Cost of FAA shutdown could exceed $1 billion

[RandomGuy]

Tea Party's Latest Hostage: FAA

The are essentially saying: "We want to cut hundreds of millions of dollars of waste out of the budget and are prepared to spend billions doing it."

WTF???

----------------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON (AP) — The congressional standoff that has partially shut down the Federal Aviation Administration has some curious math.

Lawmakers risk losing more than $1 billion in revenue from uncollected airline ticket taxes in a quarrel between Senate Democrats and House Republicans who are demanding a $16.5 million cut in rural air service subsidies.

The shutdown is less than two weeks old and already the government has lost more than $250 million in revenue because airlines' authority to collect ticket taxes has expired. The entire annual budget of the rural air services program is about $200 million.

"I'm a fiscal conservative," Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, told the Senate on Monday. "I'm trying to make the cuts that are necessary, trying to do the things that are right, but ... that just doesn't add up."

The Senate, with the federal debt crisis resolved, is expected to leave by the end of the week for its August recess. The House has already left. Unless the Senate accepts the House bill, lost revenue from uncollected airline ticket taxes could exceed $1.2 billion before lawmakers return to work a month later, senators said.

The FAA's long-term operating authority expired in 2007. Since then, Congress has been unable to agree on a long-term funding plan. The agency has continued to operate under a series of 20 short-term extensions.

The latest extension expired at midnight on July 22 after Senate Democrats rejected a temporary extension bill passed by the House that contained the subsidy cuts. Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic extension that didn't include cuts.

The lost ticket tax revenue is costing the government an estimated $200 million a week. The FAA has furloughed nearly 4,000 employees and issued stop-work orders on more than 200 construction projects.

Air traffic controllers have remained on the job. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has vowed that safety won't be compromised and travelers won't be inconvenienced

Democrats say the subsidies fight is actually a ploy to get them to accept a GOP labor provision in a separate, long-term FAA funding bill passed by the House. Republicans deny that's the case.

"Senate Democrats are also arguing that the House-passed extension is about a labor provision, but the fact is there is no labor provision in the extension," Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman, told colleagues in a letter last week.

Three times in the last 10 days, senators' efforts to pass a bill to end the shutdown without making air service subsidy cuts have been blocked by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. Each time, Hatch has focused his remarks on the labor provision.

"I've been asked by our leadership to make these objections," Hatch explained Monday night. "What is important here — and it's not some itty-bitty little thing — is that you have labor regulators out of control."

To end the shutdown, he said, the Senate must agree to the House's labor provision. Then, the shutdown "would be solved in a nanosecond," he said.

The labor provision would overturn a National Mediation Board rule approved last year that allows airline and railroad employees to form a union by a simple majority of those voting. Under the old rule, workers who didn't vote were treated as "no" votes.

Republicans complain that the new rule reverses 75 years of precedent to favor labor unions. Democrats and union officials say the change puts airline and railroad elections under the same democratic rules required for unionizing all other companies.

The White House warned in March that President Barack Obama would veto an FAA bill containing the labor provision.

http://news.yahoo.com/cost-faa-shutdown-could-exceed-1-billion-071220597.html

----------------------------------------------

Spending a billion dollars to further weaken unions for the sole purpose of political stategy gains. Win at all costs at its worst.

:bang

[DarrinS]

One billion dollars? That's how much our benevolent govt spends every 2.4 hours.

[ChumpDumper]

Did you read the article, Darrin?

[DarrinS]

Did you read the article, Darrin?

He's posted about it before. It's really nickels and dimes compared to where most money goes.

[ChumpDumper]

He's posted about it before. It's really nickels and dimes compared to where most money goes.So you applaud losing $1 billion to "save" $16.5 million.

That makes sense.

[CosmicCowboy]

Great time to buy airline tickets. I had my wife book a couple of trips.

[hater]

Send in a shirtless Biden into the negotiation room. Only a shirtless Biden could save us form these tea partiers.

[cheguevara]

http://o.onionstatic.com/images/articles/article/2718/Shirtless-Biden-R_jpg_600x1000_q85.jpg

[boutons_deux]

"Great time to buy airline tickets"

wrong. the airlines are upping their prices to pocket the suspended FAA taxes.

[George Gervin's Afro]

wow darrins is ok with losing revenue when our govt is broke... all for his to team to win! scoreboard baby! The tea potties temper tantrum costs the govt $ and causes us to go further in debt!

nice job

[boutons_deux]

VRWC will spend any amount of (tax payer) money to bust unions.

[Th'Pusher]

"Great time to buy airline tickets"

wrong. the airlines are upping their prices to pocket the suspended FAA taxes.

Yep.

http://www.cnweeklynews.com/news/us-news/2790-airlines-increase-fares-despite-tax-break

You wouldn't expect them to actually pass that money on to consumers would you?

[ElNono]

Great time to buy airline tickets. I had my wife book a couple of trips.

Airlines pocketed the difference. Not unexpected, tbh.
I hear they're raising prices too.

[CosmicCowboy]

Airlines pocketed the difference. Not unexpected, tbh.
I hear they're raising prices too.

Wrong. The taxes are a line item above and beyond the fare. The airlines just have to collect it for the government like sales tax.

[CosmicCowboy]

BTW, just because you found an article on the internet doesn't make it true, even if you are predisposed to believe it. She got some great sale rates (PLUS not having to pay the tax) on both Southwest and American.

[cheguevara]

BTW, just because you found an article on the internet doesn't make it true, even if you are predisposed to believe it.

Coorporations taking advantage of citizens to make an extra buck. Yeah that is so hard to believe!!

[boutons_deux]

I read several articles over the weekend about various airlines raising their prices to match the FAA fees. This is how Repugs bust unions and enrich corporations.

[Th'Pusher]

BTW, just because you found an article on the internet doesn't make it true, even if you are predisposed to believe it. She got some great sale rates (PLUS not having to pay the tax) on both Southwest and American.

Keeping the tax money
American Airlines
Delta Airlines (initially passes along the savings, but later followed other legacy carriers)
Southwest and AirTran
United Airlines
USAirways

Passing the tax savings to passengers
Alaska Airlines
Frontier
Spirit Airlines
Virgin America

Undetermined
Allegiant
JetBlue

http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/most-airlines-pocket-uncollectable-faa-tax-money-instead-of-passing-savings-onto-passengers/

[ElNono]

BTW, just because you found an article on the internet doesn't make it true, even if you are predisposed to believe it. She got some great sale rates (PLUS not having to pay the tax) on both Southwest and American.

Actually, it was on ABC news 2 nights ago. Including a trade association representative (airlines did not want to discuss it) explaining what amenities the airlines are hoping to provide with the difference they're pocketing...

The tax is now included in the price.

Sorry you got gamed by the airline. Happens to all of us really.

[DMX7]

Keeping the tax money
American Airlines
Delta Airlines (initially passes along the savings, but later followed other legacy carriers)
Southwest and AirTran
United Airlines
USAirways


That's not true. We all know lower taxes leads to lower prices.

[scott]

and moar jobz. MOAR JOBZ!

[Th'Pusher]

AIRLINES across America are reaping a financial harvest from the current shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Several companies responded to the suspension of federal airline-ticket taxes at the weekend by raising fares, though—as reported by Farecompare.com—Alaska Airlines remains a notable hold-out. So passengers are paying the same amount for tickets as they did last week, but the airlines are taking a bigger portion at the expense of the federal government.

The trouble came to a head at midnight on Friday when Congress failed to pass a short-term funding bill for the FAA. The expiration of the administration's authorisation led to the placing of some 4,000 staff on furlough and the suspension of ticket taxes bringing in some $200m per week, because the FAA no longer has the authority to levy them.

The New York Times detailed the money that the government is losing: “The main federal fare levies that expired are the 7.5 percent excise tax on all domestic tickets, the $3.70 federal charge on each flight segment, and the $16.30 tax on each international arrival and departure.”

That’s a reasonable set of savings that passengers have effectively been denied by the airlines' fare hikes. Given how tight margins are in the industry, it's hard to blame airlines for earning some easy money. But I wonder if they're missing a PR trick. At a time when Congress should be the butt of travellers' jokes, it is airline greed that is becoming the bigger story. I can only hope that Alaska Airlines benefits from its stance.

Two senators, Jay Rockefeller and Maria Cantwell, have written to the Air Transport Association in a surely doomed attempt to persuade the airlines to put the extra money aside into an escrow account so it can be returned to the government when Congress reinstates the taxes.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2011/07/shutdown-faa

[Wild Cobra]

"Great time to buy airline tickets"

wrong. the airlines are upping their prices to pocket the suspended FAA taxes.
Bullshit.

When the authorization ended a few days ago, airlines promoted the flight savings. They cannot pocket a tax they cannot legally collect.

Who is making that up? You?

[Wild Cobra]

Yep.

http://www.cnweeklynews.com/news/us-news/2790-airlines-increase-fares-despite-tax-break

You wouldn't expect them to actually pass that money on to consumers would you?
Airline fares are constantly changing. This is much-ado-about-nothing. Could be a normal seasonal change. How does it compare with last year changes?

[Wild Cobra]

I read several articles over the weekend about various airlines raising their prices to match the FAA fees. This is how Repugs bust unions and enrich corporations.
I'm sure there are plenty of liberal journalists willing to sell those stories to people like you.

Prices on everything simply changes. I don't buy that this is more than coincidence. However, once one changes a price, the competition often follows.

Please show some evidence outside of coincidence.

[Th'Pusher]

I'm sure there are plenty of liberal journalists willing to sell those stories to people like you.

Prices on everything simply changes. I don't buy that this is more than coincidence. However, once one changes a price, the competition often follows.

Please show some evidence outside of coincidence.

Oh yeah, The Economist is a real liberal rag. Why do you have to be so myopic and biased about everything?

[Wild Cobra]

Oh yeah, The Economist is a real liberal rag. Why do you have to be so myopic and biased about everything?
Tell me.

Are price increase over time normal or not?

[boutons_deux]

Bullshit.

When the authorization ended a few days ago, airlines promoted the flight savings. They cannot pocket a tax they cannot legally collect.

Who is making that up? You?


they aren't collecting a tax, dumbfuck, their raising their prices, as documented above, to fill in the hole left by the absent tax.

[Wild Cobra]

they aren't collecting a tax, dumbfuck, their raising their prices, as documented above, to fill in the hole left by the absent tax.
I understand what you implying. Are you also saying, as fact, that this price increases would not have happened if the federal tax was still there?

Prices always go up as an average over time. Shit... I used to pay 5 cents for a candy bar. they are almost $1 now.

How can you have such knowledge. Are you psychic?

[ElNono]

Bullshit.

When the authorization ended a few days ago, airlines promoted the flight savings. They cannot pocket a tax they cannot legally collect.

Who is making that up? You?

They raised the prices. Learn to read. This price jackup and pocketing was news a few days ago.

[ElNono]

Prices always go up as an average over time. Shit... I used to pay 5 cents for a candy bar. they are almost $1 now.

How can you have such knowledge. Are you psychic?

The hikes magically happened to match what was collected through the tax. What a coincidence right? Are they psychic?

[Wild Cobra]

The hikes magically happened to match what was collected through the tax. What a coincidence right? Are they psychic?
Yes I know. This logic is why AGW is real.

Causation equals correlations...

[Drachen]

The hikes magically happened to match what was collected through the tax. What a coincidence right? Are they psychic?

It's funny to see how wc has morphed from far right wing representative to straight out troll.

[Wild Cobra]

It's funny to see how wc has morphed from far right wing representative to straight out troll.
I've always been a troll against libtards.

[ElNono]

Yes I know. This logic is why AGW is real.

Causation equals correlations...

So you're saying they're psychic... okay.

[ElNono]

It's funny to see how wc has morphed from far right wing representative to straight out troll.

He's the same red team cheerleader as usual. At least Darrin doesn't seem to be a straight out racist nor authoritarian. Credit where credit is due.

[Wild Cobra]

He's the same red team cheerleader as usual. At least Darrin doesn't seem to be a straight out racist nor authoritarian. Credit where credit is due.
Funny how you turn responsible legislation into authoritarianism yet irresponsible legislation isn't?

I think we see authoritarianism differently. Believe it or not, I am all for the maximum freedoms for everyone. I simply draw a line for legislation such that the freedom of one person does not interfere with the freedom of another.

Please explain to my what that is authoritarian?

[ElNono]

Funny how you turn responsible legislation into authoritarianism yet irresponsible legislation isn't?

Who judges what's 'irresponsible'?


I think we see authoritarianism differently. Believe it or not, I am all for the maximum freedoms for everyone. I simply draw a line for legislation such that the freedom of one person does not interfere with the freedom of another.

Please explain to my what that is authoritarian?

Forcefully tying tubes is not interfering with the freedom of another?
Make up your mind.

[Wild Cobra]

Forcefully tying tubes is not interfering with the freedom of another?
Make up your mind.
The preemptive act is against the violating party so the party in violation cannot do so again. It isn't done before an act against others is committed, but after.

[ElNono]

The preemptive act is against the violating party so the party in violation cannot do so again. It isn't done before an act against others is committed, but after.

Spoken like a true chinese leader...

If it's preemptive, how is it done 'after'? smh
What's the violation, BTW? Having children?

lol violation

[Wild Cobra]

Spoken like a true chinese leader...

If it's preemptive, how is it done 'after'? smh
What's the violation, BTW? Having children?

lol violation
If someone who must rely on federal taxpayer money has a child, then in exchange for the government giving aide, the mother and father both has their tubes tied. To avoid such action, they must be responsible, and provide for the child themselves.

Isn't that simple enough?

It's still their choice.

[ElNono]

If someone who must rely on federal taxpayer money has a child, then in exchange for the government giving aide, the mother and father both has their tubes tied. To avoid such action, they must be responsible, and provide for the child themselves.

Isn't that simple enough?

It's still their choice.

But we all rely on federal taxpayer money in one way or another... Do you hire your own police? Do you build your own roads?
Do parents that send their kids to public school need to have their tubes tied?

I don't think it's simple enough, and I don't think you thought this through, tbh.

[Wild Cobra]

But we all rely on federal taxpayer money in one way or another... Do you hire your own police? Do you build your own roads?
Do parents that send their kids to public school need to have their tubes tied?

I don't think it's simple enough, and I don't think you thought this through, tbh.
So...

You disagree with enforcing personal responsibility. May as well have anarchy, and let the strong violate the weak also.

I see the differences and similarities. Why don't you? We put the criminals in jail who violate others. Yes, it costs us in taxes. Generally local taxes, and people have the freedom to move from one community to another. Would you rather we put those who violate the general population, by costing them more in tax revenue, be jailed? That too casts more money. I say if they indiscriminately have children, expecting the tax payer to care for their children, then make that impossible to happen again.

How can any sane person disagree with this, unless you are willing to start your own charity to support them outside of tax payer dollars.

[ElNono]

So...

You disagree with enforcing personal responsibility. May as well have anarchy, and let the strong violate the weak also.

I agree with enforcing the law. That you want to criminalize having babies is taking away one freedom we have. You really think the state forcing people to neuter isn't the epitome of the strong violating the weak?


I see the differences and similarities. Why don't you? We put the criminals in jail who violate others. Yes, it costs us in taxes. Generally local taxes, and people have the freedom to move from one community to another. Would you rather we put those who violate the general population, by costing them more in tax revenue, be jailed? That too casts more money. I say if they indiscriminately have children, expecting the tax payer to care for their children, then make that impossible to happen again.

Are you serious? You're comparing a violent crime like rape with a family having babies? You're pretty fucked up in the head.

I don't know that every poor family that has a baby expects the tax payer to care for their children. How do you know? How do you make that determination? Are you a psychic?


How can any sane person disagree with this, unless you are willing to start your own charity to support them outside of tax payer dollars.

Not surprised an authoritarian like you think this is 'normal', tbh.
Let me know when we start neutering the GM CEO and Steve Jobs too... you know, their taxes shenanigans are costing the taxpayer money...

[Wild Cobra]

OK, El Nono....

This is my last post on thos off-topic in this thread. If you wish to continue this topic, start a new thread or revive the old one.


I agree with enforcing the law. That you want to criminalize having babies is taking away one freedom we have. You really think the state forcing people to neuter isn't the epitome of the strong violating the weak?

I only want it as a condition to receive tax payer subsidies, unless this is an out of ordinary occurrence. If they were never in the financial position to support a child, and want tax payer help, then I say the condition to get financial assistance is to make sure they do not put tax payers in the position of subsidizing them again for this purpose. If they do not seek government assistance, then there is no such condition.


Are you serious? You're comparing a violent crime like rape with a family having babies? You're pretty fucked up in the head.

No, I'm only looking out for how we spend tax payer dollars. Some people think they are "entitled" to other people's money. That must end.


I don't know that every poor family that has a baby expects the tax payer to care for their children. How do you know? How do you make that determination? Are you a psychic?

I'm not making such a claim. Why do you always assume my intent incorrectly?

Maybe, for once, you should check your own bias and hatred on me.


Not surprised an authoritarian like you think this is 'normal', tbh.
Let me know when we start neutering the GM CEO and Steve Jobs too... you know, their taxes shenanigans are costing the taxpayer money...

That's right Chief. Go off the reservation.

[ElNono]

OK, El Nono....

This is my last post on thos off-topic in this thread. If you wish to continue this topic, start a new thread or revive the old one.

I couldn't care less with what you want.


I only want it as a condition to receive tax payer subsidies, unless this is an out of ordinary occurrence. If they were never in the financial position to support a child, and want tax payer help, then I say the condition to get financial assistance is to make sure they do not put tax payers in the position of subsidizing them again for this purpose. If they do not seek government assistance, then there is no such condition.

How do you know that 'they were never in the financial position to support a child'? Who makes that decision? How do you know that their fortunes are going or not going to turn around when their potential next kid comes around? Are you a psychic? Your futile attempt at futurology is really retarded.


No, I'm only looking out for how we spend tax payer dollars. Some people think they are "entitled" to other people's money. That must end.

I think some people are legitimately in need. If you know somebody is abusing the welfare system, you should report them. Those are the tools, use them. Forcefully neutering people isn't here or there. To be quite honest, your 'idea' borders on the Palin-esque.


I'm not making such a claim. Why do you always assume my intent incorrectly?

But that's exactly what you said:




I say if they indiscriminately have children, expecting the tax payer to care for their children, then make that impossible to happen again.

and I replied:


I don't know that every poor family that has a baby expects the tax payer to care for their children. How do you know? How do you make that determination? Are you a psychic?



Maybe, for once, you should check your own bias and hatred on me.
That's right Chief. Go off the reservation.

How could I hate you if I don't know you? The persecution complex is entirely yours.

You should sample your demagoguery and authoritarian ruling in SimCity... because there's no place for that in real world.

[Wild Cobra]

This thread is about the FAA. What does this discussion have to do with the FAA?

Fuck off El Know-it-all. Start a new thread or revive the old one if you wish to continue this discussion.

[ElNono]

This thread is about the FAA. What does this discussion have to do with the FAA?

Why didn't you ask the same question when you brought up AGW completely unsolicited?

Run lola, run! :lmao

[ElNono]

And BTW, you got your head in the grinder all by yourself. What started this discussion was an answer to another poster, not you. :lol

[ChumpDumper]

WC dons his forum cop hat when the heat is on.

[boutons_deux]

I understand what you implying. Are you also saying, as fact, that this price increases would not have happened if the federal tax was still there?

Prices always go up as an average over time. Shit... I used to pay 5 cents for a candy bar. they are almost $1 now.

How can you have such knowledge. Are you psychic?

The prices have gone up by THE SAME AMOUNT as the suspended taxes the day or day after the taxes were suspended. GFY

[CosmicCowboy]

Actually, it was on ABC news 2 nights ago. Including a trade association representative (airlines did not want to discuss it) explaining what amenities the airlines are hoping to provide with the difference they're pocketing...

The tax is now included in the price.

Sorry you got gamed by the airline. Happens to all of us really.

Damn, you are an arrogant little uninformed prick.

We buy airline tickets all the time and go to the west coast several times a year. Unlike you I apparently have real world experience with airline ticket prices as a consumer and don't have to rely on what I read in an article or "see on TV".

The tickets we got from SA to LA were as cheap as I have paid in years.

[boutons_deux]

CC, suck on this:

"Delta Airlines and US Airways have decided to refund some of the federal tax money for travelers who booked tickets before the shutdown."

http://consumerist.com/2011/08/senate-unable-to-end-faa-shutdown.html

absolute proof that at least these two airlines were pocketing the money charged as taxes as their own, until they were caught.

[Wild Cobra]

CC, suck on this:

"Delta Airlines and US Airways have decided to refund some of the federal tax money for travelers who booked tickets before the shutdown."

http://consumerist.com/2011/08/senate-unable-to-end-faa-shutdown.html

absolute proof that at least these two airlines were pocketing the money charged as taxes as their own, until they were caught.
Wow...

They are refunding some of the money. Why not all? Maybe because of the manpower it takes to process the tax refund. The purchases made before the shutdown had taxes included that are now not being collected. It doesn't mean something fishy is happening.

[ChumpDumper]

WC seems to prefer being insanely wrong instead of just wrong.

[Winehole23]

WC likes a long shot.

[boutons_deux]

Taxes on tix sold before the flight were collected for flights after the Repug shutdown.

Now that airlines have been caught pocketing the taxes they don't have to forward to FAA, they are returning "some" of the money.

I guess they figure they can suck out "handling, shipping, restocking, etc" fees. :lol

[boutons_deux]

“The House has tried to make this a battle over essential air service,” he says. “It’s not a battle over essential air service. It’s a battle over Delta Airlines, who refuses to allow votes under the new rules that have been passed by the NLRB [National Labor Relations Board].”

The issue, Reid says, is Delta’s “non-union” stance. The bill to fund the FAA, as crafted by House Republicans, includes language that sets new rules for aviation workers’ votes on labor representation.

Reid isn’t quite right on the details, as the issue revolves around a rule crafted by the National Mediation Board, which oversees airlines and railroads, not the National Labor Relations Board. But his larger point is correct: the GOP is insisting on legislative union-busting and is willing to shut down the FAA in order to get its way.

Even some Republicans see through this charade, with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) saying “it’s not honorable” for the House GOP to attach extraneous policy riders to the FAA bill. The revenue that the government will lose over the next month dwarfs the cuts to rural airport subsidies that the House included in its bill.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/08/03/286475/reid-faa-shutdown-non-union-stance/

=========

Hey, Kay honeybuns, why do you associate Repugs and honor? They're sociopathic, sadistic thugs.

[Wild Cobra]

Taxes on tix sold before the flight were collected for flights after the Repug shutdown.

Now that airlines have been caught pocketing the taxes they don't have to forward to FAA, they are returning "some" of the money.

I guess they figure they can suck out "handling, shipping, restocking, etc" fees. :lol
Idiot.

Ticket sales for a date after the shutdown included the tax, but the tax will not be sent to Washington. This is being refunded. Who pays for the cost of refunding it though?

I'll bet you cannot show a single example of the tax being collected after this FAA shutdown was official.

[ElNono]

Damn, you are an arrogant little uninformed prick.

I'm uninformed? You walk in here saying the tickets are cheaper when it's old news most of them are pocketing the difference, and I'm uninformed? :lol


We buy airline tickets all the time and go to the west coast several times a year. Unlike you I apparently have real world experience with airline ticket prices as a consumer and don't have to rely on what I read in an article or "see on TV".

"real world experience with airline ticket prices as a consumer" = booking a couple of tickets online? I buy airline tickets at least once a year, sometimes two or three times.


The tickets we got from SA to LA were as cheap as I have paid in years.

That's great you found a deal or picked one of the few airlines that didn't jack up the prices. Obviously, you'll have to forgive me if I give more credence to actual news (http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2011/07/airline-fees-tax-holiday/178394/1) than your anecdotal personal experience.

[boutons_deux]

"Ticket sales for a date after the shutdown included the tax, but the tax will not be sent to Washington."

that what I said, idiot.

My guess is that the airlines didn't charge any FAA fees, but they were raising prices so the flier saw no difference, and pocketing what would have been FAA fees.

[RandomGuy]

and moar jobz. MOAR JOBZ!

you only get moar jobz if you give money to t' Job Creators, otherwise its just wasted.

[Wild Cobra]

My guess is that the airlines didn't charge any FAA fees, but they were raising prices so the flier saw no difference, and pocketing what would have been FAA fees.
I disagree, and so does CC.

[ElNono]

I disagree, and so does CC.

AP adds background on the taxes:

The expiring taxes can total $25 or more on a typical $300 round-trip ticket. They died after midnight Friday night when Congress failed to pass legislation to keep the Federal Aviation Administration running.

That gave airlines a choice: They could do nothing — and pass the savings to customers — or grab some of the money themselves.

"We adjusted prices so the bottom-line price of a ticket remains the same as it was before ... expiration of federal excise taxes," said American spokesman Tim Smith. US Airways spokesman John McDonald said much the same thing — passengers will pay the same amount for a ticket as they did before the taxes expired.

They declined to say whether the increases would be rescinded if Congress revives the travel taxes.

[Th'Pusher]

AP adds background on the taxes:

The expiring taxes can total $25 or more on a typical $300 round-trip ticket. They died after midnight Friday night when Congress failed to pass legislation to keep the Federal Aviation Administration running.

That gave airlines a choice: They could do nothing — and pass the savings to customers — or grab some of the money themselves.

"We adjusted prices so the bottom-line price of a ticket remains the same as it was before ... expiration of federal excise taxes," said American spokesman Tim Smith. US Airways spokesman John McDonald said much the same thing — passengers will pay the same amount for a ticket as they did before the taxes expired.

They declined to say whether the increases would be rescinded if Congress revives the travel taxes.

Will WC continue to dig in his heels even after the airlines have admitted to pocketing the tax, or will he bow out and admit he was wrong?

[Wild Cobra]

Will WC continue to dig in his heels even after the airlines have admitted to pocketing the tax, or will he bow out and admit he was wrong?
But they didn't all do that, and those who did are probably losing fliers to other airlines.

[Th'Pusher]

But they didn't all do that, and those who did are probably losing fliers to other airlines.

So, continue to dig in your heels. Nice choice.

[ElNono]

So, continue to dig in your heels. Nice choice.

I never doubted it.

[boutons_deux]

Stalemate in Senate Leaves 4,000 Out of Work at F.A.A.

The partial agency shutdown, which began on July 23 and is likely to continue at least through Labor Day, has also idled tens of thousands of construction workers on airport projects around the country. Dozens of airport inspectors have been asked by the F.A.A. to work without pay and to charge their government travel expenses to their personal credit cards to keep airports operating safely.

Air traffic controllers and airplane inspectors, who are paid with separate accounts, have continued to work, but workers who oversee research on aviation systems, grants for airports and facilities and operations equipment have been furloughed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/us/03faa.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1

[George Gervin's Afro]

CC, suck on this:

"Delta Airlines and US Airways have decided to refund some of the federal tax money for travelers who booked tickets before the shutdown."

http://consumerist.com/2011/08/senate-unable-to-end-faa-shutdown.html

absolute proof that at least these two airlines were pocketing the money charged as taxes as their own, until they were caught.

I think he call ElNONO an uninformed prick..

[CosmicCowboy]

I think he call ElNONO an uninformed prick..

I did.

Any one of you bought airline tickets recently BESIDES me? I didn't have to read an article on the internet to know it was a good deal.

[Th'Pusher]

I did.

Any one of you bought airline tickets recently BESIDES me? I didn't have to read an article on the internet to know it was a good deal.

I buy tickets to the same destination on American Airlines every other week for work. I bought one last week. The total was the exact same price as the one I purchased two weeks before. Theoretically it should have been ~$20 less if the tax saving was being passed on to me (the company I work for).

[Wild Cobra]

I buy tickets to the same destination on American Airlines every other week for work. I bought one last week. The total was the exact same price as the one I purchased two weeks before. Theoretically it should have been ~$20 less if the tax saving was being passed on to me (the company I work for).
That's what you get for going with them. I don't care for AA at all.

[ElNono]

I did.

Any one of you bought airline tickets recently BESIDES me? I didn't have to read an article on the internet to know it was a good deal.

I'll be honest. Spurted by your contention I looked up for tickets last night for my annual trip to the Rio Grande Valley. Unfortunately, the prices were the same. I actually been waiting for Southwest to start flying from here (they finally started in March) hoping from cheaper tickets, but they're actually more expensive than American Airlines.

[ElNono]

That's what you get for going with them. I don't care for AA at all.

That's irrelevant to the point we're discussing. Sometimes only certain airlines travel certain routes. IE: If I want to travel to Texas, I can only fly in AA, Continental or Southwest. They all jacked up the price to match the lost tax.

[boutons_deux]

GOP Chairman Mica Forces Furlough Of Thousands Of Workers, Then Plays Victim: ‘I’ve Had A Brutal Week’

“I’ve had a brutal week, getting beat up by everybody,” Mica told me, minutes after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced a deal that would end the shutdown and avoid the cuts to regional air service that Mica wanted.

“I didn’t know it would cause this much consternation,” Mica said. “Now I’ve just got to get the broom and the shovel and clean up the mess.” Switching metaphors, he said he wanted “to unclog the toilet, but it backed up. So I don’t know what to do, what to say.” [...]

“People don’t have to get so personal,” he said with a sigh. “A lot of people hate me now and think I’m the worst thing in the world for what I did.” It’s “this sort of gotcha,” he said, “that’s changed the dynamics of people working more effectively together.”

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/08/05/289236/mica-whines-faa/

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Another high-quality, in-touch-with-America Repug asshole