Its about high time I get a ticket. I know what you are thinking: “Well, here is last minute Louie getting his act together!” At least that is what my mom always says though she is wrong, I assure you. As a fan of 諺 (kotowaza) or Japanese sayings, I am reminded of the saying 「先手必勝」(sentehisshou) which I like to think roughly translates to “the first hand always wins” or in other words, “the early bird gets the worm.” However, the speed with which one pounces into any online deal (if you can call them that) is reduced and rendered worthless by the grimy tar pit of cash theft that is the fuel surcharge. Keep that in mind for later.
The other side of this ticket deal is that August is also お盆 (obon) season. That usually means Japanese people travel back home, wherever that may be, in order to join their families in observances for those who have passed on. During this time airfare and transportation in general gets a bit more spendy. I just so happen to be arriving in Japan at the end of this period so, as I have come to expect, I get to give the airline industry a bit more of my cash than I would like to part with any Japanese people returning home from America for bit. Enter the fuel surcharge…
I knew there would be a bit more of my life essence being drained out of me in the form of dollars because of obon season, that has always been the case and I’ve been to Japan enough times to know avoiding August is a wise decision, but I forgot about the true enemy of any traveler. While my one-way flight, which lifts off in the later half of August, will cost me $620.00 for the ticket alone; a flight one month later costs almost $100 dollars less. A hundo is something to be respected though as I’ve said that was expected. The real king of all money eating monsters is the $289.40 in taxes and assorted fees. That is the bite that really hurts.
I understand we have a “gas shortage,” but wow, that is practically 1/3rd of the ticket price by itself. What does the ticket price actually pay for again? I seemed to have forgot. Thankfully the nice people over there at JTB provide a wonderfully vague breakdown of this cash devouring monster:
Wow! $253.00 for fuel AND security! At first glance that seems to be a bargain, but wait a second! I’m getting charged another $7.00 for the same thing?! Why I oughta… take the slow boat to, err, Japan. Well, at least I’m secure, right?
Yes, my friends, I have come to the realization that reality is a harsh and cruel mistress sometimes. I understand that the destruction of my finances is at the whim of the global economy and thats ok for me most of the time. But please.. don’t charge me for fuel and security twice. You see, I need that $7.00 dollars for an overpriced sandwhich while I’m waiting at the gate for my flight.
On the positive side, maybe, just maybe, I can see some 盆踊り (bon odori) when I get there. I’m thinking the festivities will be over by then though.
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