While pondering an apropos subject for this week’s Hot Topic, we started following threads that began with Inflight Entertainment and the changes coming for fliers. Connectivity, a paid service, is becoming popular and available on hundreds of flights in the US and abroad and IFE is probably on the list to be supported by your cash. With that, we Binged and Googled our way into this week’s words.

These headlines, or rather lead lines, steered out thinking to the future, at least in the US. To give a bigger scope to the work, we included stories from all over the world. And yes, not all of the links were written this month. It’s the trend, and we thought you might find it interesting, surely, you have harbored some of the same thoughts as written in the words below.

US Airlines Passenger Yield dropping steadily for the last 20 years.
Annual Passenger Yield: U.S. Airlines

Fees for airline goods and services that used to be free.
Fliers Beware: More Fees for What Used to Be Free

Bag fees garner higher airline profits.
The paradox of airline baggage fees: Higher charges, lower profits

Airline oversells cargo on flight and boots passengers by what they paid for their seats, lowest first please.
United Flight Kicks Off Passengers Who Paid Least For Tickets

Fliers Outraged At Pay-To-Queue Move!
Travellers outraged at pay-to-queue move

I, for one, have traveled with not enough pocket change to use the loo – how about you?
Ryanair moves ahead with pay toilet plan

The Passenger Bill of Rights – or wrongs!
No More ‘Flightmares’? Airline Passenger Bill of Rights Approved By Senate

Airline deregulation getting more popular in Washington DC.
Congress to revisit airline re-regulation if merger goes through

Is it time to regulate airlines again?
IT’S TIME TO REREGULATE

While the concept of deregulation leaves a bad taste in most folks mouth, there seems to be continuing interest in the ability of past policies to correct what many believe to be airline ills today. Heck, bigger government is never a good solution for problems that have no place in Washington, but as the airlines continue pluck taxpayer pocketbooks they continue to raise the ire of voters. If push comes to shove there will be a small cheering squad for the airlines when legislators get reelection fever.