Photo Credit: David Moeller
American Airlines Now Charging Fees To Non-Passengers
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This article posted on The Onion in 2008 is making fun of the ridiculous expenses that airlines charge. Throughout the article, the expenses are completely exaggerated. The overuse of hyperbole makes the article comedic. It lacks the raw, biting tone that satire is usually characterized by. It's written more like a news article with interviews and "facts". In this article, the airline began charging all American citizens with valid social security cards. They even charged people for choosing to not fly on a plane, choosing to walk to the grocery store, storing a suitcase in their hotel closet, and even for cleaning an attic at their home. The point this article is trying to make is that airlines charge too much for outrageous reasons. This article was posted in 2008, when fuel prices were rising and becoming an inconvenient fee for airlines, like American. They tried to cut costs in many ways, one way by overcharging their customers. The real cost they charged to check one bag, according to the New York Times, was $15 one way ($30 round trip). This article from the onion is effective in getting its point across that airlines are too expensive and make even more money off of raising the prices for their loyal customers.
New York Times Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/business/22air.html?_r=0
New York Times Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/business/22air.html?_r=0