Baggage Fees Take Off

[quagmire]

Well, my username is a coincidence - I was born July 27th. And you were smart for getting out. I always joke that one day I'll quit and go give five dollar hand jobs in back alleys - just to get my dignity back.

Wait.... How can you be encouraging me about my future career in flying and then go tell him it is smart of him to get out?

 

[dmr727]

Wait.... How can you be encouraging me about my future career in flying and then go tell him it is smart of him to get out?

That's a very good question, however I don't want to hijack the thread with my response, so I'll send you a PM.

 

[aethelbert]

I am always left to wonder that from all of the people that moan about these fees, how many would support their elimination in favor of a $10 increase each way? From what I understand through working with people at United over the years in our joint venture, the domestic airline industry in the US is dominated by whomever can offer the lowest fare. By introducing these fees to the lowest reservation classes, airlines avoided a fare increase which thus allowed them more customers. People don't think about it when booking their tickets and then just decide to get pissed when they show up at the airport. There is always the option of booking higher fare classes which have fewer restrictions and fees, but everyone always wants the cheaper number on the booking screen.

The US domestic airline industry, especially with legacy carriers that control the market, is not really a big money maker and is typically used primarily to feed intercontinental flights which attract higher-yield customers. There's no point in building costs into basic airfare to add services which many customers do not use, especially when the competition keeps their base fares low below extra fees. Delta doesn't really care if mommy, daddy, Jimmy, and Sammy fly to Disney World with Southwest as they would only bring in very little revenue (and in many cases lose the airline money). These airlines really are not around to carry people from Chicago to Orlando, but rather across the continent or over an ocean. Low-yield passengers typically don't hold any degree of loyalty to an airline, thus there is no large incentive to provide them with freebies which could otherwise be used to supplement the small revenue stream provided by a discount-economy fare. Everything collectively under full Y tickets exists only to make another 1-2% in net revenue on the route. Frequent, full fare economy, business class, and international flyers are the ones that bring in the money and are thus the ones that matter to management in the US; they can have their bags, premier customer service access, etc. Everyone else is there to be supplemental, and without the bag fees their collective presence would most often be destructive.

You get what you pay for and can't have both the cheapest fare alongside other services that many flyers don't need/want. If premium/high-fare passengers were not there to pay for and subsidize the vast majority of a flight, those that travel on cheap tickets would be often paying 3-6x more to fly, but hey you'd all have free checked luggage. But you get to pay less because of lovely price and service discrimination practices. And if you still decide to pay the cheaper fare, I'm sure that UPS or FedEx would be more than pleased to move your luggage at such speed for far greater sums of money.

 

[Abstract]

I've always been happy to pay for excess baggage that was over the weight limit. However, this is ridiculous.

The only time I'm willing to pay for bag check-in is if I'm flying with a budget airline that's said to be no-frills. I'm flying 10 hours to Japan for around $600 USD, and that includes a $30 fee for 20 kg worth of bags. I can bring more than one bag if I want, as long as it all adds up to 20 kg. That's ok.

For regular airlines, I expect to be able to bring 20 kg with of baggage, even if there is a 1 bag rule enforced.

 

[mojohanna]

I know this is not the answer for many out there, but its worth looking into depending on your situation. I can't speak for other airline's policies, but at Continental, if you sign up for one of their credit cards, your bag fees are waived. Additionally, if you have elite status with them, you fees are waived. I generally fly Continental or a partner airline whenever possible to avoid these types of fees. I cannot recall paying any sort of bag fee in the last 5 years. And I fly quite a bit, about 50k miles a year.

 

[djellison]

I flew AlaskaAir to Florida in December and the overhead bins were absolutely heaving. I'm not really sure if the airlines are winning much with this one.

I flew LAX-Dulles on Tuesday - and the size and weight of some of the carry-on was astonishing. Here in the UK - Carry-on for short flights is limited to a very strict size, forcing people travelling for more than a day or two to have hold-baggage.

 

[Eraserhead]

All tickets should include one checked bag. These fees are absurd. It won't be long until they weigh us and then charge for the ticket.

I have to admit I don't have a big problem with paying extra to check in bags - its one of the extra charges that you don't have to necessarily pay to fly.

 

[iBlue]

All tickets should include one checked bag. These fees are absurd. It won't be long until they weigh us and then charge for the ticket.

I agree it should always include one bag. This is absurd and strikes me as nothing more than the typical propensity for greed wherever possible.

If it REALLY IS about weight, as airlines claim, then maybe a TOTAL weight fee structure (for person and baggage combined) wouldn't be so out of line. Totally cruel, flawed and tactless, yes, but maybe it wouldn't be too unfair. It really chapped my ass when I had to pay a $250 overweight baggage fee when a severely obese man seemed to garner no problems. He had a few hundred pounds on me AND my bags combined. While I don't really wish for such an inhumane policy to actually be put into place, (and perhaps he paid for two seats, I suspect he would have had to) I did feel a twinge of frustration over the situation. </shame>

I just hate air travel anymore. It's miserable no matter what you do.

 

[yg17]

If your bags don't make it to your destination at the same time you do, do they refund the fees? If not, IMO, it should be a law that they do.

 

[jb1280]

for those who find this so outrageous, answer this question honestly:

You look to book a ticket at expedia. Airline #1's airfare is $250 return. Airline #2's airfare is $273 return. Airline #1 charges $25 per checked piece, Airline #2 includes 1 piece of checked luggage.

Keeping in mind the way sites like expedia are set up, which ticket would you buy? which ticket do you think the vast majority of consumers would buy?

 

[arkitect]

I guess if you are flying with one of those super budget airlines then it is to be expected.

But if this becomes standard for carriers such as British Airways or Virgin for their long haul that'd be outrageous.

I still think the best solution is to go back to the "early" days of aviation — and still use for commercial helicopter flights:

You and your bags get on the scale.

 

[iBlue]

for those who find this so outrageous, answer this question honestly:

You look to book a ticket at expedia. Airline #1's airfare is $250 return. Airline #2's airfare is $273 return. Airline #1 charges $25 per checked piece, Airline #2 includes 1 piece of checked luggage.

Keeping in mind the way sites like expedia are set up, which ticket would you buy? which ticket do you think the vast majority of consumers would buy?

I don't know what the vast majority would do. I would buy from airline 2 because whenever possible I lend support to companies that have better policies.

For instance, in the UK a lot of companies use premium rate phone numbers for you to contact them on. That pisses me off because I think it's a scummy way to go. If I have any choice in the matter, I will choose the company that doesn't try to screw you like that.

 

[jb1280]

I don't know what the vast majority would do. I would buy from airline 2 because whenever possible I lend support to companies that have better policies.

For instance, in the UK a lot of companies use premium rate phone numbers for you to contact them on. That pisses me off because I think it's a scummy way to go. If I have any choice in the matter, I will choose the company that doesn't try to screw you like that.

Oh, I agree, but I think this is a very relevant quote from 2008 when fees really started:

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/09/05/continental-airlines.html

Continental chair and CEO Lawrence Kellner said this summer his airline was watching how the fee worked at other airlines — whether it caused delays in boarding — and whether customers would rather pay a fare increase than face a bunch of fees.

"My general view is if those people need a product, how do we put that in an all-inclusive fare?" he said at the time.

But in the nearly three months since American's fee took effect and other carriers began matching it, it hasn't seemed to sway customers.

"We thought we would see more of a market shift by not having the fee," Continental spokeswoman Julie King said Friday.

 

[yg17]

for those who find this so outrageous, answer this question honestly:

You look to book a ticket at expedia. Airline #1's airfare is $250 return. Airline #2's airfare is $273 return. Airline #1 charges $25 per checked piece, Airline #2 includes 1 piece of checked luggage.

Keeping in mind the way sites like expedia are set up, which ticket would you buy? which ticket do you think the vast majority of consumers would buy?

It's not quite that simple. While I'd prefer Airline 2 since they don't have terrible policies like Airline 1, it's going to come down to the time of the flights, if it's nonstop, if it's not nonstop, where is the stop at (like I avoid ORD when possible), what kind of plane it's on (I avoid regional jets if I can too), the airline's reputation for being on time and whether or not they're known for losing bags, etc. Baggage fees only make up part of the reason I choose an airline.

 

[JNB]

I think more people should take the bus.

 

[iOrlando]

i dont carry about the baggage fees...I care more about the cost of the actual flights.

Flying in and out of South Florida...I have noticed almost a 40% increase in fares compared to last year. (I am looking at exact dates for both years..same airlines).

I really cant complain about $20-$25 baggage fees when I need to pay $150 more just for the ticket itself.

 

[miles01110]

I think more people should take the bus.

The short bus.

 

[mscriv]

And if you still decide to pay the cheaper fare, I'm sure that UPS or FedEx would be more than pleased to move your luggage at such speed for far greater sums of money.

It appears you're trying to be humorous in making your point, but I've done this exact thing and saved money. Instead of paying for an extra bag at $20 - $30 or an even higher overweight fee, I've shipped items to a destination at a cheaper price. You gotta explore all of your options.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I don't know what the vast majority would do. I would buy from airline 2 because whenever possible I lend support to companies that have better policies.

I would also choose airline 2 for the exact same reason.

 

[tabasco70]

United Premier Executive

 

[eawmp1]

I still think the best solution is to go back to the "early" days of aviation — and still use for commercial helicopter flights:

You and your bags get on the scale.

Since we are talking about conveyance from one point to another, per pound charges seem the most fair.

 

[mkrishnan]

I'm sorry to ask a n00b FAQ question, but... I'm flying American from MI (GRR) to Acapulco, Mexico (ACA). Per my reading of their baggage rules:

http://www.aa.com/i18nForward.do?p=/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jsp

Two items of checked baggage to Mexico are free (vs. to Canada, which is considered "domestic" travel). Is this right?

These rules are all so complicated. And I hate flying out of West Michigan... Gods, I miss Midway.

 

[rhett7660]

Perhaps, and just maybe, checking a bag with a kid is a great idea if that bag were at all the size of a carry on? I think people are smart enough to give each person the largest carry on they can have and check only what is needed. Give the guy some credit.

Isn't that great for you? Not everyone can cram their **** into what is the acceptable carry-on sized bag and get away with it.

As someone who cannot cram everything into a carry on if I am gone more than 3 days I have to admit that the prices are ridiculous. If they claim this is to cover fuel then what's the reason for the drastic hike in prices of tickets? Frankly this a futile attempt to save a failing company or failing companies. SWA did it right when everyone else said they were out of their minds.

Isn't that the truth.

 

[yg17]

I'm sorry to ask a n00b FAQ question, but... I'm flying American from MI (GRR) to Acapulco, Mexico (ACA). Per my reading of their baggage rules:

http://www.aa.com/i18nForward.do?p=/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jsp

Two items of checked baggage to Mexico are free (vs. to Canada, which is considered "domestic" travel). Is this right?

These rules are all so complicated. And I hate flying out of West Michigan... Gods, I miss Midway.

Someone should tell the morons at American that when people refer to Canada as the "51st state" they don't actually mean it's a state and they are merely joking

IMO, it should be simple: If you need a passport to fly there, it's international, no checked bag fee. If you don't need a passport, it's domestic, and there's a checked bag fee.

 

[mscriv]

^ Perhaps you should send American a map or maybe an email with a link to Google Maps.