Posted on 05/14/2013 1:44:55 PM PDT by oxcart
NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. airlines collected more than $6 billion in baggage and reservation change fees from passengers last year - the highest amount since the fees became common five years ago.
Passengers shouldn't expect a break anytime soon. Those fees - along with extra charges for boarding early or picking prime seats - have helped return the industry to profitability.
Airlines started charging for a first checked suitcase in 2008 and the fees have climbed since. Airlines typically charge $25 each way for the first checked bag, $35 for the second bag and then various extra amounts for overweight or oversized bags.
The nation's 15 largest carriers collected a combined $3.5 billion in bag fees in 2012, up 3.8 percent from 2011, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Fees for changing a reservation totaled $2.6 billion, up 7.3 percent.
The airlines took in $159.5 billion in revenue last year and had expenses of $153.6 billion, according to the government. That 3.7 percent profit margin comes entirely from the baggage and change fees.
Delta Air Lines once again took in the most fees - $865.9 million from baggage alone - but it also carried more passengers than any other airline.
Delta collected $7.44 per passenger - about average for the industry. Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines collected the most, an average $19.99 per passenger in baggage fees last year.
The government only requires the airlines to report revenue from baggage and change fees.
Passengers can expect to pay even more this summer.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Irish RyanAir charges to use the toilet on their flights...
Coming soon to a USA airline near you!
NASA’s budget (when it was space faring rather
than a JOKE to boost Islam) was 20 billion per year.
WTH has happened to America??????
One word: Southwest
Just got a notice from Frontier Airlines and they are going to start charging for over head luggage.
Some Socialist Elmer Gantry is going to run for POTUS one day on the promise that “I’m gonna stop those Grrrrreeeedy SOB’s from NICKEL AND DIMING you!”
He’ll win 73% of the vote and Capitalism will effectively be over in this country.
Gee, why not encourage MORE people to carry oversized overweight multiple carry on bags? What could be wrong with even MORE fights for overhead bin space, even MORE time spent as people wrangle their bags into or out of the bins, MORE time spent getting on or off the airplane, MORE time spent checking that the carry on bags don’t have contraband, MORE people getting hit by bags, MORE bags sent back to the luggage compartment because there isn’t room in the bins or they are oversized, MORE waiting while they re-open the luggage compartment, MORE angry people wrestling mutliple oversized carry on bags, MORE people hit by their surplus baggage as they negotiate narrow aisles?
What could POSSIBLY be wrong with charging for checked bags but not carry on bags? I really don’t see why this would create or exacerbate problesm!/s
I fly to Arkansas twice a year to see family. I always fly Allegiant since they are cheaper and fly into a small airport not far from my cousins house. They started charging for overhead baggage last year.
The airlines do not want people traveling - they just want passengers.
They don’t have a problem if you travel with no luggage - you have your seat, but don’t take any of those things you need or want with you!
I will refuse to patronize any airline that charges both for checked and carry on luggage. At least, until I have no other choice - and then I will never fly for anything but business.
Hauling a bunch of skinny people who pack light is much cheaper than hauling a bunch of fatty-fats with tons of luggage.
I agree.
Carry on baggage (except your computer or purse) is SOOOO annoying and causes most of the delays.
(Ok, I do have to say when I travel with the grandkids I carry on a bag with books, games, snacks plus electronics).
I will gladly pay extra if I need to for that.........for my own sanity and that of the rest of the plane. ;-)
Alleginat, they are running ads in Santa Barbara for driving to Santa Maria and a direct flight to Honolulu for only $148 each way.
Not bad, it is 75 miles, but free long term parking....flying from SB is closer t0 $800 each way.
Now with your recommendation, I’ll have to check them for more flights.
I have long been of the opinion that they should allow those of us who can just get up and go (without opening the overhead bins) to get off the plane first - my policy was to check all my luggage and I had nothing with me but a pillow with a couple books shoved in the pillow case.
When they started charging only for checked luggage I saw the ridiculous amounts of carry on luggage go straight to preposterous levels of excess.
Gee, why not encourage MORE people to carry oversized overweight multiple carry on bags?
The simple solution is to get one the the credit cards from your usual airline. That gets you free baggage.
Sorry, but for frequent business travelers, checked baggage often doesn’t work. When you schedule changes at the last minute you may have to jump a different flight entirely, and you can’t do that if you’ve checked a bag. Since business travelers pay the most for tickets and subsidize the airlines, might be best to allow them their carry-ons.
But why encourage everyone else to try to do every bag as a carry on through charging only for checked bags?
It was rumored they were considering doing that, but it was never implemented.
They are a budget, no frills airline but if you just wanta get there are fine. I have been using them for years. Watch their fees though. If you are not careful you can rack them up.
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