Comments on: 5 outrageous luggage fee myths the airlines want you to believe

By: Jeremiah Johnson

Jeremiah Johnson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:30:00 +0000

The airlines do, what I refer to as “Feed my crap and tell me how good it tastes.” I obviously cleaned that up a little bit but the airlines continuously keep making up stories to try to convince the air traveler that they are always on the verge of going under and they cannot survive without the changes that they make. I, for one, believe very little that they tell me.

By: carolm

carolm — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:01:00 +0000

I was livid at Trans Air in San Antonio, we flew in with Trans Air from Atlanta, going back, we were told our luggage was 1/2 inch too long! and
they were going to charge us $49.00!!! We told them we flew in just 2 days ago and was not charge that. I told them that the Trans Air measured it in Atlanta and it went through just fine. But they told us either pay or I could not check in my luggage. I bought another suitcase from a suitcase store across the from Trans Air…mmmm…must be a common practice with Trans Air, the owner at the store gave us a 10 percent discount. I would rather spend a $100 for another suitcase rather than give the airline another dime!

By: New Rules For Airlines Might Make Your Travel A Little Easier « Hard Snow Life

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:03:17 +0000

[...] and let the market correct itself. What they mean by that is that they should be left alone to to squeeze every last cent out of their passengers, so we're happy to have the Feds on our side on this one. Still, air travel is getting more [...]

By: Sunday Link Love « Snob on a Budget

Sunday Link Love « Snob on a Budget — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:19:55 +0000

[...] 5 Outrageous Luggage Fee Myth the Airline Want You to Believe and then take a [...]

By: O. Olesen

O. Olesen — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:00:14 +0000

Let each passenger carry say 100 kilo free of charge, no matter whether it is your flesh or luggage. Very fair.

By: Charles Clarke

Charles Clarke — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 06:53:53 +0000

I agree with Carver that unbundling lets airlines let us know how we can cut their costs and gives us incentive to do it. I rarely check a bag and when I do, I stuff it as full as I can so I only have to carry-on the irreplaceable.

As for charging for carry-ons or for the weight of them, I could handle that also. Even though my computer bag feels like a ton of bricks at times.

It would be nice if they also had “carry-on” stickers with your seat # on them. Then, if the overhead bins were full over your seat, you could throw that the oversized bag to the idiot 10 rows behind you that he placed there so he could grab it as he was getting off.

By: HSP

HSP — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:45:34 +0000

I’ve tried to fight the battle: http://insathope.blogspot.com/2010/04/baggage-fees.html.

I most wish that fees would be bundled, so that the baggage fees can be expensed as part of the cost of the flight.

By: Thaddeus Buttmunch

Thaddeus Buttmunch — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:26:55 +0000

I’m a physician and will be flying from the Carolinas to see my father in the Midwest at Thanksgiving. Because I’m not near a major “hub” will pay four or five hundred dollars. Also because I work during the week and cannot leave at Noon. What’s more, if I use US Airways they may lose my luggage. Delta is worse b/c the connection is always screwed up and I have to spend an unwanted night in Atlanta. They don’t count it in their “ontime” stats b/c it’s a feeder airline.

what we REALLY need is a national bullet train. Competition for the airlines I say. Amtrak is a joke I admit. OK not practical NY-LA but Miami-Chicago or Seattle San Diego it IS. Those poor people in the Newark-Buffalo turboprop would be alive if they took a more practical Maglev train to their destination.

By: Cassandra`

Cassandra` — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:01:59 +0000

I dislike fare hikes in any shape or form just as much as the next passenger. If we all object to paying the baggage fees, wouldn’t it make sense for us to pack less and travel light? It will not only save us money but will also serve the environment well by creating less of a carbon footprint.

If we make such a big fuss about paying these fees, why didn’t we protest the TIPS that we pay at restaurants, bars, hairdressers, and other service providers? They amount to 20% of the total bill, as opposed to $15/bag which most likely is less than 10% total fares paid.

By: David Z

David Z — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:39:11 +0000

I would feel happier though if the airline would just say hey we are doing it to make more profits and stop the bull shit reasons.

Indeed. Unfortunately they also know telling the honest-to-goodness truth…would only turn people off anyway.

By: Please don’t use the C-word at this airline fee conference

Please don’t use the C-word at this airline fee conference — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:58:42 +0000

[...] For some reason, I never got my invitation to the 2009 Ancillary Revenue Airline Conference, which is being held in Los Angeles next month. Maybe it was this post. Or this one. Or maybe this one? [...]

By: William Wallace

William Wallace — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:42:12 +0000

I hate having to pay to take luggage on a flight, but just like everyone else, know one is forcing me to pay the money with a loaded gun. I would feel happier though if the airline would just say hey we are doing it to make more profits and stop the bull shit reasons.

By: Teri

Teri — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:15:23 +0000

Here’s a way to generate revenue, charge a fee for the convenience of a giant carry on bag that doesn’t fit under your seat. Then we wouldn’t have to wait for all the people who carry on a large rollaboard and a giant bag and another bag. My last flight was delayed 20 minutes so all the ‘extra’ carry-ons could be gate checked. Now that makes me crazy. This way, it might be a more even mix of carry on and checked baggage. And, more money for the airlines, and time would be saved, etc.

OF course, no charge for the first bag or carry on would work for me as well.

By: Barry Graham

Barry Graham — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:15:02 +0000

The reality is that we are getting air travel for dirt cheap prices, and so to charge a few dollars for luggage is not unreasonable. People want the airlines to stay viable, and charge cheap fares. So they are making up for it in other ways. I don’t have an issue with it, but then again I never check bags unless I absolutely have to.

By: carver

carver — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:22:23 +0000

@colleen

Cargo is only part of the equation. Business is far more intertwined that than. I’ll give you a real world example. I practice in both Los Angeles and the San Franciso Bay area. My pricing structure is based in part on the fact that transportation charges are fairly cheap. If transportation charges increase, then my rates have to increase to make up for the difference.

Basically, that scenario is true for any business in which travel is a meaningful component.

As far as just raising prices, you’re saying two different things. In the first post you correctly mentioned that fewer people would fly. But in the second post you imply that flying would be an experience open to all. You can’t have it both ways. As prices increase, fewer people are able to afford it. Whether you call the remaining people rich or middle class is a matter of semantics.

What I don’t understand though. Why don’t you just buy a highly restricted first class ticket which would let you travel like you used to.