Stop The Insanity: No More Checked Baggage Fees

June 16, 2009 at 4:47 PM | by juliana | Comments (5)

According to this report from UPI, U.S. airlines have pulled in about $566.3 million in checked baggage fees for the first quarter of 2009. This is up from $498.6 million in the last quarter of 2008.

The airline making the most bucks from baggage fees is American Airlines who raked in $108.1 million in fees. Delta followed closely with $102.8 million. In last place was United Airlines who only pulled in about $59 million in fees. Perhaps that's why they are considering raising that first checked baggage fee to $20 and $25 for a second bag. But they got beat by US Airways who will start charging $20 for the first checked bag on July 9 if you check it at the airport. Ugh.

It's no surprise that we despise these fees. Airlines survived for years and years without these fees and then skyrocketing gas prices forced them to recoup fuel costs by charging passengers for essentially having a change of clothes when they travel. And there's no end in sight.

Now that airlines are pulling in good amounts with these fees, why would they ever stop? Add a sucky economy and dwindling passenger numbers to the mix and you've got a reality, not a temporary fix. But airlines are doing nothing to win over their customers with these fees. Not even a plethora of IFE amenities can wipe away the dread that air passengers now have on their way to the airport because they will have to pony up at least $15 to check a bag.

So how can we take back the fees? Do we need to organize a Facebook protest, rallies at the airports or petition the government? We all know a travel boycott wouldn't work (nor would we want it to come that) and to be fair, airplanes do fly us where we want to go and we love them for that. There's not a time that we get on airplane and don't think about The Donner Party.

But are these fees going to keep increasing every couple of years like the cost of stamps? Or like the prices for iTunes singles? We just fear the day when the cheapest first checked bag fee is $25 and the highest is $40. And we're afraid that day might be nearer than you think.

How can we get airlines to drop these checked baggage fees? Or at the least stabilize them? Tell us what you're thinking in comments below.

Related Stories:
· Airlines charge $566M in baggage fees [UPI]
· Checked Baggage Fees coverage [Jaunted]

Comments (5)

Return to » Stop The Insanity: No More Checked Baggage Fees

The cost of airline tickets is inexpensive for many places today (think about the cost of air travel way back in the 1950's!). Considering that the fare many people pay for their tickets today doesn't even cover the actual cost for the transportation and services that a passenger consumes, a $15/$25 fee for standard checked bags is reasonable. That's my opinion. : )

if the airlines are having such a tough time, they need to man up and raise the ticket prices. don't make ticket prices look artificially low by charging people to pack clothing or eat or use the bathroom, if ryan air has it's way. people pack all that stuff anyway and it just leads to flight delays because not everyone's carry-on can fit in the plane and it takes longer to de-plane if you are in the front and your carry on is 10 rows behind.

Purchasing and using these products will help you send a clear message to the airlines the next time you fly... http://www.nobaggagefees.com

Baggage fees are just a joke! Why do they have to charge those fees? They did not do it before. And if the concern on the airline part was fuel and weight, then they should not allow customers to pay extra for having more than 1 or 2 bags. They just want to ripp us off more money, that's it. We need to start a movement to make them stop. By the way - fly JET BLUE - we did and we loved it. They don't charge any fees and their service and inflight entertainment is excellent.

Es injusto, pasajes altos, y ahora a pagar por las maletas. Tiene uno que hacer de tripas corazones y llevar lo minimo para poder viajar.

Jaunted

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