I remember when i moved overseas (7 years ago), i had 3 large checked bags, and the first 2 were free. I could see one free bag, any more and you pay, but United is following Americans lead and charging $15 for the first bag, $25 for the second. Since airlines play follow the leader, i'm sure the rest of the North American carriers will follow suit
Not really surprised given the cost of fuel, but ticket prices have already gone thru the roof, and now they tack on an extra $30+ for a return flight.
I wonder if United will refund the amount when they inevitably lose my bags at O'hare
Once those fees for bags get "accepted" look for a major increase to those fees.
There are 2-4 major airlines in serious to moderate trouble down there and they no longer have the same lax bankruptcy protection that they once did to bail them out.
__________________
MYK - Supports Arizona to democtratically pass laws for the state of Arizona
Rudy was the only hope in 08
2011 Election: Cons 40% - Nanos 38% Ekos 34%
I remember when i moved overseas (7 years ago), i had 3 large checked bags, and the first 2 were free. I could see one free bag, any more and you pay, but United is following Americans lead and charging $15 for the first bag, $25 for the second. Since airlines play follow the leader, i'm sure the rest of the North American carriers will follow suit
Not really surprised given the cost of fuel, but ticket prices have already gone thru the roof, and now they tack on an extra $30+ for a return flight.
I wonder if United will refund the amount when they inevitably lose my bags at O'hare
Besides the increase in gas, part of the cause of ticket increases is the constant add-on of fees, surcharges and taxes - many of which are outside the airlines control. For example:
...certain additional taxes, governmental fees and other charges, apply, including but not limited to: (i) Airport Passenger Facility Charges of up to US$18, depending on itinerary; (ii) Federal Segment Fees of US$3.50 per segment (defined as a takeoff and a landing); (iii) the September 11th Security Fee of US$2.50 per segment (maximum charge per trip of US$5 one-way, US$10 round-trip); (iv) a Travel Facilities Tax of up to US$15.40 per round-trip for domestic segments beginning or ending in Alaska or Hawaii; and (v) for international itineraries, foreign and U.S. government-imposed charges of up to US$200 per round trip, depending on routing and destination.
That's American, obviously, but you get the picture.
Don't many airlines already implement fuel surcharges?
Personally, i don't care how many additional charges there are, or where they come from. Tell the bottom line number on how much it will cost me. And that goes the same for all bills - I appreciate you breaking out how much the taxes are, but I need to pay the bottom line price, stop trying to obfuscate that number.
Airlines, Gas companies, Cell phone bills - I don't care what your airport fee/fixes transport fee/ system access fee happens to be. I don't care how much the fertilizer that grew the feed for the cow that my steak came from. I know you have costs. My cost is the amount you want from my pocket, now stop trying to blame fuel costs/taxes and tell me whet the amount it withou me needing to get out a calculator.
__________________
"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
—Bill Clinton
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance--it is the illusion of knowledge."
—Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, former Librarian of Congress
"But the Senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity"
—WKRP in Cincinatti
Location: Oklahoma - Where they call a puck a ball...
Exp:
sadly they wont ever be able to charge by body weight.............. You know us sue happy americans.... some 400 pound lady will sue for discrimnation when she sits next to anorexic annie and finds out her tickets cost 400 bucks more than annies did because shes a lard ass
but i dont understand why they are imposing a fee for the first bag.... they want us to fly without luggage? this will cause one of two things, either less paying customers which hurts them more financially or everyone will have heavy carry ons. i see them charging for carryons in the forseeable future.
p.s. i never understodd why they charged us 80 bucks each way to bring our dog on board and also counted it as one of our carry ons. Our dog in her bag fit under the front seat just like a laptop bag ...
I'm really starting to think that airline travel in the future will only be used by the upper class. I wouldn't be surprised to see it return to the days of 30-40 years ago when only a small class of people were able to fly and your average joe could only do it very sparsely or not at all.
Not psychic. I just follow airlines very closely and realise the peril that most of them are in. Even with all these fees they simply dont charge the amount they need to economy passengers to cover the cost of doing buisness with a 10% profit. And the biz/first classes dont provide the extraordinary revenue they once did (alot of reasons).
You have already seen the number of Maj Intl US airlines shrink from 6 to 5. And you will "likely" see the reduction again to 4 when United and Conitnental get there issues sorted out (main reason why it hasnt happened is United wants a merge, and Continental wants to be in charge). Also, I wouldnt be surprised to see US Airways shrink or possibly die.
__________________
MYK - Supports Arizona to democtratically pass laws for the state of Arizona
Rudy was the only hope in 08
2011 Election: Cons 40% - Nanos 38% Ekos 34%
How is this practice even legal, or not some kind of breach of contract?
I buy a non-refundable ticket thinking it includes my bags as well. But get to the airport and now I have to pay for those bags? That doesn't seem like it should be legal.
How is this practice even legal, or not some kind of breach of contract?
I buy a non-refundable ticket thinking it includes my bags as well. But get to the airport and now I have to pay for those bags? That doesn't seem like it should be legal.
There is always a *subject to fee increases hidden somewhere in 2 point font...
When My wife, her sister, my (one years old - and thus non-paying) daughter and I flew down to LA/San Diego in May, we booked the flights directly on Air Canada's Website. We had 5 bags between the three paid tickets. Not a word was said anywhere when I booked, or when we flew down. Then we get to the airport in San Diego, and get to the United desk, they said we were going to have to pay $25 each for the extra two bags.
As I had booked the tickets before the policy even came into place, I politely said that there was no way that I was going to be paying an extra $50, as I purchased the tickets form Air Canada, and thus, I was subject to Air Canada rules. If they had a problem with that, they could go get their $50 from Air Canada.
United is the worst, so terrible. I booked through Air Canada Calgary to LA, than I was going from LA to Vegas and eventually Vegas to Calgary. My flight was at 0530am from LA to Vegas, so we had to get up super early to be there, get there, they canceled the flight for some unknown reason, and put us on a flight to Vegas 12 hours later.
Coming home from Maui, a flight I booked a year in advance, first class all the way, it was Maui to LA, LA to Calgary, I get to the airport 4 hours early in Maui, they bumped me off the flight told me their next flight was in 3 days and they wouldn't be comping me the hotel room fees.
I've come to expect hidden fees and terrible service, and now it doesn't bother me as much because I know something is going to go wrong or I will be charged some random fee.
How is this practice even legal, or not some kind of breach of contract?
I buy a non-refundable ticket thinking it includes my bags as well. But get to the airport and now I have to pay for those bags? That doesn't seem like it should be legal.
They wont increase a fee for those who have already paid. If you decide to bring an extra bag than that indicated then they will charge you - example you said you would bring one, now 2 etc - they might be able to get you for that.
This will be for new passengers mostly, the thinking is they already have negative press from introduction of bag fees, the amount of negative press now from increasing those fees is somewhat lessened.
__________________
MYK - Supports Arizona to democtratically pass laws for the state of Arizona
Rudy was the only hope in 08
2011 Election: Cons 40% - Nanos 38% Ekos 34%
US-based airlines to charge for checked bags
