The future of business travel?

Good post and better comments from the Economist on how the free market may change business (esp. air) travel in the future.

We are currently 45th in line to take off and running a bit late. However, our handsome pilot has just negotiated, for you, dear passenger, a private insurance waiver with a Nigerian E-Finance minister allowing us to take off immediately on the grass parallel to the runway. If we pool our collective resources, 231 crew and passengers, excluding the pilot, your fee will only be $ 99.98, which you can claim as a business loss next April! But wait, there’s more! Since it has rained heavily here, the grass is soggy. This, those silly neocons at the FAA say, could damage the integrity of our Dear Boeing’s nose gear before it’s loading goes to zero at rotation. So just for you, folks, as a SPECIAL BONUS, an internet-business man from France, this is very exciting, has just now placed odds of sixty to one with a Macau entertainment group that we can’t make it. But you, dear passenger, for an additional $39.95, can immediately place a futures-investment there and after our successful takeoff, you will be awarded a free drink and a $100.00 tax free E-Credited, at some time in the future. Pam, our Hooters flight attendant, and our co-pilot, a former Chippendale dancer, will be coming personally to your seat to speak with you…