Bag fee increase

[NYDisneyKid]

Just saw this this morning (maybe it was talked about already)

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/...-its-checked-bag-fee-while-continental-takes/

 

[lugnut33]

Well Delta and Conti can kiss my butt!!!

Here's the newest message I got from Conti regarding my in-laws flight:
Estimated to Arrive 6 Hours 46 Minutes Late


Here's my response:
Estimated year I fly on Conti again.... NEVER!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Delta announced it Monday; Continental Tuesday. By the end of the week, likely all the legacy carriers will institute comparable fees.

As for a 6.75 hour delay, well, that's not related to baggage, but... that's a LONG delay for a what, 2.5-3 hour flight? Do you know WHY there's a delay? Is it mechanical? Weather? Air traffic? Some security issue in Houston? That's an awfully long delay for a flight scheduled to leave around 9 AM.

 

[Tara]

Delta announced it Monday; Continental Tuesday. By the end of the week, likely all the legacy carriers will institute comparable fees.

This is more than likely going to be the case. It's just a matter of when. IIRC, when American rolled out its checked bag fees, the others held back long enough to really let American take the heat in the press, then they followed suit. The fees help bring in income and offset losses, so none of the legacy carriers can afford NOT to do it while they're all in the same competitive pool. And it's likely not going to stop with legacies - as airlines like Southwest see increases in traffic as people flock to them and their no/lower fees, they're going to feel the pressure to charge for baggage, too, particularly Southwest as its advantage in fuel pricing continues to decrease. JMHO.

But here's what I don't get - ANYONE who can check in online can avoid this fee. Sure, it requires a little bit of planning, but by the day before a trip, you pretty much know if you're going to check a bag or not in most cases. Again, JMHO.

 

[lugnut33]

Why would Southwest add baggage fees if that's one of the reasons they are gaining market share? I know that's one reason we are flying Southwest in August.

 

[MissMichelle]

UGH...I am stuck flying Delta next month and I was already cursing them with their checked bag fee (which luckily it still worked out to pay $120 RT for the family of 4 cheaper then flying anyone else) and I am flying my tried and true Jetblue in September and will continue as long as they keep their fees down.

 

[goofy4tink]

You know...I think we all want things to stay the same as they used to be. But, that's just not going to happen. Everyone complains if fares go up....a whole lot of 'I never paid more than $150 r/t before...not doing it now. I'll wait for a lower fare.' type comments. Then, baggage fees came into being. I prefer them to raising fares. Why? I can control how many bags I choose to bring. So, rather than raise the fare from $129 each way to $140 each way, I can just pay for an extra bag. I prefer it that way. Why should I subsidize those who want to bring two checked bags with them, when I have only one, if any?? That's what would happen if the airlines just raised the fares across the board.
And we all know they are going to try to recoup some operating costs somehow..and baggage fees seem to be the best way for them to do it. So.....when we fly to Orlando next month, my eldest dd will have to squeeze her stuff into one checked bag....otherwise, she is going to have to pay a bunch more to fly home on Delta. At least going down we can have the one free checked bag on Jetblue. But, she's not happy about it. If she chooses to have two checked bags, she knows she is going to have to pay for them.

Paying baggage fees isn't a great thing. But consider the alternative..higher fares. And I, for one, don't want to see that. I would much rather decide how many bags I want to pay for rather than be able to take one for free and then pay for a second vs higher fares across the board.

 

[uva185]

Delta is only initiating a surcharge if passengers pay at the airport. At least they are offering customers the old price as long as they pay online. I don't really see the big deal.

 

[griergirl2]

United did the same back in May, so the others seem to be just following suit. Here's the link for United's luggage fees:

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52481,00.html

 

[dennise]

If airlines would limit the number of free flights for employees and families it would certainly help their financial picture. I have a nephew who is only 2 years old and has more than 30 flights under his belt. Granted he wouldn't have had to pay until he wos two anyway, but I believe the airlines posted the cost per pound to fly an airplane and it was significant. Some airlines allow spouses, children and parents as well to fly free or near to it.

 

[Tara]

Why would Southwest add baggage fees if that's one of the reasons they are gaining market share? I know that's one reason we are flying Southwest in August.

Because as their fuel costs increase, they may become less profitable. There aren't that many ways to increase profits and I'd bet they'd rather charge fees than do workforce reduction. My hunch is that their plan would be wow customers with great service and an easy-to-understand pricing system so that they not only gain market share but gain LOYALTY. Then if they do have to institute fees, people will be less likely to leave. (I mean, if they do charge fees, it's not like you can just say "I'll go fly X carrier who doesn't charge fees" - there wouldn't be anyone left to switch to if that were the criteria.

In a way, it's kind of like Wal-Mart. A larger percentage of their employees have company healthcare benefits than the retail industry on average (and maybe more than any other single large retail provider) - something like 52% versus 44%. They have come out in support of Obama's healthcare plan specifically because of what it would require of other large retailers: because they pay so much in employee premiums, they are at a disadvantage when they're competing with retailers that don't have those same costs. If all other carriers are able to offset costs through baggage charges, it's possible that Southwest will eventually need to do the same - or charge more somewhere else.

 

[librarygal]

Why do companies assume everyone has a computer? My parents (late 70's)flew recently and they have never touched a computer in their lives. I booked the ticket for them but they could not print out their boarding passes. Many low income people also do not have Internet access. Yes, you can drive to the library but even that is becoming more difficult since libraries are cutting hours. I read that Dallas Public Library will be down to 23 hours a week!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Why would Southwest add baggage fees if that's one of the reasons they are gaining market share? I know that's one reason we are flying Southwest in August.

Because Southwest is LOSING money these days, not making it. Look for the baggage policies to change the last quarter of this year.

 

[uva185]

Why do companies assume everyone has a computer? My parents (late 70's)flew recently and they have never touched a computer in their lives. I booked the ticket for them but they could not print out their boarding passes. Many low income people also do not have Internet access. Yes, you can drive to the library but even that is becoming more difficult since libraries are cutting hours. I read that Dallas Public Library will be down to 23 hours a week!

Well since you booked the ticket for them would it be so hard to pay their baggage fees for them if they really want to save the $5.

...And quite frankly if an extra $5 per bag really breaks the bank you probably shouldn't be flying.

This policy encourages people to pay online and thus not need to occupy an agents time paying for their bags when they check in. This results in faster check-in times and allows Delta to employ fewer check-in agents to save money. I see no problem offering customers a discount for using "self service" options.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

If airlines would limit the number of free flights for employees and families it would certainly help their financial picture.

thats like saying the same for any company (including Disney) that offers free perks

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well since you booked the ticket for them would it be so hard to pay their baggage fees for them if they really want to save the $5.

...And quite frankly if an extra $5 per bag really breaks the bank you probably shouldn't be flying.

Plus, if I'm reading it right, the passenger just needs to check in online - not print the boarding pass. Just as with Southwest, one should be able to "re"print the boarding pass at an airport kiosk. This way, someone else - for example, the poster whose parents don't have a computer - can check them in

 

[Brer Chump]

Because Southwest is LOSING money these days, not making it. Look for the baggage policies to change the last quarter of this year.

Southwest actually made a profit in the 2nd quarter of 2009. http://www.southwest.com/investor_relations/fs_quarterly_earnings.html

 

[MAH4546]

This is more than likely going to be the case. It's just a matter of when. IIRC, when American rolled out its checked bag fees, the others held back long enough to really let American take the heat in the press, then they followed suit.

United launched baggage fees first.

Why would Southwest add baggage fees if that's one of the reasons they are gaining market share? I know that's one reason we are flying Southwest in August.

Southwest can't afford not to. They need the revenue from baggage fees.

If airlines would limit the number of free flights for employees and families it would certainly help their financial picture. I have a nephew who is only 2 years old and has more than 30 flights under his belt. Granted he wouldn't have had to pay until he wos two anyway, but I believe the airlines posted the cost per pound to fly an airplane and it was significant. Some airlines allow spouses, children and parents as well to fly free or near to it.

98% of free flying is on non-revenue space. Non-rev passengers are not guaranteed a seat until right before the flight takes off and there are empty seats. They are taking up seats that were otherwise not sold.

 

[Macduffy]

Clearly I'm a not flyer and being from Canada some of these fees are just strange to me.

The article said:

The fee takes effect on Aug. 4 for tickets purchased on or after July 15. From now on, whenever you see a quote for a Delta fare, tack on $40 for a round-trip ticket if you're checking one bag at the airport

So does that mean b/c I bought my ticket in May I don't have to pay the new fee? AND what's this about paying online?????

 

[dennise]

Yes, but it would be cheaper to fly them empty than to fill them with unpaid weight. It does costs XXX number of dollars per pound in fuel to fill these seats with non-paying or very low paying occupants. That being said, I certainly wouldn't refuse a free or very low cost seat.