Grand Larceny

In May 1999, my Airport Business column was written about renting a car in Boston, Taxachusetts. The fees and taxes added 49.55%—repeat, 49.55%—to the price of the rental car, and I was mad about it. Earlier this year, I included that column in my book,  "Ground Clutter, The Book," and it made me mad all over again. Today, I reserved a rental car at Boston Logan Airport. Now I’m really mad. Today, folks, the taxes/fees added 57.7% to the price of the rental car. 57.7%. That is highway robbery. They should be ashamed. Hell, King George himself would have been ashamed. In 1999 and again today, $10 of that was for a "Convention Center Charge." They are charging me to pay for their convention center. (In 1999 the rental car lady told me they had been collecting that $10 for more than a year but had not started work on the convention center. I wonder if they have started since.) Now, I guess, they want me to pay for their failed Big Dig, too. There is one reason why they charge such rapacious fees/taxes: The local politicians figured out long ago that I—and others from out of town—can’t kick them out of office. It’s as simple as that. There is some trace of hope. Just recently the largest rental car companies banned together and swore to stop or reduce this larcenous greed all over the country. More power to them, and may they succeed. 55.7%. Can you believe it? We'd loved to publish your comments. Please click the comment box at the top.