Airline Extortion

[dkryan]

Don't talk to me about "big banks," CEO pay, or "you gotta pay your fair share."

The money whores live here: (and by the way boys and girls, that's BILLIONS of dollars, not mere millions)

Source: Aero-News Network - [email protected]

Airline Fee Increases Likely In 2014

Carriers Raked In Over $6 Billion In Baggage And Change Fees Last Year


U.S. Airlines are likely to look to increase baggage and other add-on fees in the coming year, and some have already started boosting such fees.

Airlines collected over $6 billion in baggage and change fees in 2013, according to a report from the International Business Times. United Continental Holdings did not wait for the first of the year to boost its fees. The carrier has already doubled its fees for oversize bags to $200, and upped its fee for passengers with three or more bags from $100 to $125 for each bag. The airline said through a spokesperson that the charge was partly due to the infrastructure needed to handle oversize luggage.

Delta collected about a billion dollars in fees last year, with UAL in second at about $650 million. Spirit's fee structure is a little different. Pay online when you book your ticket, and the bag fee is $6 ... up from $5. But then it starts to get expensive ... and if you gate-check luggage on Spirit, they're going to ding you for $100 each bag.

FMI: www.dot.gov

 

[HTSS_TR]

Airlines don't make good profit even with those billions extra fees. If they don't charge those fees they have to increase ticket fares to stay afloat.

 

[bullwinkle]

Between bag charges, fares, & the TSA it's a wonder anybody flies at all!

 

[dparm]

This is why it pays to do your research on fees before you book anything. The cheapest airfare is not always the cheapest.

While this "extortion" seems ridiculous, remember that airfare used to cost even more because all of these fees were baked in. That meant a guy like me who always uses the overhead bin was basically paying for someone who wasn't....I'm looking at you, people who overpack to all [censored] and need a 60lb suitcase for 2 days. If I can go to Manhattan for 2 weeks with a carry-on, there's no reason you can't.

I don't think extortion is the correct word, because the fees are all clearly laid out before you buy anything. If people can't take 10 seconds to understand that checking a bag at the airport costs $100, that's their fault.

 

[bdcardinal]

I would have no issue with a ticket costing more and not have to pay the fees. I can totally understand charges for oversized bags and for more than 3 bags on a domestic flight.

One thing that really grinds my gears is all the people bringing inappropriate carry on items since they are too cheap to pay for checked luggage. There is always that one knuckle dragger trying to force their acoustic guitar in an oversized case on the overhead bin. And they hold up the boarding process doing it.

 

[HTSS_TR]

It should be a size limit for carry in.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
It should be a size limit for carry in.


There is, depending on the plane. It's rarely enforced unless you're blatantly over the limit, and there are exceptions for items like guitars, poster tubes, etc. I've found that it's largely at the discretion of the flight crew. Sometimes they are strict, sometimes they are not, and other times they are too busy to notice. It's why it pays to pack efficiently and get on the plane as early as possible.

Believe me, I fly every week and I too get annoyed when people insist on abusing the carry-on privilege. My Travelpro suitcase is exactly the right size for all of the narrowbody jets (but not the regionals).

 

[fdcg27]

We recently flew US Air DAY>CLT>SJU>PHL>DAY.
The fare plus baggage charges was quite reasonable and a little less than the bottom dollar fare we paid in 2008.
Extortion?
I don't think so.
Anyway, why should those who either pack very lightly or are on a short trip who limit themselves to carry-ons only subsidize those who either pack more and have to check bags?
I have no problem with a la carte pricing.
All of the charges are fully disclosed when you book, so it's still up to the traveler to add up the costs.
One airline that loves to advertise no baggage charges usually ends up costing more all included than those that charge for checked bags.

 

[widman]

I don't have a problem with pay for what you use, and some of the suitcases I've seen are absurd. Of course since my first 2 million miles on American, almost never checking anything, I have Platinum for life so I never have to pay for luggage.

The fares are low enough in the US that it is still a bargain. What bothers me is when it costs me 20% more to fly 1000 miles locally than 4000 miles to DC.

 

[greenjp]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
I would have no issue with a ticket costing more and not have to pay the fees.

Southwest allows 2 checked bags per person for no cost. That's one option.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: greenjp
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
I would have no issue with a ticket costing more and not have to pay the fees.

Southwest allows 2 checked bags per person for no cost. That's one option.


Plus the two carry-ons (one overhead, one under the seat). It's how I moved home from college: cheaper to fly the whole family out and have everyone check two bags and carry on two, all full of my stuff.


Originally Posted By: widman
The fares are low enough in the US that it is still a bargain. What bothers me is when it costs me 20% more to fly 1000 miles locally than 4000 miles to DC.


Yeah, sometimes the pricing is just baffling. I'm very careful to do my homework and book as early as possible for leisure travel since it will require less points. Sometimes it has worked to my advantage, such as taking Southwest from MDW->PHX for under $300 roundtrip during the busy vacation season.

 

[dkryan]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
It should be a size limit for carry in.
"..........Believe me, I fly every week and I too get annoyed when people insist on abusing the carry-on privilege......."


And why would anyone remotely insist on abusing the carry-on privilege? Maybe they don't want to contribute to the $6 billion dollar heist?

You never saw the baggage and "change" fees until 2001 (at least not to this extreme), when the airlines, desperate to cover ever increasing fuel costs, needed some sort of "drop it on the passenger" revenue generating mechanism. And it ain't going away.

At least not in the manner the pensions at the airlines went away.

 

[surfstar]

Passengers should be charged body + baggage weight. You're cargo - price accordingly.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Airlines don't make good profit even with those billions extra fees. If they don't charge those fees they have to increase ticket fares to stay afloat.


+1 Its not the airline that is raking in the cash on tickets its the bloody Government, same deal as fuel taxes.
Yet everyone blames the airline or oil company.
One example from last year. The Government made substantially more than the airline in taxes and fees.

My son flies from Germany to Boston for $600 return all inclusive. This is what I paid US to Germany..

Price Details (USD)
Flight Price Details
Traveler Type Ticket Price Tax & Fee Breakdown Total

1 Adult/s US$ 437.00 US$ 714.41 US$ 1,151.41
Insurance Fee: Declined
Charged on Credit Card - Visa - **** Subtotal: US$ 1,151.41

Total Cost: US$ 1,151.41

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: surfstar
Passengers should be charged body + baggage weight. You're cargo - price accordingly.


If you're a "passenger of size" they basically make you buy the adjoining seat (albeit at a discount).



Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Airlines don't make good profit even with those billions extra fees. If they don't charge those fees they have to increase ticket fares to stay afloat.


+1 Its not the airline that is raking in the cash on tickets its the bloody Government, same deal as fuel taxes.
Yet everyone blames the airline or oil company.
One example from last year. The Government made substantially more than the airline in taxes and fees.



Yep, the international travel fees are ludicrous. I always jump when I see a big carrier advertising something like "$600 rountrip JFK to London!"...and then notice $300 in weird fees simply because it's an international flight.

 

[opus1]

Originally Posted By: surfstar
Passengers should be charged body + baggage weight. You're cargo - price accordingly.
Fine with me, but that also has to mean that since "you're" charging me more based on my weight, I expect a proportional amount of increased seat width and legroom.

 

[opus1]

Originally Posted By: dkryan
Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
It should be a size limit for carry in.
"..........Believe me, I fly every week and I too get annoyed when people insist on abusing the carry-on privilege......."


And why would anyone remotely insist on abusing the carry-on privilege? Maybe they don't want to contribute to the $6 billion dollar heist?

You never saw the baggage and "change" fees until 2001 (at least not to this extreme), when the airlines, desperate to cover ever increasing fuel costs, needed some sort of "drop it on the passenger" revenue generating mechanism. And it ain't going away.

At least not in the manner the pensions at the airlines went away.
Not exactly. I remember many flights in the late 90's where people were carrying-on luggage bigger than the luggage I checked, only back then the excuse was that they didn't want to be inconvenienced by having to wait for their luggage. On one flight back from Las Vegas I remember the plane being maybe 1/4 full when I boarded, but the overhead bins were close to 80% filled already.

Long story short, they think they're sticking it to the airline when in reality, they're sticking it to those of us unlucky enough to be boarding behind them, waiting while they find the perfect spot for their carryon -- and in many cases *still* larger than what I paid to check.

When I'm king, anyone caught gaming the system that way won't get free bag-check when the plane runs out of room, they'll be charged double -- you had a chance to check at $x, took a gamble and lost; now it's $2x. OK, rant off.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: opus1
Originally Posted By: surfstar
Passengers should be charged body + baggage weight. You're cargo - price accordingly.
Fine with me, but that also has to mean that since "you're" charging me more based on my weight, I expect a proportional amount of increased seat width and legroom.

That seems fair enough.

 

[BubbaFL]

Originally Posted By: Trav

+1 Its not the airline that is raking in the cash on tickets its the bloody Government, same deal as fuel taxes.
Yet everyone blames the airline or oil company.


Ding ding ding! We have a winner!

Even with all of the fees and charges, and incredibly sophisticated technology to predict demand and optimize resource usage, the airlines still go bankrupt regularly.

The extortionists are the local, state, and federal government. Everybody from the municipalities that milk their monopolies (taxes, usage fees, terminal rents), to the TSA Borg that would be digging ditches and bagging groceries if they didn't have their unionized jobs putting on daily Security Theatre and groping grandma. Kleptocrats all.

 

[tinmanSC]

Originally Posted By: opus1
Originally Posted By: surfstar
Passengers should be charged body + baggage weight. You're cargo - price accordingly.
Fine with me, but that also has to mean that since "you're" charging me more based on my weight, I expect a proportional amount of increased seat width and legroom.

And snacks and beverages.