My £14.99 Airfare Actually Cost 462% More!

February 3, 2011

I booked my first-ever ticket on Aer Lingus. The airfare from Glasgow, Scotland to Dublin, Ireland, a quick hour flight, was only £14.99 (about $22.00 US). A great fare! Or so I thought.

Then the taxes added in at £37.29; plus an online handling fee of £5.00. Then add a baggage fee (yes, I had to check a bag on my 22-day trip) of £12.00 for 20kg (44 pounds). Any extra weight, and the pounds keep adding on (literally!).

There was also a sports equipment price, which thankfully I had no need for. But look at this list! Each golf bag, pair of skis, surfboard and more costs an additional £25.00.

In the end, my excitement over a 14.99 airfare quickly went to irritation as I saw the total add up to £69.28.

Aer Lingus also had a promotion going for ‘free fares’. Hmmph, free? I’m not picking on Aer Lingus, as they’re not the only airline with uber-enticing airfares that wind up costing you more than what you ever planned for, but a ticket price that quadruples seems a bit outrageous.

Has this ever happened to you? Share you outrageous fees below.

Posted by Carol Margolis under Random Thoughts, Travel | 2 Comments to Read

Shhh, It’s a Secret! WestinFitness Guest Rooms

February 2, 2011

I stayed at the Westin Dublin this past weekend and had a beautiful room overlooking the Temple Bar area. Before hitting the pubs, I took advantage of the Westin’s workout room to get in a calorie deficit before BG (Before Guinness). Their workout room was small in area, but very full in equipment. Free weights, weight machines, treadmill, bike, elliptical and more. And I had the room all to myself when I used it. Very nice!

Then I saw a sign in the elevator for WestinFitness rooms (also known as WestinWorkout rooms) – guestrooms with their own fitness equipment. What a great idea! I asked for a tour and the hotel’s staff was glad to take me to one of these rooms.

When I saw the room, my first thought was “I could really get used to this!”

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Posted by Carol Margolis under Health, Hotel Living | Read the First Comment