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A group of consumers is organizing an airline boycott in the form of a National No-Fly Week, July 10 - 16, 2011. We are hoping to spread the word, and need your help.

If the people of Egypt can overthrow a police state, why do we in America just sit still for price gouging, bag check fees, no-refund policies, overbooked flights, higher fees for extra inches of legroom and/or trip flexibility, ridiculous security practices and numerous other insults? The latest crime is that some airlines now want to charge a fee for checking in at the airport ticket counter and a fee to use the on-board restroom.

We're supposed to be the most democratic nation in the world, but we just bend over and let corporate America stick it to us. What happened to our revolutionary spirit? In the 1970s my generation stood up and ended the Viet Nam war (and got Richard Nixon out of office). But now we just sit on our obese ***** and do nothing. The people of Egypt put us to shame.

If a working class family of five saves for years to finance a vacation a Disney World and one of the parents is laid off from his or her job, every penny of their ticket price is LOST (unless they purchased a higher class of ticket or travel insurance that specifies coverage for a layoff). I recently had to cancel a trip, and even with trip insurance, could not receive a refund or even a credit! I spent a total of about 7 hours on hold with Expedia -- and the airline -- to no avail. And if you search online you will find thousands of customers with similar complaints.

Airlines have taken advantage of the post-911 Bush fear scenario to abuse customers. They need to reshape their business models and solve their financial problems using means other than torturing consumers.

We are asking America to support National No-Fly Week July 10 - 16, 2011. But it will take thousands -- millions -- of people to make it happen. Please support this boycott by refusing to book any travel during this period, and help us out by spreading the word in any way you can. The airlines need to get the message that we don't have to accept being cheated, manipulated and abused. Please tell your friends.

For a quick overview of the latest in fee abuses, visit these links:

http://www.dallasnews.com/travel/hea...rline-1349.ece

http://www.examiner.com/budget-trave...could-see-2011

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/airline-fee...ry?id=11734970