Allegiant Air now charging for checked bags?

[Lovemy3babes]

Have you all seen this? I was just on their website getting a price and came across this. $4.00 per checked bag.

 

[CarolA]

Yes, they do charge and if you don't tell them when you book they charge more at the gate. Spirit is also doing this.

This is the price of "el cheapo" airfares. They nickle and dime you to death.

 

[Kae]

Yes, they do charge and if you don't tell them when you book they charge more at the gate.

.

I Figured they would charge more at the gate so i did 1 bag per person. When it is 2 adults & 2 kids we normally have 3 bags. So does this mean that people will try to cram big bags in the overhead?

Kae

 

[Edd]

The "el Cheapo" flights are still cheaper than landing Orlando International Airport and all the frivolous luggage is not carried to Florida.

 

[seashoreCM]

There is still the free baggage allowance which now comes down to one carry on plus one personal item, or whatever the rules say may be ideally carried on. But beware, if handles or wheels protrude so that the item won't squeeze in the sizing frame or sizing template, it never qualified for being a carry-on and you would be charged.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Yosemite Mice]

It is the wave of the future for airlines. They call it "unbundling", instead of paying one price for everything you pay for the services you use.

United announced 2 months ago they are looking at the concept. UA (if they do it) would have you pay extra for everything from advance seat assignments, to checking bags, and even if you want to earn frequent flyer miles.

Sounds similiar to Allegiant, Spirit, etc. I guess we better get used to it.

 

[Brian Noble]

So does this mean that people will try to cram big bags in the overhead?

Very likely...I noticed this with Spirit, too. I ordinarily consider them, and still might if the total price still works out for our family. But, it's going to make boarding the flight much more of a hassle, because at least a dozen PAX will be trying to cram bags way too big to fit into the overheads, and insisting that it will fit so that they can save $10.

 

[MickeyEars]

I paid for 5 checked bags for the three of us flying May 29-June 7 on Allegiant Air. The grand total for all three of us roundtrip was $331.20 so needless to say I was more than okay with paying for our checked bags. Just can't beat $39 fares!!!

Carla

 

[bicker]

British Airways started this latest trend, and it is picking up steam. This is a direct result of low airfares.

However, I think we need to also see a fee for carry-ons, because otherwise they're just going to push people back to trying to carry-on as much as they can, which is worse than the current situation.

 

[Lewisc]

British Airways started this latest trend, and it is picking up steam. This is a direct result of low airfares.

However, I think we need to also see a fee for carry-ons, because otherwise they're just going to push people back to trying to carry-on as much as they can, which is worse than the current situation.

Limiting the number of checked bags reduces the number of baggage handlers needed and frees up more of the hold for cargo including air mail. Even a modest charge should result in passengers thinking twice about checking an extra bag.

I agree limiting, or charging, carry-on bags is the next logical step. Ryanair is the LCC that started this recent trend. They limit the weight of your carry-on bag. British Airways still allows for free baggage. I just checked their website http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagchk/public/en_us My memory is they were planning to change and then reversed.

Time will tell if this practice will just be a "market niche" for the ultra LCC or if the market niche will be a few remaining "full service" airlines.

My guess is the major airlines won't be able to start "nickel and dimming" passengers unless the major LCC carriers, Jet Blue and SW, start doing this.

Passengers seem to like the personal Directv screens. I wonder why some airlines don't add them but charge something like $5-$10 per passenger. Charging extra for extra amenities can be a win-win.

I posted this in the Spirit thread, Spirit only guarantees they'll take one bag per passenger, even if the passenger is willing to pay. According to Spirit's website Spirit has the right to refuse a second bag and it's up to the passenger to get that bag home. I wonder if the "solution" might be to allow the passenger to pay $$$ and ship it as cargo.