The hidden costs of our cheap lifestyle

The current debate about BAA charging drivers £1 to drop people off at Edinburgh Airport, and the subsequent coverage of the soaring cost of flying (your report, 9 July) should force us all to have a good, hard think about what we get from our money and what we should expect.

Back in the days before low-cost airlines zoomed into our lives, passengers received good service and free food and drink. Our journeys were less frequent but perhaps more treasured.

When cheap flights started becoming available, it made sense to me that that airlines would itemise the products they sold (drinks, check-in services and, subsequently, carbon offsetting), but I never understood how these companies were able to make a profit selling seats for next to nothing.

It reminds me of the way our throwaway culture is thriving in parts of the retail world; young people think nothing of buying a cheap outfit for a couple of wears then get rid of it.

They don't think about the real cost (if a dress costs 5 somebody is being exploited), just as we never thought of the real costs of cheap air travel while we were taking advantage of it.

RUTH ASHTON

Dalziel Place

Edinburgh

Gordon Dewer, BAA Edinburgh's managing director, tries to justify the 1 "drop off charge" with the spurious claim that it will cut "vehicle emissions" (your report, 7 July). If he is truly concerned about emissions he should switch off the aeroplane transfer buses' engines while they are loading passengers at Gate 1.

MICHAEL N CROSBY

Muiravonside

By Linlithgow