Do you think anyone would pay $200 for an umbrella?

Apparently it is possible. As an Aeroplan customer (Air Canada's air miles program), I get my monthly statements featuring my number of collected miles (not as high as I would like them to be) and a few options on how to redeem those. Beyond flights, Air Canada offers other goodies at a lower mileage cost. So in the last statement, it offered a Calloway Golf umbrella for the amazing sum of 5000 miles.

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I am introducing a new category on this site! In "The Consumer's Life" I'll write about my experiences being a consumer. It is basically my way of rewarding good service and publicizing bad service. So be nice to me - you are getting my good money! And if you are not: Watch out...

Here's one to watch: Iberia just announced their spring fares to Europe. Why is that so newsworthy? Well, it's the way they did it. And that will change.

It always frustrated me that airlines here in the US post their fares as "one-way based on round-trip purchase". What a deceptive practice this is! They might as well say "multiply by two to get the full price". The consumer is not offered the actual amount that has to come out of their pocket, no matter if they only want to take one leg or both legs of the journey.

But back to Iberia...

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