Jaunted - Tag: Baggage Fees

Something's Not Quite Right with British Airways' Online Check-in

Omri — 2012-01-09T13:48:30-05:00

This screenshot will not go far in dispelling the rumor that what passes as British circumspection is just their passive-aggressive way of insisting that you do things their way.

What you're looking at is Step 2 of the 5-step online check-in process for British Airways. It appears that something is missing, but no worries. It's not as if you'd want to give travelers as many relevant options as possible, what with how we're living in an era of reduced baggage allowances and heightened baggage fees even on international flights.

Keep in mind that there was a person, presumably with a background in programming in mathematics and programming, who created this. Then there was a person, undoubtedly with experience in the airline industry, who approved it. At some point wouldn't you think that someone would, you know, say something?

UPDATE: The kind folks at BA emailed us to say they're on it...

[Screenshot: Jaunted]

If You Can Handle Living in Alaska, You Get Free Checked Bags on Alaska Airlines

JetSetCD — 2011-10-19T15:21:51-05:00

Do you live in Alaska or are you moving there? Winter may be descending and bringing the cold and darkness along with it, but there's light for travelers! Alaska Airlines wants residents of the state to only think of them when it comes to booking flights, and so the airlines has just announced a new set of Alaskans-only perks.

It's called "Club 49," and members of Alaska's Mileage Plan frequent flyer program with an AK state code in their address can join it for free—right here. So what is Alaska Airlines giving to those who live way up north? Well, for starters, two free checked bags on each flight. That's pretty sweet and you save $20 per bag, sure, but we're also jealous of an annual gift of two certificates for 30% off one-way, full flex Y base fares, bookable within four days of the flight for last-minute getaways. The winter giving you seasonal depression? Time to use those passes for a long weekend in California.

Finally, Club 49 members will enjoy weekly fare sales to and from Alaska, specifically targeted at them. Again we're jealous, but not jealous enough to move across the country and northwards. Now if only JetBlue started a club just for New Yorkers...

[Photo: Pylon757]

Air Canada Adds First Bag Fee for Flyers Between the US and Canada

kjb — 2011-09-06T09:05:01-05:00

At this point it seems like pretty much every carrier that could has already added a checked baggage fee, but there are a few more that haven’t yet betrayed global flyers. Remove Air Canada from that list, as it looks like they’re slapping flyers with a first checked bag fee as of October 11.

Our airline buddies north of the border will begin to charge $25 for the first checked bag for all tickets bought on or after September 7 for travel from Canada into the United States, and like we said, it’s for travel beginning October 11. If you’re checking two bags, things will at least remain the same, as it’s going to be $35 for the second bag.

Just in case you don’t have any scrap paper handy we’ll do the math for you—that’s $120 per person for a roundtrip flight when you check two bags like in the good ol’ days.

Thought You'd Never Loathe An Airline More Than Ryanair? Meet Royal Brunei

juliab — 2011-08-15T11:51:45-05:00

No wonder the baggage handlers have nothing to do

If, like us, you’re, ahem, not one of those pack lightly types, then you’ll know the little shrinking feeling you get in your stomach when you need to pack a suitcase. In fact, you’re probably so prone to going over the limit that you can tell at one lift whether a case weighs in at under 50lb, and your storage space is crammed with cheap Walmart holdalls bought when you got just one too many BBQ sauces/Elvis clocks/random bags of Egyptian tea.

As a sufferer of this affliction, you already fly JetBlue or Southwest over the legacy carriers. You know BA often works out than Ryanair when across the pond. You know when it’s worth attempting the crouch of shame, and when to admit defeat.

So it’s for you people that we’re adding another airline to the no-fly list: Royal Brunei.

Delta and United Will Make You Pay for That Second Checked Bag to Europe

JetSetCD — 2011-06-06T13:05:02-05:00

Ugh—stupid baggage fees. Since charging for checked baggage is following an upward trend right along with summer travel, it only makes sense that some airlines are raising their fees. To be specific, it's United and Delta making the move on their US flight to Europe.

Hold the phone for a second—the first checked bag is still free (for now); these fee hikes only apply to second checked bags. For Delta, the fee goes from $50 up to $60 if paid online, $75 at the airport. Delta will also begin charging $30 for a second checked bag between the US and Latin America. The only good news? The previous extortionate fee of $150 for an overweight bag on Europe flights drops (drops!) to $75.

Meanwhile, United/Continental is going from $50 for the second bag on Europe flights, to $70 no matter whether it's online or at the airport. Who wants to venture a guess as to next summer's hike? We're putting our money on a round $100 for second bag fees in 2012.

[Photos: Payton Chung]

Frontier's Airline Fees Are Actually Going Down Instead of Up

kjb — 2011-05-02T09:05:57-05:00

Pretty much anytime that we mention "airline" and "fee" in the same sentence, it’s for something bad. Surprisingly, however, Frontier Airlines has made a change to its fees that will make a lot of potential passengers pretty pleased.

Change fees have now dropped to just $50 which is a lot less than some other major carriers, and if you purchase one of their fancier fares you won’t even have to worry about a change fee. They’re also allowing name changes on existing tickets—which is usually a definite no on pretty much all airlines—but there’s a catch. There’s a $50 fee to do so, and you’ll need to pay a fare difference based on the current price on the day of the change.

Delta Puts Their Checked Bag Fees to Good Use with New Luggage Live-Tracking

kjb — 2011-04-22T09:58:40-05:00

We’re not sure if it has anything to do with those new rules that the government has issued regarding your checked baggage, but it looks like Delta is starting to be a little more transparent with what they’re doing with your bag, even when they are doing it.

Delta has introduced an online tracker to locate your luggage at all stages of your flight, and this should be especially helpful for when you are at the baggage claim and your suitcase is not. The service is available on the airline’s website—although you do have to do some clicking to find it—and they’re also planning to bring the service to kiosks at around 18 airports before too long.