HARDBODY News & Updates

Weeks ago I complained about not getting a full can of Diet Coke. BTW - Jon Lindsay you still owe me that six-pack of Diet Cokes. Well it looks like we all have a little something more to bitch about if flying US Airways. Today the airline began charging for beverage service, including water. First we’re not allowed to bring water through security. Okay, fine I get it. If you want to purchase a bottle of water after security plan on shelling out at least 4 bones for one. Now the airlines want to charge for water? Come on now. Where will the madness stop with these airlines. What if I’m choking on those crappy pretzels you gave me? Wait, those may not be free soon either. Oh don’t worry…

US Airways says it will provide water and drinks for passengers in cases of medical emergency and during extensive delays. If a desperately thirsty passenger does forget a few extra dollars, US Airways spokesman Morgan Durrant says flight attendants will likely “err on the side of the customer” and give him or her water. After all, the airline wouldn’t want its customers drinking tap water from the aircraft bathroom. That water is safe to drink, just not very palatable, according to Durrant.

Wow, how thoughtful of you to provide a beverage in case I’m in the state of a medical emergency.

Read the story on the Wall Street Journal here.

I don’t get why the fitness competitors want to keep things a big secret when it comes to their routines. Are you afraid someone will steal one of your moves and do it better than you? Every time I ask a fitness competitor what they have in store for their routine, they act as if they are the founder of Coke and can’t reveal the secrets behind it. I mean really, is there THAT much at stake that if you let someone in on what you’re routine will be you’re going to ruin the element of surprise? I saw on a board this morning, my friend XYZ is really going to bring it in her new routine but I can’t give away any secrets. ERRkay, I’m sure she will break out some new move that we’ve never seen before, right? Or wait if you tell what you’re doing for your routine someone might copy it before the show. PAHLEASE. It’s the case with every fitness competitor - from Hendershott, Adela, Greenwood to the amateurs. They all want to keep the routine top secret. WHY? I understand not revealing a routine if you have something wild like Hendershott did when she had two women join her for her Olympia routine but what about the others?
That’s my rant for the week. Competitors / Choreographers care to chime in and shed some light?

Weeks ago American Airlines began charging passengers for $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second. United Airlines recently announced they will soon be implementing the same procedures. I frequently fly United as it’s a hub in Denver. It’s not my preferred airline (Frontier is) but it is necessary to use them more often than not because of the flight schedule. The airlines blame the price of gasoline for the luggage charges, which is to be expected. It’s an interesting approach, or lack there of, to customer service and public relations. I’d suggest rolling the $15 into the price of the airline ticket opposed to charging each passenger for their first piece of luggage. The airlines encouraged us to pack lighter and carry on more often. Then they placed restrictions on the size of liquids that could be in our carry-on luggage. Now we’ll have to pay to check luggage and bet your sweet ass people will be jamming everything they can in their carry on luggage. We’re also informed that there will be an added cost when our luggage is overweight. What if the airlines charged for passengers that were overweight. OH NO! That would be discrimination. Let’s allow a 400lb man to pay the same price for an airline ticket, take up 1/2 my seat with his big ass, yet charge me because I have to check a bag.

Weeks ago I flew to Las Vegas on United Airlines for an event. I was in the very back of the airline and the last to be served the complimentary beverage. Remember the good old days when you’d get a snack and a WHOLE CAN of your favorite beverage? Not so much the case today. When the woman asked what I’d like to drink I responded with, “A diet coke please and may I just have the can”. She looked at me baffled and said, “No, it’s our policy to not give out the can.” HA! Really? Wow thanks. Good thing you have to save the rest of that diet coke for NO ONE since I’m the last one to be served. Wait, maybe they are saving the 1/2 opened cans for the next flight. I had to laugh and said nothing as she continued to spew more corporate bull. A company policy not to give out a can of Diet Coke. Ah, that’s right gas prices are up we all need to save.

As you fly to competitions or on a vacation be prepared to pay for checking your luggage and don’t dare ask for the can.

The email sent to me regarding the change in luggage charges:

Before your next trip with us, we would like you to know about changes to our checked baggage policy and revised fees for excess, overweight, oversized baggage and special items, effective for travel on or after August 18, 2008.

If you purchase a United Economy® ticket on or after June 13, 2008 for travel on or after August 18, 2008, a $15 service fee will apply, each way, to check your first piece of baggage. This fee applies to travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.

As previously announced, a $25 fee will apply to check a second bag when flying on a ticket purchased on or after February 4, 2008.