A business class traveller, writes Vir Sanghvi, is charged for every small thing by the airlines, e.g. $10 for Martini, $3 for Coke and even $3 for water.Business class travel is highly priced and it can include certain basic services.However, airlines rip off the customer perhaps knowing that all these expenses will not come from his pocket but are on the company’s expense account. Similarly, a five star hotel charging RS 30000 or $500 for a room takes pleasure in ripping off the customer by charging for mineral water, phone calls, faxes, ironing and things from the mini-bar. Such ripping off is allowed as many guests do not pay out of their own pocket.There is the factor of oligopoly too. According to Saghvi, these organisations who treat the customers with more respect will benefit in the long run.Some basic minimums a deluxe room guest expect are free local calls, free ironing, free movies, free internet and free airport transfers. A hotel could afford these at the tariff paid today.The customer should also refuse to be ripped off and refuge to stay at hotels that offer nothing for these high rates.We should also mention here the hospitals who charge obscenely high amounts once they come to know that you have a health insurance policy.