking at our shiny new rings, and met with rude, used car salesman attitude at the entry to the plane.

They insisted we pay $25 to check his thin little suit bag.

I told them that wasn't in our best interest, though it clearly was in their's. And this little rude college-aged people were snotty and horrible.

We ended up stuffing his wonderful expensive suit into our (already small to meet the stupid airlines tiny size requirement) carry on. Yes, we had to stuff it in there and get so many wrinkles we'll probably have to have it professionally fixed.

Thanks a lot. Money-hungry airlines.

You know, greed is greed. It doesn't matter the context. And when you put greed out there, that's what you get back. Eventually, airlines like this are going out of business the minute there is any sort of alternative.

People feel they are being sucked dry by airlines these days, and they are. Just like they are by the scams all over the place. Enron and beyond. It's a trend of being horrible to others, and it's never going to benefit anyone.

It's especially disappointing because I've always been a huge fan of Richard Branson. I actually recommend that my clients read his book. He seemed to stand out as someone who strived for more than just money -- though money is important. He seemed to be striving for change for the better, and things that benefit people. That is a good-hearted mission that is more than being a business shark.

And this sort of policy is no better than the other sharks out there, practically stealing from people. Because when you ruin someone's day to make $25, that's what you are.

I was going to write about how cool the little touch screen was, that is similar to Jet Blue, but with a removeable remote control. But no. This is the feeling I'm left with. Greed. Selfishness. And any idealism I had about Richard Branson making something better, something different, something bigger than the other examples of business lies and greed that are so common today, they disappeared when I realized it's exactly the same.

Airlines are also charging people to take their dogs onto the plane and keep them by their feet. What are they charging for? There is no benefit to the person flying, and certainly no benefit to ALL of the other passengers who have to listen to barking and whimpering and possible smells during the flight. And is there even a check of whether people on board have serious allergies to pets? Nope.

They only care about making that extra buck. At your expense.

Let's hope this business greed trend is on the way out. Let's hope people begin to treat others in more of a good, giving way -- because that is what comes back to you.

When you are greedy, people naturally hold their purse strings tighter. They don't trust you. They take a step away from you when you enter a room. And that cycle increases, to the point no one wants to give you a damn thing. And what did you expect?

To get, you have to give, from a good place. And those are the people you open your purse to, because you want to. They are the people you rush to in a room, and that cycle increases, to the point you love to give. That's what we should all expect. From people and from business, because business is nothing more than groups of people.