This and That July 2009

Just got home from work in time to watch the ninth inning of Mark Buerle's perfect game. Fortunately, I went to the TV before I went to my computer, so I didn't know the outcome (it's 1pm here, so it's a replay of last nights game). Anyway, great catch by Dewayne Wise in center to save the day--good theatre. I enjoy football, hockey, basketball; learning to enjoy cricket, rugby, and soccer; but Baseball will always be the best game there is. No matter what Bud Selig, striking and cheating players can come up with, the game always rises above it. Now if someone can just cool off the Phillies.

Humidity has kicked in for the summer in Dubai. As the monsoon season swirls thru the Indian Ocean and India, some moisture is pushed up into our desert region. May and June were hot, 105-115 EVERY DAY. But it was a dry heat. Now in July, temps are down, 95-100, but with the humidity it can feel pretty nasty outside. Really, it's no worse than back home where I can remember bending over a putt and sweat dripping from the bill of my cap onto my golf ball. Guess this will be status quo for August and September. If I had the choice, I would take the heat over the humidity.

Someone pointed out to me that the soft drinks out here use real sugar...even Coke. Probably better than the high fructose corn syrup that is fattening up America. Brings back memories of New Coke in the 80's when they went back to the Original Coke, but with substituted corn syrup instead of sugar. I'm still drinking the yucky diet stuff most of the time anyway.

Here are the results of a search for flights between Atlanta and Dubai leaving Sept 13, returning Sept 27.

British Airways $716 fare $591 tax/fees $1307 total

Luftansa $856 fare $479 tax/fees $1336 total

United $832 fare $411 tax/fees $1243 total

Delta $1102 fare $45 tax/fees $1147 total

Now, if I look at these figure (keeping in mind, figures lie and liars figure) it looks like the cost (fuel, depriciation, salaries, and other services and expenses) of flying one seat from Atlanta to Dubai appears to be roughly $800; yet Delta can take advantage of a lower tax structure and charge $300 more...pure profit! Even a Delta flight connecting thru Amsterdam is only subject to $90 tax (+1102=$1192 total)

Considering most Delta flights between ATL and DXB are mostly full, there is no incentive for them to be more competitive (Ok, even though they have the lowest fare and it's non-stop, something doesn't taste right). Perhaps they can add another daily flight and lower their prices! It's just not much of a free economy when one player has a $300 advantage.

I brought a dozen books back from the US this month. Barnes and Noble is much cheaper than anything over here...typical paperback is $12-13 (and almost nothing is ever on sale). Anyway, a dozen books eats up alot of my wieght allowance in the luggage, so I took the books out of the boxes and bundled them in saran wrap (every ounce helps). Well, turns out this was a great move. I was flying from Boston and changing planes at ATL for Dubai (I know 2 hours of backtracking...but it was cheapest--see above). Our flight from BOS landed just before a Thunderstorm hit the airport but not before they closed the ramps due to lightening. We sat just outside our gate for about 2 hours waiting for the weather to clear. When we did pull in it was still raining and the luggage got a good washing. When I unpacked in Dubai, all the clothes were wet, but my books were dry! Sometimes you get lucky.