Friendl(ier) skies

Finally. With oil prices hovering around $93 a barrel, well off their punishing high of $145, airlines have started to axe some of the extra fees they’ve tacked on to travelers’ tickets in recent months. Air Canada’s second checked-in bag surcharge: gone. WestJet’s fuel surcharge: gone. Air Canada’s fuel surcharge: um, well, that’s still there actually, though the airline is at least being upfront about it. In a rather bizarre upbeat statement to customers, it said: "Great news. The fuel surcharge is now included in all our North America fares." Clearly Air Canada’s concept of good news isn’t the same as mine. But these days I’ll take it where I can get it.