The hidden costs of our cheap lifestyle
Back in the days before low-cost airlines zoomed into our lives, passengers received good service and free food and drink. Our journeys were less frequent but perhaps more treasured.
When cheap flights started becoming available, it made sense to me that that airlines would itemise the products they sold (drinks, check-in services and, subsequently, carbon offsetting), but I never understood how these companies were able to make a profit selling seats for next to nothing.
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Hide AdIt reminds me of the way our throwaway culture is thriving in parts of the retail world; young people think nothing of buying a cheap outfit for a couple of wears then get rid of it.
They don't think about the real cost (if a dress costs 5 somebody is being exploited), just as we never thought of the real costs of cheap air travel while we were taking advantage of it.
RUTH ASHTON
Dalziel Place
Edinburgh
Gordon Dewer, BAA Edinburgh's managing director, tries to justify the 1 "drop off charge" with the spurious claim that it will cut "vehicle emissions" (your report, 7 July). If he is truly concerned about emissions he should switch off the aeroplane transfer buses' engines while they are loading passengers at Gate 1.
MICHAEL N CROSBY
Muiravonside
By Linlithgow