Did anybody say life was fair? Well it ain’t. So I pay for my bike, and smuggle that budgie in my carry-on bag. And maybe I let him poop on the carpet.

I can’t afford to fly anyway, I’m the poor class…

BUT:
I have excessively many thoughts/comments on this entire subject.

HOWEVER, I find my self STRONGLY feeling great need to address your one comment.

In a super market near my home, on sale I have seen 12 packs of soda (12oz) sell for as low as $2.00 for the entire 12 pack!…

However, to even use full price, an average is as the norm is $4.80 a 12 pack.
Given this KNOWN FACT, and based on your comment.

That is saying a 12 pack of soda “behind security” costs would be then for a 12 pack of soda>>
AT 5 times, 4.80*5 = $24.00 too 4.80*10 = $48.00 a 12 pack?

Or in simple terms: $2.00 too $4.00 per single 12oz can of soda. VS average .50 too .75 a can as the norm out of a machine.

I FULLY AGREE with it being a matter of “Yet another hidden price increase”,

HOWEVER, I feel much stronger that this should be more an issue about “PRICE COUGING THE CONSUMER” when forced into a situation that I liken to that of a Monopoly being abused by an industry.

Granted, I see how terrorism has forced the public/security issues into why being able to bring (sealed food/beverages Etc.) on board (because terrorist can “seal threats to the public”, but to “LEAGLY” allow an industry “the airlines/stores “behind security” to IMHO “PRICE COUNG THE CONSUMER” under such circumstances SHOULD NOT be allowed to be manipulated in witch the manner that is the case.

There is such things/laws regarding this, I think it is something to do with fair pricing practices. Not very unlike the whole issue is this thread/blog issue in question.
Might also play a part in something about 30% markups to be fair in consumer pricing for the general public.

I am appalled that the airline industry can get away with this price couging/monoply given the circumstances our country is under when it comes to safety we are forced to incur.

It is not much more like when a commodity (such as in a hurricane) and a store takes there $3.89 pack of batteries and sells it for $12.50. We have laws and regulations in place that make this type of practice illegal.

Why then would the airline “behind security” stores be exempt IMHO which is liken to the very same thing?

I see this would be a productive ISSUE to address with our pricing government regulators, because I see it is an issue of importance.

(As for filling bottles with water after you, get in.)

I have read many posts here on Chris’s blog about water you fill into them at best tastes lousy. I wonder why that is?

I know why, it is to force the paying public (in a sense), to make you drink JUNK WATER VS paying there exuberant “Monopolized” prices that are being forced upon the flying public. Moreover, this all goes to food/soda/water Etc…

IF, and I STRONGLY mean IF, prices were FAIRLY enforced by other standards that are required in a manner in which how there reflected in local markets.

There would NOT be an issue of consumers needing to want/wish to bring needed/wanted extras on board such as food/water/snacks Etc…

Sure, Some/Many of you high-class flyers can afford a $2.00 too $4.00 can of soda/water Etc.
However, MANY of the low-end flyers barely crawl in order to just obtain an airline ticket and worry about hotels/lodging/food expenses etc etc…

I would like to see a fair pricing of these “Monopolized” items be controlled.

Reasonable is reasonable, what $.50 too $.75 for a soda or $2.00 too $4.00?

(What’s reasonable?)

Such “PRICE COUGING OF THE CONSUMER” like this, should NOT be tolerated and needs change.

Prices need to be regulated, just like the airlines do.

IMHO

BTW, Great place you have here Chris, Kudos to having this for consumers to vent.. Keep up the ace service. :-) Love Your Site.

I worked that job with pride. My Dad, who was a Captain, My Uncle also, and my cousin a stewardess, all felt the same way.

I do not know if I would feel the same way today. It is a two way street, and a lot of these passengers I see nowdays, and I pay to fly many a time, since the planes are full, and stand by is no fun at my age anymore, are rude cry babies.

Their expectations are unreal. What came first here, the chicken or the egg. The lower fares, the many decreases in benefits, the many pay cuts, and the arrogance of todays traveler and their expectations.

To Jasper: I only say it like it is and what I hear all the time from the cabin crews. There is no bitterness, I retired in the days, when you got married or got pregnant you had to leave. Those were still the glory days of flying.

I look at both sides, my friends still flying, flight crews I talk to privately on the planes, and the many travelers I know.

Both sides are upset. And I don’t see any resolution.

To the person who did not like me using the B word, my apologies. I find as I get older I am losing patience with many flyers and their expectations.

My airline friends, who think I am a traitor, because I side with passengers gripes many times, and I do, are happy with my honest comments.

I am NOT happy many times with seeing the lower level of service, but after reading many of Elliotts columns and the passenger comments, this finally moved me to state, passengers, you have brought a lot of this on your selves.

You refuse to pay higher prices, you will take the lowest priced carrier every time, over service and safety. Jasper, your comments are unrealistic.

There is something wrong with a person, who expects so much for so little paid.

I have eaten out many times at nice restaurants like Charlie Palmers, The Palm, Capital Grille, and the cost of each persons dinner and drinks in the “business party” was more then their air ticket from Miami one way to Washington DC.

How come. And why do men pay those prices at the Palm, Mortons, etc? Why don’t they complain about that. They say things to flight attendants now days, they would never have to the nerve to say to a waiter or bartender or Maitre’d.

Even back in the 60′s, we got frisky men. But nothing, like the arrogance now days.
These Premier and Elite Flyers seem to think their Gods.

My Great Grandfather sold farm milk and vegetables all over New England from a wagon that took him a long way from home, that was his job. He did not complain.

To Jasper

If you think that by charging an extra $ 25.00 per bag or bringing onboard your own snacks and water is going to make the airlines keep their airfares low or further reduce airfares even more, you’re wrong. Airlines are looking at ways to increase their profits with the least amount of effort. That translates into no complimentary food service on flights as well as overall poor customer service – and it’s unacceptable. You may be able to travel light so baggage is not an issue for you, however it’s not reasonable to assume that every other traveller can get by with just a single piece of luggage.

To respond to the original story, I think it’s ridiculous to charge for a second piece of luggage. I know who I won’t be flying with.

BTW: I wasn’t the one complaining about the fee in the first place. The only thing I have an issue with is that the people complaining in this blog and sending letters to the airlines believe that the solution to “their” problem is to have me pay an increased base fare so that “they” can bring a 2nd bag without the “hassel” of paying an extra fee for it at the counter. Yes, it was nice to have the option of checking the 2nd bag for free, but it looks like those days are gone now, just like the in flight meals that used to be complimentary. Fine by me – I hated airline food anyway.

Kat: According to the airlines websites, wheelchairs and other assistive devices will not be charged the $25 fee as a second bag. If they started charging the extra fee for wheelchairs, I would see them as risking getting sued . . .

Sorry, you can’t bring store bought liquids on a plane anymore. You have to buy your possible drinks behind security at a price of about 5-10 times what you would have paid in a supermarket.

Yet another hidden price increase.

BTW: If so few people check a second bag, the average price increase would be nearly zero per passenger. So then you have nothing to complain about. If many people take a second bag, the chance is larger you are one of them. Still nothing to complain about.

Furthermore, it also costs money to administer who uses a second bag, and whether those travelers paid.

@plet 39: So how far does the fairness go? Are airlines gonna charge passengers by their weight? Air consumption?

I don’t like all the new fees that the airlines are coming up with, myself. I am ambivalent on the $25 charge for skiing and scuba gear, though. If I have to pay for a 2nd bag, shouldn’t others? And shouldn’t that information be posted at the beginning of a carrier’s website, rather than at the end, after I’ve booked the ticket?

Strollers and carseats – I agree, that’s more along the line of a wheelchair.

Beth, I bet you were one heck of a stewardess! I wish there were more like you onboard today. We’d get along just fine.

Yes, it is a money maker for the airlines – but with gas prices the way they are, I would rather them keep the fares low for everyone and charge for the “extras” as they are required. More bags = more weight = more gas: it’s that simple. I am a low maintenance traveler who doesn’t expect much except to have them get me and my luggage safely (and relatively comfortably) to my destination on time. If I want more “service” – I’ll book a first class ticket – until then, I’m happy in coach. I am willing to bet that the majority of people who travel domestically by air only check one bag, so the *fairest* method was to charge for the 2nd bag, instead of making everyone pay by increasing the base fare. The only time these fees don’t make sense is when they apply to *everyone* – then it should be added into the base fare.

Not everyone wants to be forced to pay more for all of these “services” that may not be wanted. I don’t care if they take away the extras – I’ll happily bring my own water and snacks if it means my air fare won’t go up to cover rising costs. Sure, some of you feel like you’re getting “snowed over with ridiculous fees” and “getting reduced service” but some of us don’t want to pay for services we don’t want or use. Its not like they’re doing a “bait and switch” on us – they clearly announced the change in policy way in advance of its implementation. If you intend to check a second bag and want to “compare” airfares, just add $25 to the fares from airlines who impose the fee. When some of them start charging for beverage service, add the cost of a bottle of water to the fare to determine the “comparable” fare to another airline that provides complimentary beverage service. But don’t force me to pay for something that I don’t even want.

Only a handling fee for luggage. And it should be noted that the majority of cab passenger don’t have luggage, so that makes it more reasonable. The guy is actually doing more work when he is dragging your heavy bag in his truck and to your door. The airlines are trying to charge me the same for a lesser product.

The point is that we (I) *want* to see the ticket price go up, *in stead* of being snowed over with ridiculous fees. It is *deceiving* to say: “oh people the price stays the same, you just gonna get less service for it, and if you want the old service level, you need to pay extra”. Just charge me extra.

They are smartly playing passengers against each other, by (rightfully, if I see your reaction) making sure it’s always a minority of passengers that they hit with their newest fee, while convincing that it’s only this little silly minority of skiers/SCUBA divers/business people.

This time is a luggage fee. But the last round was the introduction of a booking fee for online bookings. That was one, I didn’t care about. I still don’t like it. Some airlines started charging you for getting a ticket for your air miles. I fly so little (or use so many air lines), that I have one free ticker every 4 years, so what do I care about those extra $5? Well, personally very much, except that it’s yet another extra fee.

It bugs me that my air line ticket bill looks like my supermarket bill with so many items on it. That’s what I am protesting against. Everybody is paying silly fees through their nose. Do not think you will escape their folly too.

If we are airline consumers don’t speak up against this non sense, we end up with separate fees for closing the door on the aircraft, loading the luggage, using the bathroom, and breathing.

Sorry, but the airlines no longer care about customer service, etc for
the bulk of their customer so I would be shocked if they gave a smaller
customer base the time of day. They know they are the only “game” in
town.

The government is of no help. They are under the influence of lobbists, who
as we speak are being besieged by the airline lobbists to lessen the rules
for posting the TOTAL cost of a plane ticket, maddening already disgusted customers and making it harder, if not impossible to comparison shop for the best airfare.