Wow! Huge jump in Delta bag fees...now $23 each bag, each way

[GEB@okw]

Ship your bag to Florida via UPS next day air and you will find out the airline is not making money shipping your bag for $15-25. Even to ship it via regular UPS is more.

 

[goofy4tink]

We are a family of four. We each carry-on our own small rolling carry-on (works for 1 week or two) and check one bag TOTAL for all four of us with everyone's full size toiletries in it. We've been doing this since the changes and it works very well for us.

That's pretty much what we do as well. I think that when we head down this summer though, we'll have two checked bags for 3 of us. One bag for the regular stuff, a second for the aero bed, and sheets.

 

[Lewisc]

Kayak, Orbitz etc should have an option to display the fare including the cost to check one (or two) bags at the airport. Airlines want to display a low fare on search engines.

 

[maminnie]

After all the new rules in past years as far as what may be carried on an aircraft, carry-ons became minimal which in my opinion made things much more efficient and safer.

Now with all these new bag fees it has once again reversed and the amount of carry-ons is rediculous. With all the added carry-ons, it has made the TSA's job even more difficult then it already is.

I am very disappointed in the airlines that would do something like added fees that would encourage passengers to carry on more. IMO, it was a very counterproductive decision as far as security and efficiency is concerned.

 

[pooch]

After all the new rules in past years as far as what may be carried on an aircraft, carry-ons became minimal which in my opinion made things much more efficient and safer.

Now with all these new bag fees it has once again reversed and the amount of carry-ons is rediculous. With all the added carry-ons, it has made the TSA's job even more difficult then it already is.

I am very disappointed in the airlines that would do something like added fees that would encourage passengers to carry on more. IMO, it was a very counterproductive decision as far as security and efficiency is concerned.

IMHO, the less stuff we're allowed to bring on with us, the better. When 911 happened, I thought we'd move to not allowing ANY carry-ons and I'm not sure that that's not a good idea. No flames, I do realize that there are people who need to bring things on the plane - meds, baby needs, keep the kids occupied stuff - but I do think we should be encouraging less rather than more carry-ons.

 

[bavaria]

IMHO, the less stuff we're allowed to bring on with us, the better. When 911 happened, I thought we'd move to not allowing ANY carry-ons and I'm not sure that that's not a good idea. No flames, I do realize that there are people who need to bring things on the plane - meds, baby needs, keep the kids occupied stuff - but I do think we should be encouraging less rather than more carry-ons.

I definitely agree about fewer carry ons (in case anyone has missed it over the years, I advocate US carriers moving to the international limits )

However I also think that reading here for a decade, US carriers are really stuck. Look what happens when fares increase here - there is a huge outcry. The airlines try and raise fares, and they can't. They all play together; when one does something the others tend to follow, yet none wants to be the first and risk losing business.

Viable fares are at the heart of the matter - the US carriers simply cannot charge viable fares and are having to make it up elsewhere. Airfare is STILL falling and yet people are still upset about the 'high' fares.

They cannot win, and this was an attempt to try and recoup something from their least loyal travellers.

 

[Minnesota!]

less passenger luggage means more room for air cargo (including mail)

Ditto. Do you really think that the airlines thought they would be rolling in the dough by raising the baggage costs? I mean, they had to know people would be finding ways around it. Less luggage = room for the airline to carry other things from companies that are paying them.

Shipping a box down to WDW with our toiletries, snacks, beach towels, etc. is so much cheaper then the baggage costs. We do it for under $20...

 

[Brian Noble]

I wrote this on another board in the context of the same discussion:

I must be missing a gene or something, because this just doesn't get me worked up. Most times of the year, I can still fly my family of four, plus 3 bags (all we need for a week) to Florida round trip for less than $1200, on direct flights, often closer to $1000, and sometimes even less. That's a fair price to avoid four days' worth of driving.

Given the rate at which the airlines have been bleeding---even Southwest has been losing money over the past year and a half---paying a little more on leisure fares is going to be unavoidable, one way or another. That's particularly so now that businesses have been able to cut back on travel as well. I've had several meetings with clients recently that were online, rather than in-person. Saves a lot of money, and with the video conferencing tools available, it's getting to the point where it is almost as good as being there for many purposes.

 

[bavaria]

You're not missing a gene - apparently you too are flying in the parallel universe.

 

[TDC Nala]

It looks like it's being assumed that if you have a group taking a bag per person, that means all those bags are full of clothes, and not Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, booze, cases of water, frozen meals, air beds, pillows, the kids' favorite 12 stuffed animals, etc. That's the stuff I keep seeing people bringing to WDW via airplane... try telling them to leave that stuff at home, don't think it'll work. I remember there was one person on the boards once who wanted to bring their own bedding because they didn't like the pattern on the quilts at POR.

 

[eliza61]

A family of 4, does not need to take 4 suit cases of clothes for a week or possibly even a 2 week vacation.

You mean you could do 2 weeks in Europe with 1 bag? Do you re-wear pants? How do you get them cleaned. I can't imagine running around Disney in the summer in a top and shorts then re wearing them? Yuck!

I know I need at least 1 bag. My husband could probably get away with sharing a bag but no way can I pack for a week away in a little carry on. when my kids were little it was actually worse because I tended to need a couple of changes for them and Momma doesn't wash on vacation.

I know the airlines are making up for lost revenue or as they like to say "depressed revenue" but I wonder if they really make up with this or just lose a few more passengers.

Luckily for me when I go to disney I have SW to choose from.

 

[NikitaZee]

I know I need at least 1 bag. My husband could probably get away with sharing a bag but no way can I pack for a week away in a little carry on. when my kids were little it was actually worse because I tended to need a couple of changes for them and Momma doesn't wash on vacation.

This is our family also. Our family can easily fill 4 suitcases on vacation. I don't like doing laundry on vacation either - I will if I have to, but I'd rather just pack a change of clothes for everyone for each day. As you said - with little ones, often an extra set is needed. We don't fly very often, but I'd be the passenger to just pay the extra fee and still have everything I want to bring with me.

 

[YenSid1222]

This is really a non-issue for me. Fares need to go up. The cost of travel is more, and so it makes sense to charge more. However, people balk at higher prices (anyone remember how much it used to cost to fly? Fares today are WAY cheaper than they were in the 70's...) So, instead you simply strip away all the stuff that used to be bundled in the prices. That way, those who are using the service of checked bags, pay for it. Those of us who do not need to check a bad don't have to pay for that service like we used to.

And you absolutely can (and should) do 2 weeks in Europe on one bag. I cannot fathom carrying any more than that for travel around Europe!!

 

[jamstew]

You mean you could do 2 weeks in Europe with 1 bag?

Definitely

Do you re-wear pants?

Yes

How do you get them cleaned.

I carry a stain stick and spot clean if needed. Generally I stay pretty clean, but if I have a spot on something, I doubt anyone cares.

I can't imagine running around Disney in the summer in a top and shorts then re wearing them?

If need be, I'll wash something out in the sink with shampoo. It's no big deal.

 

[pooch]

DD (24) and I will do a week at WDW with one 26" rolling duffle & an oversized handbag each with room to spare. I HATE having a lot of luggage even with DME & RAC.

 

[eliza61]

Definitely



Yes



I carry a stain stick and spot clean if needed. Generally I stay pretty clean, but if I have a spot on something, I doubt anyone cares.



If need be, I'll wash something out in the sink with shampoo. It's no big deal.

Your are my hero for the day. I've got a trip to Paris planned this June. I'm hoping to get by with 2 24 inch suitcases plus my carryon and it's just ME. LOL.

 

[eliza61]

This is really a non-issue for me. Fares need to go up. The cost of travel is more, and so it makes sense to charge more. However, people balk at higher prices (anyone remember how much it used to cost to fly? Fares today are WAY cheaper than they were in the 70's...) So, instead you simply strip away all the stuff that used to be bundled in the prices. That way, those who are using the service of checked bags, pay for it. Those of us who do not need to check a bad don't have to pay for that service like we used to.

And you absolutely can (and should) do 2 weeks in Europe on one bag. I cannot fathom carrying any more than that for travel around Europe!!

I think that is one part of the problem, most people under a certain age don't remember how expensive it was. Also remember, we are now a "Walmart" society. No one pays retail for any thing, heck most people are so used to Disney having free dining I can't imagine them ever being able to stop that promotion.


I'm not even going to attempt 2 weeks in Europe with one bag. the only thing that would happen is that I would end up maxing out my credit cards because I would buy new stuff. I'm just not the "wear the same outfit" twice in 1 week. kudos to all that can.

Would you guys mind if I posted this question as a poll on the community forum. I promise to give you full credit.

 

[Tozzie]

Your are my hero for the day. I've got a trip to Paris planned this June. I'm hoping to get by with 2 24 inch suitcases plus my carryon and it's just ME. LOL.

DO you ever find out that you have left over clothers at the end of a vacation. I always did. I can't pack a carryon only but I I did two weeks in California last June, I had 1 26 inch suitcase. I changed clothes at least half the time I was there and I didn't rewear clothes and still has a couple of clean tops when I came home. It is do able.

 

[maminnie]

As I said in an earlier post, IMHO, airlines should be discouraging carryon baggage rather then encouraging it with added bag fees. This is for the benefit of efficiency but even more important the safety of its passengers.

 

[Tozzie]

As I said in an earlier post, IMHO, airlines should be discouraging carryon baggage rather then encouraging it with added bag fees. This is for the benefit of efficiency but even more important the safety of its passengers.

Actually Airlines need to start enforcing the carryon baggage policies they already have in place. I would run out of fingers and toes if I tried to count the number of people allowed on airplanes with carry on baggage that is beyond what is allowed by the airline.