I read Larry Anglisano’s editorial on FBO price gouging in the March 2018 Aviation Consumer and have some thoughts. Like Larry, I don’t mind paying for good FBO service when I avail myself of it, but these days with venture capital firms consolidating ever-larger chains of glitzy and highly profitable FBOs even at relatively small airports around the USA, it is getting increasingly difficult to avoid both sky-high fuel fees and onerous ramp charges.
Last fall, for example, a friend of mine flew me up from Rocky Mountain Metro across the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies to Eagle Airport west of Vail. He taxied in to the legal outer edge of the Vail Valley Jet Center ramp, where I hopped out, then he immediately taxied back out for take-off. I strolled across the ramp toward the main exit gate to public ground transportation, but a line guy came running up and made me come in to the front desk, whereupon I was handed a $65 bill for “drop-off” service.