Airlines collected $3.4B in bag fees in 2010

[Jestocost]

Geez.

Airlines collected $3.4B in bag fees in 2010

 

[LilyWDW]

Geez.

Airlines collected $3.4B in bag fees in 2010

Yea, saw this and thought "So?"

So that was what they collected in fees. It could have just been increases in ticket prices. At least this way I get to decide if I want to pay for a checked bag or a snack.

 

[Jestocost]

Yea, saw this and thought "So?"

So that was what they collected in fees. It could have just been increases in ticket prices. At least this way I get to decide if I want to pay for a checked bag or a snack.

indeed.

 

[TagsMissy]

Good for the airlines to make a profit! Job well done. They are a business to make money. People keep on demanding cheaper flights, well now you pay for luggage.

In Canada the flights are a bit more expensive but we still get 'free' luggage. Take your pick.

 

[mickey2000]

Good for the airlines to make a profit! Job well done. They are a business to make money. People keep on demanding cheaper flights, well now you pay for luggage.

In Canada the flights are a bit more expensive but we still get 'free' luggage. Take your pick.

I agree they should double the fees and triple them on Spirit Airlines

 

[LoriABil]

Or you could fly Southwest and get a small snack. In my opinion, I will share a soda with my neighbor if my bags fly free!
Some people want the whole can to themselves, and will pay up to $35 per bag for this option.

Got to love the free market! That's why there are so many options!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

That argument only holds water when Southwest fares are as low or lower than other airlines. Not the case. But I know it makes people feel really good inside to believe they are paying less!

Or you could fly Southwest and get a small snack. In my opinion, I will share a soda with my neighbor if my bags fly free!
Some people want the whole can to themselves, and will pay up to $35 per bag for this option.

Got to love the free market! That's why there are so many options!

 

[goofy4tink]

Well then....I am quite pleasantly surprised by this thread. I know I watched that same news last night...and thought, yeah, so what??? So many fliers are screaming for those really low fares, or they won't fly. Well, the airlines need to be profitable. And keeping those fares wasn't the way to do that. So, now we get to pay for the services we want. We will never go back to really low fares, with free snacks, and free baggage. Heck, I can see them charging us for use of the overhead bins down the road.

 

[ssawka]

Someone else mentioned SouthWest, I'd like to add that Jet Blue does not charge baggage fees and gives passengers more than any other airline. Are they always the cheapest? No, but they often are. I have no problem with the airlines making a profit, but I believe it is mis-management that has lead the airlines to be unprofitable. For years, the airlines have relied on low fares to keep the planes full and have conditioned the American public to expect those low fares. It's much like Disney. When Eisner was at the helm, Disney never offered a discount, but now they have conditioned guests to expect the discounts and are too afraid to pull the plug on them.

 

[Jestocost]

The only point behind my "geez" and in posting this link was that those $25 and $35 charges add up fast. Not sure why anyone would come to the conclusion that I thought it was a big deal or had a problem with it. Interesting how the mindset that people bring into an issue can cause them to interpret a lot from nothing.

Count me as one who agrees that the airlines had to find ways to operate profitably, since the alternative would be no airlines at all. FWIW, I've paid baggage fees a total of once between FF perks and SWA being the largest carrier here. I do expect to be paying more often in the future, however.

 

[thepwa]

Yea, saw this and thought "So?"

So that was what they collected in fees. It could have just been increases in ticket prices. At least this way I get to decide if I want to pay for a checked bag or a snack.

My first reaction was "good, they can keep flying and keep their planes properly maintained."

I completely agree with the 2nd part.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

I'm quite content paying $68 for my AirTran LGA to MCO flight and $20 in fees to check a bag for $88 total.

Of course, I could have chosen to pay $179 to fly JetBlue from JFK and would not have had to pay any fees.