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Airline baggage fees continue to climb
What started with a single airline charging passengers to check their second piece of luggage has slowly evolved into a massive money making scheme netting some airlines as much as $1 Billion in additional cash.The state of airline travel now means there are just a handful of airlines that do not charge for additional bags, and those airlines that do charge you, are getting so greedy that they are actually raising their prices again.
At the moment, United Airlines and US Airways charge $15 for the first checked bag, and $25 for the second - that fee is about to go up an additional $5 for passengers who do not prepay to check using the airline website.
Delta and Northwest (the same airline now they have completed their merger) will be charging an insane $50 for the second checked bag on international routes.
The only major airline that has (so far) resisted the urge to charge for checking bags, is Southwest. This low cost carrier has even launched a massive TV advertising campaign promoting the fact that they offer free checked baggage on their flights.
Bottom line is that a family of 4, each carrying 2 bags will pay as much as $500 if they fly abroad on some airlines. The only solution to the problem is to bring less stuff, or try and stuff as much as possible into the overhead bin.
A well maintained airline baggage fee chart can be found over at the site of Airfarewatchdog.com.
What strange things have been found on planes?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
nismo334 Jun 22nd 2009 5:41PM
Typo? isn't it supposed to be airline not airling?
Melinda Jun 23rd 2009 9:47PM
It is interesting that you are willing to pick on spelling errors but don't bother to capitalize or punctuate correctly...
Charlene Jun 23rd 2009 7:47AM
Pretty soon it will be cheaper to fly with no bags and just go shopping when you arrive at your destination.
Alohajon Jun 23rd 2009 6:13PM
If all the airlines go out of business, then nobody can fly. It used to be only the rich and people on expense accounts could fly, plus a few others like military in uniforms.
Maria Jun 23rd 2009 8:02AM
Well ! Let them be greedy they don't think longterm , soon they all will be out of business !
How stupid to squize those who keep your business going !
Lucy Jun 23rd 2009 8:06AM
@Charlene- go shopping or wear all your clothes in layers on the plane. This is why I'll only fly Southwest.
Ray Jun 23rd 2009 8:06AM
Why is everyone always whining about this so much? It's not like the airlines are making money. What if they don't raise money, and they go out of business? will that make everyone happy? Do you want to see BO can take them over too? Your paying almost 50 cents to mail a letter across town, wait till you see the cost to send you butt across the country on a state run airline.
Debra Jun 23rd 2009 10:57AM
This is a problem. We are paying more than enough for airfare.
Adam Jun 24th 2009 3:46PM
Ray,
The Airlines were federally run until the 70's. That's the only time they've ever been profitable except for maybe 3 or 4 years. Stop bashing the president and start reading some history and business reports.
roldan Jun 23rd 2009 8:32AM
thus you have to include in the list, gulf (gulp) airlines
pete Jun 23rd 2009 8:20AM
We don't worry about bag increases...we are nudists...lol
Will Jun 23rd 2009 8:24AM
I do fly alot and I do not have an issue with a small fee but it should be reasonable amount and the same for everyone. I was on a flight recently with USAir and I checked my bag and paid for it. When I was boarding the flight the passanger in front of me had a bag the same size but could not get it in the overhead. She packed way to much in the bag. Most likely to avoid having to pay a fee for a checked bag. They told her they would have to check it and put it in with the other luggage. They did not charge her. So the lesson to me take you bag(s) to the gate and they will check it for free.
David Perkins Jun 23rd 2009 9:47AM
I will not fly with gutter airlines that charge for baggage, this was started with the lowest of all airlines Ryan Air they now charge to use the rest room how long will it be before Delta follow on to this.
traveler Jun 23rd 2009 9:23AM
Of course, Southwest doesn't need to charge. Since they are used mainly as a "commuter" airline, they probably don't have that much checked baggage.
MaryAnn Jun 23rd 2009 10:45AM
Obviously you did not research Southwest....it is not a commuter airline...it flys all over the United States and the baggage agents are swamped with luggage from people that pack too many suitcases instead of one suitcase per person...some people take their entire closet on vacation!
smallmaryc Jun 23rd 2009 9:32AM
Airlines aren't the only ones trying to make an extra buck at the expense of the travelor. Recently I rented a car in Ireland thru Auto Europe. I paid for it and then got another bill from the rental agency, for more than the contract with Auto Europe. Seems they charged me to fill the car with gas, even though I returned it full. When I read the fine print, that is what it basically said, " Return it empty and no refund or credit for gas brought back." I then looked at the voucher for a car I am to rent in Hawaii next week. Same thing. Not only do they get the gas you didn't use (it's hard to bring one back empty) but they charge you THEIR inflated prices for the gas they put in. Of course it has been drilled into us to bring the car back full. Better watch this in the future. I've rented many times thru Auto Europe and this is the first time I have ever had this to happen. They have not replied as to whether or not this is going to be their standard procedure but like the charge for baggage, the others will see it and jump on the money wagon.
Todd Jun 23rd 2009 9:46AM
As long as they insist on charging for checked bags, passengers need to insist on service. If your bags don't get there when you do, they should have to give you a refund. The airlines get away with toooooo much that the rest of could never get away with.
Also, has anyone ever noticed how if someone gets on plane with a bag that is too big, they will put it underneath but NOT charge the passenger? Someone I know routinely takes a bag he knows is too big yet they let him through with it all the time. It always needs to go underneath. He never gets charged for it and he gets his bag at the gate while the rest of the PAID for bags have to wait.
Donna Jun 23rd 2009 9:58AM
Airlines are a joke. They were given billions after 9/11 because they cried poor. Are they going to repay the gov't that money with the baggage charges? With the elimination of snacks? Think of all the money they've made since. Airlines crying the blues after 9/11 was a joke in the first place. Just an excuse to almost eliminate direct flights and initiate LONG LAYOVERS to fill the planes. I have avoided flying after 9/11 not because of fear but because of limited direct flights and long layovers. I use to fly 2/3 times a year for vacation. I've flown twice since 9/11 and the last flight wasn't direct and had a FOUR HOUR layover. You can bet I'll take the train or drive as much as possible. I would hope our gov't would make the airlines pay back the enormous "loan" they were given back in 2001/2002 for the 9/11 disaster instead of burdoning the taxpayers once again.
Louie Jun 23rd 2009 10:15AM
Weren't all these extraneous charges come about as a result of the high cost of fuel over a year ago and the airlines felt they had to charge for these things in order to survive? Well, now that fuel is at levels PRIOR to these increases, why aren't the airlines scaling back on them? You know why? Because once an individual or a business or an industry realizes that they can get away with something they will continue to get away with it for as long as they're around. Is this a great country or what?
Don Wyeth Jun 23rd 2009 10:22AM
Flew to Paris two weeks ago on Delta with my wife who is allergic to cats. Sat in Business elite and noticed a cat in the
seat across the aisle. wife began to be badly affected by cat's proximity. She complained and it turned out that cats are more important to Delta than humans. We were thrteatened with removal from the flite to a later plane.
Pilot couldn't care less and passenger agent was very rude.
Finally they asked the cat owner to move to a different seat
and all improved. Animals should be provided with safe and
comfortable space on plane but not put before humans.