Comments on: All we’re really asking for are fair fares

By: A losing fight? Airlines earned $10 billion from fees last year, up 345 percent

A losing fight? Airlines earned $10 billion from fees last year, up 345 percent — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:07:50 +0000

[...] The technology exists to create these fair fare displays. [...]

By: Costa Cruise Lines fined for failing to disclose fuel surcharges and taxes

Costa Cruise Lines fined for failing to disclose fuel surcharges and taxes — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:16:20 +0000

[...] cruise and airline passengers continues. Every day, hundreds of thousands of reservations are made under false pretenses. Travelers believe they are seeing a price that includes the ability to check a bag and reserve a [...]

By: FL Traveler

FL Traveler — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:00:24 +0000

The deception on the part of most of the airlines is amazing as this article points out. Worse yet is when you agree to a fare (online), select buy, and then are told the fare is no longer available. Unreal! The luggage fees are one of the reasons I choose to fly Southwest and other carriers with no additional charges whenever and wherever possible. I recently flew AA and as a result of those fees, the amount and size of carry-ons was incredible. What a hassle for the passengers and attendents all for the sake of tacking on a few more dollars to an already high fare.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:01:13 +0000

@Jeanne – never mind UPS, for the $100 round trip baggage fee some travelers will find it less expensive to start their vacations with a quick trip to Wal-Mart, buying the stuff they might put in a second bag, and throwing it in the trash before they head home!

By: Ituri

Ituri — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:50:35 +0000

This reminds me of a similar problem, having worked in the service sector on and off here in the US. When clients from, say, Germany arrive, we would often (as desk staff) have to deal with their anger over having to pay a higher price than advertised.

It was the ‘hidden’ taxes and fees that added to the advertised price, which is NOT allowed in some places elsewhere. Taxes and fees must be “included” in the advertised price, by law. Why is this such a difficult thing to adopt? Because we’re a strictly (obsessively?) capitalistic society, where the lowest advertised (if not real) price gets the buyer. With few regulations and rules to protect consumers, anything “unbundled” goes, even it if means the “purchase price” is a lie… and even if we all KNOW its a lie.

Why can’t we just buck up and demand a straight forward price system? There’s no reason this couldn’t be done in the US, and it would solve a LOT more problems than just airline pricing.

Just a thought. ^_^

~Ituri

By: Tough talkin’ Transportation Department slaps United with $75,000 fine

Tough talkin’ Transportation Department slaps United with $75,000 fine — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:53:35 +0000

[...] • If the DOT doesn’t have the authority to regulate airfares, then what is it doing telling United how to quote its fares? And if it does, indeed, have the authority to tell United to drop the asterisks, why can’t it do more? [...]

By: Carver Farrow

Carver Farrow — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:36:00 +0000

I have to strongly disagree. In the US most purchases are displayed without taxes included. Why do we single out airlines. Go to the grocery store. Everything is displayed pre-tax. Some items will have sales tax applied other’s won’t.

As an employee, your salary is quoted in pre-tax dollars. That is normative for the US.

Additionally, the price should exclude those items which are discretionary to the purchaser. Checking bags and purchasing food are not required. On most trips, I make sure that everything I need fits into my carry-on bag. Similarly I often purchased food before I embark on the plane. These items should be excluded from the base fare.

However, I do have two issues. 1) Since not everyone travels often, the booking agent, whether telephone, website, etc. shoud inform the purchaser whether his flight includes food, luggage, etc. That way, there is no confusion. 2) Discetionary charges by the airlines such as concession recovery fees should be included in the base fare.

By: Joel

Joel — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:44:03 +0000

Chris,

you’ve got a great point with this column, but have you ever looked at your underwriter Cheapflights.com? Even though their searches state “Tax Included” on the initial search, that doesn’t seem to be the case after you click through. Aren’t they exactly what you are talking about?

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:50:21 +0000

I’d like to hear some suggestions as to what we can DO, in organized fashion, to fight this. Are any organizations lobbying, proposing legislation, suggesting lawsuits to force the various regulatory agencies to do their jobs? I’d join in and financially support such an organized effort. Meanwhile, Look At The Bottom Line! And Fly Southwest And Frontier!

By: Joe Nelson

Joe Nelson — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:36:40 +0000

On Frontier’s website when you move your mouse over the fare designation, such as “economy” you get a display of everything that’s included in the fare, and what is extra. The trouble is that online travel agents such as Expedia, etc. only displays Frontier’s lowest fare, since that’s probably what most people are looking for. You have to go to http://www.frontierairlines.com to get the complete choice.

By: Ani

Ani — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:37:12 +0000

I think the government probably won’t step in, until they have to pay with their own funds. THEN and only then, will they stop the deception. Since they get reimbursed for their airfare and luggage charges, by the tax payers, it doesn’t hurt. Until it hurts, it will remain.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:13:41 +0000

In regards to airlines increasing their baggage fees: There are still numerious incidents of airlines who charge the baggage fee losing luggage, but still not taking accountability for the lost luggage (or providing adequate compensation).

Since this is the case, I think that for some travellers, the prospect of sending luggage ahead via UPS will become a more attractive option – especially if airlines have another round or two of baggage fee increases.

I just went out to the UPS website, and used their cost calculator to get an estimate for shipping a 50 lb package (maximum weight of a piece of luggage) over 1500 miles, via standard ground shipment (4 business days).

The cost: $41.00 – not too much more than some airlines charge for baggage fees, with the increase. Plus, you have tracking and can insure the package.

Granted, you’d have to know in advance when you were travelling to allow for the 4 days of advance shipping of your bag. Also, this option would probably not be practical for the professional business traveller who travels 200+ days a year.

However, if airlines raise their baggage fees by too much more, I think some occassional travellers will consider shipping baggage ahead of time using UPS to be an attractive option.

And no, I don’t work for the UPS. ;-) I just got curious about using it as an alternative to checking you bag.

By: Jim Bartholomew

Jim Bartholomew — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:04:45 +0000

I now fly Frontier as often as I can. I lovetheir fare structure. I always get the clasic fare since I also check a bag and want an Aisle seat. I would like to see other airlines take this fare structure plan. Believe me it works!

By: Logan

Logan — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:53:44 +0000

I know that Kayak offers an option to fold baggage fees into the fare results it returns. I’ve seen a couple examples where the addition of a checked bag or two changes which airline is lest expensive for a given flight.

By: Rajul

Rajul — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:29:59 +0000

This is a timely article as we face a similar issue over here in Europe, particularly with the low-cost carriers. It’s a problem exacerbated by the price comparison mentality, where consumers (like me!) will typically only spend a second or two to skim a bunch of fares and naturally click through to the cheaper one. So as consumers we also need to shape our behaviour so that the airlines are forced to take note. But I also agree that at some point the government and consumer agencies will simply have to intervene.
Apart from that, it’s a great opportunity for a savvy airline to win market share by taking a more principled and transparent position.