First Checked Bag Fee: The Airlines Will LOSE In The End
June 26, 2008
Earlier this month, three major U.S. Airlines (US Airways, Delta & United) all implemented programs that would charge passengers a $15 fee for checking ANY baggage. This fee would add $100’s of millions to the ailing airlines’ bottom line every year…. But will it really? Let’s investigate a bit.
A family of four traveling round trip would incur an extra $120 in baggage fees if they check their luggage. This family is also feeling the pinch and decides to carry on those same bags (given they are the appropriate size). How much longer is it going to take those 4 people to get on the plane? Parents will have to help children with their luggage, which means they aren’t getting their kids situated in their seats. Multiply this by almost every passenger and you can begin to see the problem. Boarding will take MUCH longer. Overhead space will fill almost immediatley. Flight attendants will have to work their way around the cabin during the boarding process to take bags that will not fit and have them checked. Passengers will get cranky and hostile. All the while the plane is not taking off. Planes that aren’t in the air aren’t making money and delays COST the airlines even more.
Getting off of the plane will be a similar disaster. You plane arrives late. You have a connection to make and now almost every single passenger has to dislodge their overstuffed suitcase out of the overhead compartment. It seems that Delta, American and US Airways are not seeing the forest through the trees. Continental has decided to “wait it out” and see if passengers will choose a flight on an airline that does NOT charge this fee versus one who does.
Flight Attendants know this will be a fiasco, passengers are dreading it too. How long before the airlines figure it out?
What do you think?
Technorati Tags: airline fees, checked bag fee, checked luggage charge
My wife and I have been shipping our bags ahead of time whenever we travel. I can send a 50lb bag from Missouri to California via FedEx Ground (2 - 3 days) for about $25.00. This beats checking our bags, getting charged for the bag and it makes for stress free travel (not really) but it at least helps. No checked baggage, no fighting for overhead bin space and most important no lost luggage. Shipping ahead of time is the way to go.
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