In Reply to: Hey Les, do you have any - posted by Filo on Tuesday, 15. February 2005 at 07:35 Bali Time:
have been most generous with respect to carriage of "charity freight".
What I believe basically has happened is a bit like the "snowball at top of the mountain"; by the time it reaches the bottom it has enveloped everything in its path.
SO many now are asking for "Free-of-Charge Excess" that it has become almost an embarrassment to the Airlines.
Most folk perceive that airlines generate their profits from those seated in the cabin. In reality, it is the freight which keeps the dollars rolling-in which allow them to keep offering discount fares.
Weight has a significant impact on the cost of aircraft operation. Iminagine if 180 passengers all carried free-of-charge just 20kgs of "courtesy baggage", the impact this would have on operational costs - particularly if this was multiplied by the number of flights operating to Bali with an equivalent amount.
After the Tsunami, ALL Airlines are quietly and without "fanfare" carrying both passengers and substantial amounts of freight absolutely free of charge.
Please, if your request for free excess is limited, do NOT think that the carrier does not appreciate what you are doing. They DO!!!- however, they must make a profit if they are to stay in the skys and continue to offer us with not only a choice of carrier, but prices which have not been so competitive in a very long time.
Cheers,
LES