New Airline Fees for 2011

[*NikkiBell*]

I just saw a special report on ABC News about upcoming fees for flights. Apparently, some airlines will be charging (or already have started) for:

- Infants
- Carry-on bags over 25 lbs.
- Orange juice, water, and soda
- Blankets
- Headphones
- To speak to a human (vs. automated system) when booking a flight or making changes

I used to fly Continental religiously. I then discovered Jet Blue (which was new at the time) and stuck with them ever since. However, Continental had cheaper flights the past two times I flew. Because I've switched between airlines, I noticed some of the above list is already in effect with both companies and find it a bit aggravating.

According to the story, over $2 million is generated just through flight fees alone and serves as over half of the revenue the airlines bring in. The new charges will only add to this amount. What do you think about this? Are you going to continue to fly or seek alternate methods of travel?

 

[SaraMc]

I will continue to fly, the thought of a 27 hour drive with a 2 and 4 year old ... its just not a option. We fly jet blue too, out of BUF. Love it. So much better for us than flying out of Toronto. DD will be a lap infant for the last time. If they charged her for not having a seat.. Seems a bit much. We dont even bring everything that we are allowed to bring on as a add on.
That being said, I will continue to fly, but I wont be quiet about the extra charges.
When I fly to LAX for ABD, Im going to fly through a CND carrier and go directly from Toronto. When we are booking the flight, right there it gives me the option to buy my meal. $7 for a sad little sandwich. So you know its coming with that airline. Infact Im pretty sure that if you want extra stuff you have to pay, on a credit card.
Jet blue has had add's saying that they give you the whole cans of pop.. sorry soda. Etc. So I dont think they will be changing to sky highway robbery any time soon.

 

[stitchlover]

I live in Texas so everything is a drive and I'm a big baby about it. We are about 5 hours from San Antonio and that's about as far as I am willing to drive and we don't go there very often!
I will continue to fly even though I hate the additional fees they are adding on. We always check 2-3 bags on our trip. For some reason we just can't get the packing down to carry on. Not that it seems like that is going to help in the future.
It is interesting that for YEARS they never charged any of these fees and now airfare is the most expensive I've ever seen it AND they continue to add additional fees. Seems like people are always ripping the oil industry for making money. At what point do they start going after the airlines? Aren't they all posting profits these days? Can't seem to remember.

 

[safetymom]

I just saw a special report on ABC News about upcoming fees for flights. Apparently, some airlines will be charging (or already have started) for:

- Infants
- Carry-on bags over 25 lbs.
- Orange juice, water, and soda
- Blankets
- Headphones
- To speak to a human (vs. automated system) when booking a flight or making changes

I used to fly Continental religiously. I then discovered Jet Blue (which was new at the time) and stuck with them ever since. However, Continental had cheaper flights the past two times I flew. Because I've switched between airlines, I noticed some of the above list is already in effect with both companies and find it a bit aggravating.

According to the story, over $2 million is generated just through flight fees alone and serves as over half of the revenue the airlines bring in. The new charges will only add to this amount. What do you think about this? Are you going to continue to fly or seek alternate methods of travel?

I do think that infants should be required to have a seat and they should pay a reduced price.

I shouldn't be charged to talk with a human if there is a problem with my reservation.

Yes they should charge for large carryons. I don't have a problem with them charging me for a drink. I can always pick something up in the airport to take on the flight. Blankets and headphones are items I can carry on so if you prefer not to then no problem being charged.

 

[simonkodousek]

I do think that infants should be required to have a seat and they should pay a reduced price.

I shouldn't be charged to talk with a human if there is a problem with my reservation.

Yes they should charge for large carryons. I don't have a problem with them charging me for a drink. I can always pick something up in the airport to take on the flight. Blankets and headphones are items I can carry on so if you prefer not to then no problem being charged.

I agree with everything you said, but I think sodas, waters, juices, etc., should be complimentary. Alcoholic beverages should be an added cost in coach, but complimentary in first and business class. With the size of these airlines, don't you think they could negotiate a deal with Coke or Pepsi, and advertise their products on the flight somehow? This way, these beverages can remain free.

~Simon

 

[k5jm]

There are also ways around many of those fees. Being a smart and educated traveler will pay off in the end.

 

[ADP]

There are also ways around many of those fees. Being a smart and educated traveler will pay off in the end.

Most definately!

 

[MamaJessie]

- To speak to a human (vs. automated system) when booking a flight or making changes

This one kills me. Everything else I sort of understand, (except water, you should always be able to get water ). A fee for talking to a human??

 

[mikelan6]

Those fees are not new and sadly, as the airlines have learned, that's where they are making their profits these days - especially since tax is not paid on those fees.

I'm surprised they have not yet started to add a credit card usage fee.

 

[dansyr2514]

If all airline wouln't charge for the first checked bag then they wouldn't have to charge for carryon's because people wouldn't be bringing huge carryon's on the plane.
But unfortunately, it is just about more money for the airline.

 

[safetymom]

If all airline wouln't charge for the first checked bag then they wouldn't have to charge for carryon's because people wouldn't be bringing huge carryon's on the plane.
But unfortunately, it is just about more money for the airline.

I disagree with this. Most people I have encountered think their time is more valuable than mine and don't want to wait at baggage claim for their luggage. It may have to do with the fees now but many bring it onboard because of time or they don't trust the airline.

 

[Metro West]

If I can't drive there...I'm not going.

 

[safetymom]

If all airline wouln't charge for the first checked bag then they wouldn't have to charge for carryon's because people wouldn't be bringing huge carryon's on the plane.
But unfortunately, it is just about more money for the airline.

I disagree with this. Most people I have encountered think their time is more valuable than mine and don't want to wait at baggage claim for their luggage. It may have to do with the fees now but many bring it onboard because of time or they don't trust the airline.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I disagree with this. Most people I have encountered think their time is more valuable than mine and don't want to wait at baggage claim for their luggage. It may have to do with the fees now but many bring it onboard because of time or they don't trust the airline.

I know it's true for my sister and I. Continental now charges $25 for your first checked bag. As a family of four that is an extra $200 round trip for my sister's family, so the last time they traveled they each brought a carry on, they weren't oversized, but before the charge, they usually would only bring one carry on, now to avoid as much of the checked bag fees as possible, the same family brought 3 more carryons than before. I did the same thing in November when I took my nephew to WDW. I had him bring a carry on instead of a checked bag. Before the fees, he checked a small suitcase and just brought a backpack that fit under his seat. I'm sure alot more people are doing this. The oversized carryons aside, I think there are just alot more carryons being brought on now because of the fees.

 

[BilltM]

Those fees are not new and sadly, as the airlines have learned, that's where they are making their profits these days - especially since tax is not paid on those fees.

I'm surprised they have not yet started to add a credit card usage fee.

I'm sure they are working on that angle. Don't give them any help

From Yahoo Finance

Delta Air Lines reports $19M 4Q profit, smaller than Wall Street expected; shares fall

"Rising fuel costs are shaping up as the big issue for airlines in 2011. Delta's fuel bill could rise by $1 billion this year if the price stays where it is, Chief Financial Officer Hank Halter wrote in a memo to Delta workers on Tuesday. Recent fare increases plus revenue growth from add-on fees and services will help cover higher fuel bills, he wrote."

 

[sayhello]

There are also ways around many of those fees. Being a smart and educated traveler will pay off in the end.

You can't just make a statement like that, and then not educate us! Details, please!!!!

I disagree with this. Most people I have encountered think their time is more valuable than mine and don't want to wait at baggage claim for their luggage. It may have to do with the fees now but many bring it onboard because of time or they don't trust the airline.

For me it's more about not trusting the airlines. I've seen people on vacation wearing the same clothes for 2 or 3 days until their luggage catches up with them. I've seen people wearing whatever they could find in the stores because their luggage never made it. I need to have a certain amount of clothes and underwear with me, in case my luggage doesn't make it. If they were more dependable, I wouldn't worry so much, nor carry so much. Shlepping a big carryon is a pain in the butt, but there's no way I'm flying without one.

Sayhello

 

[safetymom]

Did you check bags before the fees? There should be a fee to bring them onboard and a lesser fee(if needed) to check baggage.

 

[sayhello]

- Infants
- Carry-on bags over 25 lbs.
- Orange juice, water, and soda
- Blankets
- Headphones
- To speak to a human (vs. automated system) when booking a flight or making changes

Infants - OK to charge only if the kid is getting a seat.

Carryon bag over 25 lbs. - No. I agree with charging for over *SIZED* carryons, but how much it wieghs shouldn't be a determining factor.

Orange juice, water, and soda -- maybe for the juice and soda, but as someone who dehydrates REALLY easily, I don't think they should ever charge for water. That's a really big risk for blood clots. I think they should be giving people as much water as they'll take.

Blankets - I rarely use them. If the plane is cold, they should be free.

Headphones - as long as the plugs can handle normal, everyday headphones, so that you aren't forced to use theirs, I say go ahead & charge.

To speak to a human -- it's a lot cheaper to pay for a website than it is for a Reservations representative. They save big bucks by having fewer people on the phones, so they figure if they need to have them, you should pay for it. I think this sucks.

The airlines are out of control. If ever there was an industry that needed government regulations reinstated, it's the airlines. They know they have us over a barrell (there's no way I'm driving to WDW, I'd spend more time driving than at the parks. Nor am I driving to visit family in California.) Sucky customer service, ridiculous pricing, nickel and diming you to death, and you buy one thing and they deliver another (if you're lucky) and you generally have NO RECOURSE. How many other industries would make a profit with this business model???

Sayhello

 

[sbell111]

I do think that infants should be required to have a seat and they should pay a reduced price.

Requiring them to have their own seat would only anger many people who don't have children. Imagine all the people who would be bumped simply because there are infants on the plane. This is especially true considering that these seats would largely not be used as the infant would still need to be held.

I shouldn't be charged to talk with a human if there is a problem with my reservation.

That depends on whether the problem was caused by the airline and if it could have been fixed online.

I have no issue with charges to speak to a live reservations agent because I merely look at it as a discount to make reservations online.

Yes they should charge for large carryons.

All carryons should be below a certain size. Large bags should not be allowed to be brought on board. Bag weight is generally a factor of the bag's size, so I disagree that heavy carryons are a real issue that would require a charge.

I don't have a problem with them charging me for a drink. I can always pick something up in the airport to take on the flight.

First, I don't like the idea of having to buy a four dollar bottle of water before getting on the super-dry airplane. Second, many times when I fly the places to buy bottles of water in the airport are closed.

Blankets and headphones are items I can carry on so if you prefer not to then no problem being charged.

I agree, to a degree.

The airline controls cabin temperature, I do not. Therefore, if they choose to freeze me out, they ought not charge me for a blanket. (Similarly, if they choose to broil me, the least they can do is give me a free bottle of water.)

If the headphone jacks allow standard headphones to be used, then I have no issues with their charging for headphones. However, if they require special headphones, they ought not charge for them.

 

[sayhello]

Did you check bags before the fees? There should be a fee to bring them onboard and a lesser fee(if needed) to check baggage.

I haven't changed my behavior in regards to baggage at all. If I could fit it all in my carryon (just a few days) I would. Then I wouldn't have to worry about it getting lost at all. If I can't, I fit what I can in my carryon, and put the rest in a checked bag. I have only ever once checked more than one bag (my Alaska cruisetour). The only exception to this (changing my behavior) was the Med, where they were so strict about the weight limitations on my checked bag that I probably put more in the carryon than I should have.

Sayhello