Airline Baggage Fee's
 

Anyone surprised that Airlines instituted baggage fees in response to skyrocketing fuel costs, now that fuel costs have come down the fees are still there.

And UA just announced an increase !!

Sounds like government is running the airlines too.

Yea, they just had it on the news here.

The Chicago Alderman Jumped up and down, threating to revoke a variety of public subsidies to the Chicago Art Institute after they proposed raising the entrance fee 50 % (12 to 18 bucks).

Of course the alderman OK'd the sale of the city parking meters to a private company that resulted in up to 400 % (YES 400 %) increase in meter rates.

Don't like the fee.........carry less baggage........or drive. Your choice.

When the airlines make a huge profit.........then you can complain about the fees..........

Does that mean I've got clearance to b1tch about the oil companies? ;)

It's still cheaper to fly than it is to buy fuel and drive.

Actually I don't really object to the fee's.

Although I think everyone should get one free bag as part of the ticket price.

But what I object to is they institute the fee because of high fuel prices, then don't recind them when prices fall.

Gee does sound like a government operation :P

They definitely instituted the fees to generate more revenue during the fuel crisis.

However, they are now suffering an entirely different crisis.........reduced load factors due to the recession.

Do you think they should eliminate the fees when they continue to operate the aircraft at a loss?

Would you?

Not possible. Private companies only do nice and proper things.

I agree, just add the $25 into the ticket price. I object more to the people with every conceivably allowed carry on, all larger than permitted by airline regulation.

I'd rather pay an extra $20.00 a ticket than deal with overcrowded over head bins. I used to carry on every time anyway to save about 30 minutes at the baggage claim, but now finding an overhead bin is really difficult unless you're first on the plane.

Of course people have no clue with it either. If they're sitting in the back of the plane, many people stash their big bag in a front overhead bin so they don't have to haul it all the way to the back. :rolleyes: Then there's the people that put everything up there including both bags and a coat, leaving them more leg room, but someone out their bag.

This is done despite flight attendants repeating specifically not to over the loud speaker multiple times as people board.:mad: I have seen a few verbal fights with passengers over the deal, one of which I got involved with after the twerp muttered under his breath that my father was an A-hole after raising a stink that his bag had to get checked because of a purse and coat in his bin nobody would claim.

The thing that irritates me, is that some charge upwards of $50 for a heavy bag, but if you should bring a second bag, with the combined weight of the two being more than the single, heavy bag, you only get charged 5 or 10 bucks for a second bag.

I think that is stupid.

I can maybe see charging more money for more weight (after all, weight uses fuel), thing is, let the charge be reasonable. If my bag is heavy, don't screw me out of an extra fifty bucks...charge me for a second bag.

Personally, I have not been charged for a heavy bag...BUT.... should the day come where my bag exceeds their limit (say 50lbs), then I will not only get a second bag, but I will also make sure that both weight 49lbs, ...even if I have to add half a dozen bricks.

Fees are interesting.

When a person makes a decision regarding air travel (or a hotel, or a car rental), they make their selection on the price that is listed on the screen. If the airline offers a price of $250., a certain amount of travelers will choose this flight. If the price is $270., by definition, fewer travelers will choose this flight. The pricing has a dramatic effect on the sales.

If the airline offers the ticket at $250. and charges a $20 baggage fee, rarely will the fee impact the decision of the purchaser. He makes his decision on the $250. cost that is on the screen and succumbs to the $20. fee at the airport after the fact.

Fees are the smart way for the vendor to collect more revenue because they work. Naturally, the public, including myself, hates them with a passion. Nothing worse than booking a hotel and finding out they hit you with a $12.00 parking fee per day. I've actually parked outside the hotel and walked 1/4 mile to avoid giving them that fee. At checkout, they still attempted to charge me the fee.

I agree they should strictly limit carry on, include the cost of ONE bag in the ticket, AND have efficient and fast baggage service. Although if they included one bag in the ticket price, my wife and I would pay extra for our next vacation, we take one bag between us. AND a small carryon each.

Knock on wood, I've been very lucky. Only one and a half times in hundreds of flights had a baggage issue. The half was a local cummuter flight, while taxing out they realized my bag wasn't on the plane, funny it was mine and another passenger that didn't make it. We both checked in several hours early, back in the days when you would try to arrive as they began boarding.
And the other that they notified us inflight that one cart of luggage didn't make it on the plane.

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Strictly limiting carryon would be valuable to them in the current environment because it will generate revenue. Prior to the baggage fees, strictly limiting carryon would cost them money.

Including the cost of one bag in the ticket costs them money. See above post.

Having efficient and fast baggage service is strictly dependent on the number of arriving flights at a given point in time. If one plane arrives, they have efficient service..........if four arrive, they don't. There is no cost effective way around this issue.

that would depend on distance and vehicle used.we just went out to denver.closest airport is omaha.tix were $93 round trip.took my tdi jetta and it cost me right at $70.