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I discovered this outrageously funny video about airline fees. The point to note is that this video is predicting airline fees in “the year 2007″! And true enough, by the end of 2007, and throughout 2008, we started seeing the rise in airline fees for everything from checking-in a second bag, to a cup of water (which I think qualifies for a human right violation). When ancillary revenues are pursued independently of brand strategy, here’s what happens. Enjoy!

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Image by caribb via Flickr
This is one of the most hilarious airline jokes floating around these days. Enjoy!

Attendant: Welcome aboard Ala Carte Air, sir. May I see your ticket?
Passenger: Sure.
Attendant: You’re in seat 12B. That will be $5, please!
Passenger: What for?
Attendant: For telling you where to sit.
Passenger: But I already knew where to sit.
Attendant: Nevertheless, we are now charging a seat locator fee of $5. It’s the airline’s new policy.
Passenger: That’s the craziest thing I ever heard. I won’t pay it.
Attendant: Sir, do you want a seat on this flight, or not?
Passenger: Yes, yes. All right, I’ll pay. But the airline is going to hear about this.
Attendant: Thank you. My goodness, your carry-on bag looks heavy.Would you like me to stow it in the overhead compartment for you?
Passenger: That would be swell, thanks.
Attendant: No problem. Up we go, and done! That will be $10, please.
Passenger:  What?
Attendant: The airline now charges a $10 carry-on assistance fee.
Passenger: This is extortion. I won’t stand for it.
Attendant: Actually, you’re right, you can’t stand. You need to sit, And fasten your …

Two videos. 8 minutes each. Guaranteed goosebumps.

How about starting your Sunday rolling on the floor, laughing hard? Here are two videos right out of the classic comedy archives. George Carlin delivers a hilarious stand-up comedy act, shredding into bits the airline lingo that totally doesn’t make sense (you’ll realize after watching the videos).

The videos contain some profanities, and may not be suitable for watching at work (duh! that’s why you gotta watch it on a Sunday). Time to LOL (laugh out loud, for the unaware :p).

Here comes a perfect example of setting the Brand Xpectations right and creating buzz. The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News opened their papers Friday to see ads for a new airline called Derrie-Air, which purportedly charges passengers by the pound!
But the best part is that this is fake airline, and the advertisement effort is being undertaken just to understand consumer response better! Though, given the current airline situation in the US, concept is not totally one that can be ruled out.

Originally Published on Tuesday May 27, 2008, by Steve Benson
There have also been hilarious responses to the airlines finding new ways to make money. Here’s what appeared in The Onion:
What new revenue streams are the other airlines implementing?

Unitedâ€â€$25 seatbelt rental fee for passengers who didn’t bring their own
Midwestâ€â€$35 to sit in the passenger compartment
JetBlueâ€â€New fee structure for wait times on runway: $150 for under 2 hours, $75 for under 4 hours, etc.
Frontier Airlinesâ€â€$20 penalty if passenger is not wearing coonskin cap
Continentalâ€â€$100 reduced-fare tickets for standing-room-only passengers
Southwestâ€â€Ten bucks to touch the captain
Virginâ€â€$30 fee for booking a flight with another carrier
Deltaâ€â€$50 to chip in for gas