Travel letters

I enjoyed the photo spread [“Shutters Aflutter,” Sept. 18]. However, I could have done without the fish photo. Somehow I don’t see the artistic value in dead and dying fish. Live fish make much better subjects.

Nancy Jenkins

Torrance

Meaningful path

I lost my little brother last year to cancer, so it was heartwarming to read the story of a survivor [“Two Tough Journeys, One Tougher Survivor” by David Kelly, Sept. 18]. I hiked and climbed Longs Peak in Colorado on Labor Day weekend in 1999. It was one of the greatest thrills of my life and one I relive sometimes when I take time to look northwest. I still catch myself looking from the summit, like an eagle soaring above.

David Bailey

Denver

Weigh, then pay

Regarding “Dissecting Fees for Carry-ons” [On the Spot, Sept. 18] by Catharine Hamm: I suppose that holding a position in the world of travel journalism causes Hamm to tread lightly around instances of outright, heinous gouging such as carry-on luggage charges. However, unencumbered with the gravity of job security, I can call bald-faced avarice what it is when I’m clobbered with it.

If the airlines are draining our wallets due to a baggage-weight issue as they claim, then why aren’t passengers weighed with their baggage? Passenger size on any given flight varies from infant to immense. So plop all you’ve got on the scale: checked bag(s), carry-on and yourself. Whatever the screen reads, that’s your fee.

Yes, some people are taller, wider and generally larger than others. But if the airline complaint is truly about weight, wouldn’t the fairest way to administer fees of burden be according to total tonnage per human?

If a ticket holder is a tall, fit mammal and not obese, they’ll still weigh more than, say, my granddaughter. Or I. So pay up, you big deadbeats.

John Delaurentis

Carlsbad

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I flew to Las Vegas in July from LAX on Spirit, and I was very troubled by the fact that in addition to the price of the flight, they charged for selecting the seat in advance. Shouldn’t the price of the seat be included in the price of the ticket? I understand the rationale behind charging for luggage (more weight/more fuel), but charging for the seat is like Hertz charging you for a steering wheel when you rent a car. Isn’t that an abuse of power?

Aviv Brafman

Northridge

A fee fiasco

I traveled to Las Vegas on Aug. 14 for two nights and booked a room at Aria using Priceline’s name-your-own price. I offered $83 a night and was told the total would be $97.95 with fees a night. I accepted that offer and purchased two nights.

When I arrived at Aria, the check-in clerk informed me that I must pay a $44.80 resort fee to cover hotel facilities such as telephone service. Even if I do not use the phone or Internet, I still have to pay that fee. The Aria clerk asked me to discuss a refund with Priceline, which I did, and it flatly refused to cover this mandatory fee that was never disclosed to me. Please warn your readers. Aria is not the only Las Vegas hotel that charges such a fee.

Tam Wong

Diamond Bar