Fees

US Airways says “Uncle” on soft drink charges

Fees, Food

Starting on March 1, 2008 , passengers on US Airways will once again be able to get soft drinks, juice, coffee, and water for free.

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US Airways has been charging $2 (in most cases) for these items since August 1, 2008. (First-class passengers and folks traveling on trans-Atlantic flights still received free drinks.)  And while lots of airlines are unbundling  fees, US Airways was the only airline charging passengers for non-alcoholic drinks.

Here’s a link to the Associated Press article with more details about US Airways’ decision to once again offer complimentary soft drinks, water and coffee.

Airfares by weight? One company predicts it will happen.

Baggage, Fees, Free Stuff,

searainmakers-baggage

The folks at Luggage Forward, one of the companies that provides doorstep to destination luggage delivery, is putting out their annual industry report today and, no surprise, they predict that in 2009 travelers will:

  • Be paying increasing baggage fees:

“Despite falling fuel prices airlines have determined that baggage fees do not deter people from flying …”

  • Experience a crackdown carry-ons:

“Airlines must solve the newly developed problem of passengers carrying on too much which is causing delayed departures.”

and

  • Perhaps start paying airfares that take into account their weight plus the weight of their bags; checked and carry-on:

“Though this model seems somewhat farfetched, it is the model used by virtually every company who profitably uses airplanes to transport cargo – except airlines.”

Points 1 and 2 are a given. But charging passengers by weight? That’s still a very touchy subject.   Plus… what if you gain – or lose – weight after you buy your ticket?

(Image above: Norman Andersen’s Rainmakars Baggage mixed-media installation in the baggage claim at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.)

Airport baggage scales: are they balanced?

Baggage, Carry-ons, Fees,

It’s natural to wonder (or hope) that the bathroom scale is wrong when you weigh in each morning.

At the airport, it’s a different story entirely. Airlines have been getting strict about charging passengers for overweight bags to the tune of millions of dollars each year.

But last week, the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures did a surprise inspection of the scales used by Southwest Airlines and US Airways at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

According to this article in the Arizona Republic, both airlines got dinged. Southwest “had to shut down three of its 26 scales because they received red tags, the most serious violation, from the inspectors. The problem: The scales did not start at zero.”

Another reason to try to fit everything you need into a carry-on bag…..

Get out your tape measure

Baggage, Fees

Well, this is kind of a sneaky way for airlines to make air travelers check their bags – and a sneaky way for at least one airline to squeeze more bucks out of bag check fees.

Earlier this month Continental Airlines announced that it would not only charge coach travelers $25 to check a second piece of luggage, it would also begin charging $15 for the first checked bag.

Continental isn’t the first airline to do this – American, United, Delta, and Northwest Airlines are among the other airlines that have also cut the size of acceptable carry-ons in the past few months.

A few linear inches may not seem like a big deal when it comes to luggage. But if push comes to shove – and it often does these days with passengers jostling for overhead space on planes – it can make the difference between snagging that bin and getting your bag gate-checked – for a fee.

So get out your tape measure and make sure your carry-on fits the new – smaller – guidelines.

Bag the bag fee… new trend?

Fees,

According to this note by Terry Maxon in the Airline Biz blog, in response to price dips in the cost of fuel, Air Canada is dropping the fees for checking a second bag beginning next Tuesday.

That’s good news and, hopefully, the beginning of a trend.

And those fuel surcharges? Well, you won’t see those anymore. But you will pay them: the airline is folding those fees into the airfares instead of showing them to you as an extra fee.

It would be funny if it wasn’t true

Baggage, Carry-ons, Fees

The Tonight Show is on way past my bedtime, so I’m really glad that Terry Maxon at the Airline Biz blog makes a point of posting the jokes and jabs Jay Leno makes about airports and air travel.

All those extra charges and service cutbacks the airlines are announcing are making it way too easy on the Tonight Show writers. From Leno’s monologue last night (June 17, 2008):

“If you’ve been to the airport at all the last couple of weeks, you know the airlines are now charging people to check your bag. One bag, you have to check it now, and they charge you $15 to check a bag, 15 bucks, and 30 bucks if you ever want to see that bag again.”

There’s more….


Crackdown on carry-on bags

Carry-ons, Fees, ,

United Airlines and US Airways recently announced they will join American Airlines and start charging passengers to check a first bag. That means a lot more people will start packing a lot more stuff into their carry-on bags.

“Not so fast” say the airlines. They’re cracking down on over-sized carry-on bags by posting staff at the security checkpoint lines in an effort to ‘head ’em off at the pass.’

Find out more in my Well-Mannered Traveler column on MSNBC.com. suitcase.jpg

Setting air fares by weight

Charge by weight, Fees, Well-Mannered Traveler

Folks were intrigued to learn about Derrie-Air, a new “carbon-neutral luxury airline” that charges passengers by the pound. It turned out to be a publicity stunt, but it got folks talking about the concept of treating passengers more like freight.

The folks at NAAFA, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, found it “sort of funny,” but ultimately “preposterous.” But as you can read in my Well-Mannered Traveler column on MSNBC.com, others thought it was actually a great idea.

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Southwest brags about baggage policy

Baggage, Fees,

Now that American Airlines has announced that it will begin charging most domestic passengers $15 to check their first bag, it’s a fair bet other major airlines will do the same.

Travelers are pissed off about this move, but it just seems inevitable that everyone will soon pay to check their bags at the airport.

But maybe not. Consider this: Southwest Airlines, which allows travelers to check two items for free, sent out a press release Thursday reaffirming that the airline has no plans to change its checked baggage policy.

The release ends: “We look forward to seeing you on board very soon. (And bring your luggage!)”

Any bets on how long this will last?

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Remote Baggage Check-In. Worth it?

Baggage, Fees

It’s a fair bet that, for the foreseeable future, there are going to be longer-than-usual lines at curbside check-in kiosks and lobby ticket counters as travelers, airline personnel, and skycaps get accustomed to the new fees most airlines are now – or will soon be – charging for checking more than one bag.

One way to avoid the lines – but not the fees – is to check-in your bags someplace other than the airport. In my USATODAY.com column this week I describe services that allow travelers to check bags at hotel lobbies, convention centers, cruise ships, short and long-term parking lots, and car rental facilities.

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