Gotta love airlines. Take Continental, for example. They’ve decided (along with a few others) to start charging people for checked luggage. Here’s what they say: “Continental has implemented a $15 fee for a customer’s first checked bag when traveling on Economy fare tickets…”
And then, this: “The service fee will not apply to EliteAccess customers, including those seated in First or BusinessFirst, OnePass Elite and SkyTeam Elite members, customers traveling on full-fare economy (Y) class tickets, or active military personnel traveling on official orders.”
Translation – rich people and businesses, we won’t stiff you the $15 bucks (even though you can afford it). We’re only going to stiff THE MAJORITY OF OUR CUSTOMERS.”
But remember… they really do think we’re important – they say so: “Our OnePass® members are important to us” (from the email they sent me).
Really? Then I’d think they would tell me WHY they decided to charge more. They DO have a FAQ – but it didn’t address the first two questions that popped into my head (why did they decide to charge for luggage? and Why not EliteAccess and First Class customers? Why make the Econo types pay?”).
If you don’t like paying more for luggage, check out airfarewatchdog’s checked bag fees chart.
i think it’s obvious why make the “Econo types” pay? The airline, like other airlines which recently gone out of business, is like most of us, having financial difficulty. It is far easier to charge a small amount to a lot of people who have now power. People with not much money don’t have the skills or contacts to pressure the company not to charge these fees. However, it does seem unfair and that all should be charged the fee. Of course they could just raise tickets prices, and they will eventually, but then when they do you can bet the this “checking fee” will stay.
i think it’s obvious why make the “Econo types” pay? The airline, like other airlines which recently gone out of business, is like most of us, having financial difficulty. It is far easier to charge a small amount to a lot of people who have now power. People with not much money don’t have the skills or contacts to pressure the company not to charge these fees. However, it does seem unfair and that all should be charged the fee. Of course they could just raise tickets prices, and they will eventually, but then when they do you can bet the this “checking fee” will stay.
It might have unintended consequences. I think more folks will not check bags but get the largest carry-on and stuff it into the already over crowded overhead bins. I can see the attendents searching for space and then checking some of the bags since they have no room left. Further delays and an even more unconfortable flight.
I used to fly if the drive was 3 hours or more. Now I fly if the drive is over 6 hours. Flying since the new security requirements is just too unconfortable and takes too long. No wonder the airlines are having problems.
I can only second what the previous commenter said. This will surely make flying less pleasant, if such a thing is actually possible. One consequence he omits: the surly customers who encounter this fee for the first time and stand at the counter for too long haranguing the agent, who could care less about the passenger’s needs.
When is one of these idiot airlines going to remember that they’re a service organization, and can compete based on services. I no longer care when major airlines die, since it just hastens the day when new ones who follow a Southwest model will arise.
I can only second what the previous commenter said. This will surely make flying less pleasant, if such a thing is actually possible. One consequence he omits: the surly customers who encounter this fee for the first time and stand at the counter for too long haranguing the agent, who could care less about the passenger’s needs.
When is one of these idiot airlines going to remember that they’re a service organization, and can compete based on services. I no longer care when major airlines die, since it just hastens the day when new ones who follow a Southwest model will arise.
Hi David
Consumerist.com had the following pdf about the different airline fees including meals/snacks fees:
http://i.slimg.com/sc/sl/graphic/u/ul/ultimate-guide-to-airline-fees.pdf
United will charging $9.00 for the inflight “meal”. International travelers don’t have to pay it.
Here’s the link to the whole story:
http://consumerist.com/5042052/top-3-most-and-least-fee-crazy-airlines
Cheers
Hi David
Consumerist.com had the following pdf about the different airline fees including meals/snacks fees:
http://i.slimg.com/sc/sl/graphic/u/ul/ultimate-guide-to-airline-fees.pdf
United will charging $9.00 for the inflight “meal”. International travelers don’t have to pay it.
Here’s the link to the whole story:
http://consumerist.com/5042052/top-3-most-and-least-fee-crazy-airlines
Cheers
It might have unintended consequences. I think more folks will not check bags but get the largest carry-on and stuff it into the already over crowded overhead bins. I can see the attendents searching for space and then checking some of the bags since they have no room left. Further delays and an even more unconfortable flight.
I used to fly if the drive was 3 hours or more. Now I fly if the drive is over 6 hours. Flying since the new security requirements is just too unconfortable and takes too long. No wonder the airlines are having problems.