Well, I suppose we all saw this one coming… only that doesn’t lessen the sting.
In what has now turned into a near weekly event with major airliners, some taxi companies are now charging more for fuel surcharges.
Just yesterday taxicab drivers in south Florida were given the green light to force passengers pay a surcharge to make up for rising fuel prices. According to news reports, Miami-Dade County commissioners unanimously approved a measure allowing cab drivers to begin raising rates as a way to offset the skyrocketing price of fuel.
Here what is means for all of you travelers who plan to visit the Miami area in the near future: If the price of gas is sitting at $3.50 per gallon while you are in town you can expect to pay an additional $1 on top of the meter fee. If gas prices are at $4, the surcharge will add $1.50 to the cab fare. And (gasp!) if the numbers at the pump jump to $5.50 per gallon you will be hit with a $3 surcharge.
The fee is scheduled to take effect on June 13th.
Meanwhile, drivers will be mandated to post a notice regarding the new surcharges on their cab windows.
Gee, I wonder how long it will be before the rest of the nation’s cab companies follow suit?
And speaking of fuel surcharges (and when aren’t we these days) American Airlines raised its fuel surcharge by $20 per round trip (again) on a slew of routes Wednesday, just days after it failed to raise fares via other means.
According to American execs, the surcharge will be applied on domestic routes except those where the carrier competes with low-fare airlines.
Naturally, the airline blamed the record prices for jet fuel for the surcharge increase. For those of you who have not been following this airfare increase soap opera American has attempted more than a dozen fare increases this year, but many — like it’s increase late last week — failed because other carriers declined to match them.
Of course, that hasn’t stopped American from charging $15 for passengers to check a single bag. That fee goes into effect next week.
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