Hawaiian charging for 1st bag

[cvmar]

Hawaiian is now charging $15 for the 1st bag. Here is a portion of the press release. Guess it was only a matter of time. I would have preferred they just increase the fare :annoyed: They are also charging a ticketing fee for tickets NOT purchased through their website.

HONOLULU, July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In response to the unprecedented economic challenges facing the airline industry, Hawaiian Airlines has announced that it is matching certain fees that its major competitors have recently adopted.

Effective with tickets purchased on or after August 1 for travel commencing on or after October 1, 2008, Hawaiian will charge $15 for passengers' first piece of checked luggage for flights between the mainland U.S. and Hawaii.

On interisland flights between the islands of Hawaii, the first piece of checked luggage will continue to be free.

Effective September 1, 2008, Hawaiian will begin charging a ticketing fee for bookings made over the telephone rather than online, $10 for interisland travel and $20 for all other routes. For ticketing at airport locations, the fee will be $25. No ticketing fees apply to transactions on HawaiianAirlines.com.

 

[DeniseM]

It makes sense to me:

Luggage is heavy.
The heavier the plane is, the more gas the plane uses.
The more gas the plane uses, the more ticket prices go up.
I don't want to pay for the people who check heavy bags when I only take a carry-on - so charge them for it.

If you are staying in a TS with a washer and dryer, it's a piece of cake to get along with just carry-ons and it is absolutely liberating not to have to drag around all those big pieces of luggage!

My Hawaii packing list

BTW - it is VERY easy to buy tickets on their website and you get the best price that way too.

 

[tompalm]

Hawaiian is now charging $15 for the 1st bag. I would have preferred they just increase the fare :annoyed: [/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]

They have to stay competitive and the fare needs to be the same or less than other airlines. I think that Hawaiian still provides a meal service and NW and other airlines charge for a snack. That is an extra that might be gone later. However, I just got back from Florida on a Delta flight and the service was excellent and no charge for the first bag or a meal. Maybe the charge of the first bag will not stick, but I think it will become the standard.

 

[cvmar]

Denise,

I had a feeling you would be the first to chime in I have read in other posts about your success traveling light, unfortunately that has not been the case for me. Traveling with kids requires us to check bags and I feel having a single bag per person traveling to Hawaii is not unreasonable. I also have to bring special sunscreen and lotions for my son and since we always travel for 2 weeks it is much more than 3 ounces so they must be checked. Someday when it is just DH and me I will surly give it a go. I have no issues if they were to charge for food or drinks etc. I do agree it is very easy to purchase tickets online. I have not used a travel agent or phone agent for over 10 years, although planning during the internet dial up days was time consuming.

 

[LisaRex]

BTW, Delta is now charging $50 for that second bag, each way.

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78046

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

We would love to be able to only do carry on, but my husband has to take a CPAP for sleep apnea, which takes up most of his carryon and I have to take refrigerated medicine, which takes up a chunk of mine. Even with a washer and dryer, I think one bag is not excessive for a week somewhere.
Liz

 

[Mimi]

Great tips, Denise!

 

[jlr10]

We would love to be able to only do carry on, but my husband has to take a CPAP for sleep apnea, which takes up most of his carryon and I have to take refrigerated medicine, which takes up a chunk of mine. Even with a washer and dryer, I think one bag is not excessive for a week somewhere.
Liz

Some airlines specifically address this but Hawaiian does not. I suggest you call Hawaiian to verify their policy. Medical devices and supplies should not be counted as carryon luggage per the DOT. Both the CPAP and the refrigerated medicine should qualify as medical devices and supplies and should be exempt from the charges.

Even with that in mind I still am not going to travel with just a carry on bag. Kudos to those who do. Since we take our hiking equipment and snorkeling masks with us, and since we don't want to spend time in the local walmart and/or Snorkel Bob's, we just take our things with us. Since we don't intend on being naked our supplies and clothing will not fit in just carryon luggage. It probably works out to about the same time (waiting at the airport for luggage and shopping at walmart,) so we will just pay the cost for the luggage. Are we happy about the charges? Nope. But that won't keep us from traveling the way we have. We will just eat out one less time, and take one more hike, which is better for us anyway.

 

[ownsmany]

We do carry on's only also. The one thing that bothers me is having to go to the store to get sunscreen on the day we arrive. I know I can pack the 3 ounces things - but that is never enough.

I'm thinking of mailing a package of sunscreen and other items to the timeshare before time. I like Denises flat rate boxes. I could mail things there, and mail things we buy home.

I know it give the rates to APO boxes, how much more for regular home addresses?

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

That's interesting about being able to pack the medical things and have it not count as our bag. My other problem with carry on is that at 4'10", I can't really put anything in the overhead compartment. But, if it's going to cost me an extra $30 for being short, I'll just stand in the aisle until someone decides to help me get it up and down! I could then take a backpack with my purse inside for the floor and a carry on for the overhead. I think the idea that luggage is heavy is somewhat deceptive. My luggage weighs less than 25 pounds, because I can't lift more than that and even with that, I still add less weight than most adults. Does that mean I should pay less as I weigh less?
Liz

 

[tompalm]

BTW, Delta is now charging $50 for that second bag, each way.

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78046

That is about what I think the airlines should be charging for a second bag. If they really wanted to do it right, they would charge a $20 handling fee for the second bag, plus a dollar a pound over 20 lbs. I see so many people with large bags that weigh more over 70 lbs. Those large bags are killers for the guys loading them and adding weight to the aircraft that burns more fuel. My wife and I traveled standby for years and never checked a bag. Denise is right, for people staying in TSs, there is a washer and dryer close by and spending a couple hours once a week doing the wash is better than loading tons of stuff. When they start charging for the first bag, than people should complain, but if all the airlines are doing it, than the standard is set.

 

[cvmar]

I have not traveled since the implementation of the baggage fees. Has anyone noticed the impact this has on available overhead compartment space?

 

[ciscogizmo1]

Now... wouldn't it be funny if everyone brought only carryon on the plane. I don't know about you guys but when we travel we take one carryon type luggage (on wheels) and 3 backpacks that go at our feet. The overhead bins has always been so full there is no way we'd get 3 more carry-ons above our heads. It will be interesting to see how people fight for overhead space. Currently, the way the Hawaiian airline planes are designed it would be impossible for everyone to bring only carry-on luggage. However, I don't think that is their goal but I could be wrong.

I can never ship anything home as everything I buy is breakable. I have shipped paintings home though...

Once my kids are out of my travel life I'd love to go carry-on only but right now that is just not possible... But I will be happy to pay the extra luggage fee.

 

[DeniseM]

I know it give the rates to APO boxes, how much more for regular home addresses?

The largest box is $12.95 no matter how heavy it is - there are smaller boxes for less - we mailed ourselves one from Hawaii on a Thurs. and it arrived at our home on the next Monday!

 

[cvmar]

But I will be happy to pay the extra luggage fee

Really? Wow I guess I am one of the few who don't like this fee for the 1st bag. To me traveling and luggage go together. Now excessive luggage is something else altogether. These fees really impact family travel. Now food or drinks on a plane I don't feel are necessary to provide for "free" so go ahead and charge for them.

 

[tompalm]

I have not traveled since the implementation of the baggage fees. Has anyone noticed the impact this has on available overhead compartment space?

On business flights out of Atlanta or LA, the overhead was pretty full, but there was still room. The business travelers are bringing their bags. However, on travel to vacation destinations, the tourist are checking the bags and there is lots of room. However, that was Delta and no charge for the first bag, so maybe the airlines that have charges for the first bag will be a little more difficult. I would still get a 22" roller bag and bring it on the plane. If you have to get a gate claim, that is better than having to check it.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

Really? Wow I guess I am one of the few who don't like this fee for the 1st bag. To me traveling and luggage go together. Now excessive luggage is something else altogether. These fees really impact family travel. Now food or drinks on a plane I don't feel are necessary to provide for "free" so go ahead and charge for them.

Okay... I shouldn't say I'm happy about it but I don't know what we can do about it. I'm not going to go to bringing carry-on luggage only. So, I will be paying it.

It seems like everyone here thinks everyone only travels to warm weather destinations. What happens if you are going to somewhere in the winter. I can't imagine trying to fit all your winter clothes in a carry-on but that's my take.

I do think this will hurt family tourism big time. If I only have one bag I just might buy much. I hope Hawaii does okay through this difficult economy...

 

[DeniseM]

It seems like everyone here thinks everyone only travels to warm weather destinations. What happens if you are going to somewhere in the winter. I can't imagine trying to fit all your winter clothes in a carry-on but that's my take.

Well, we are talking about Hawaiian Airlines - unless you are taking a flight from Hawaii to Las Vegas or Seattle, HA doesn't really have any "winter" destinations.

If I had a family, I'd probably have everyone take a carry-on, even kids can carry a size appropriate backpack, and I'd check one large bag. I think it's very doable. And BTW, we pack snorkel equipment in our carry-ons too.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

Well, we are talking about Hawaiian Airlines - unless you are taking a flight from Hawaii to Las Vegas or Seattle, HA doesn't really have any "winter" destinations.

If I had a family, I'd probably have everyone take a carry-on, even kids can carry a size appropriate backpack, and I'd check one large bag. I think it's very doable. And BTW, we pack snorkel equipment in our carry-ons too.

I'm not just talking about Hawaiian airlines. A lot of airlines are charging for the 1st bag. This will effect all kinds of travel not just travel to Hawaii...

Yes... I agree you could get by with one bag but I don't want to and I won't. I brought 5 books to read in Kauai. I just finished my 3rd one. I have one more week here and plan on reading the next two as well.

You and I take diffferent things to Hawaii. Traveling with children is alot different than traveling with just adults. We'll definitely still take check luggage probably not 4 bags but we'll take them. On this trip we took 4 bags and 2 boogie boards. GASP... we had 5 bags. One bag held our cooler, beach bag, snorkel, flippers, and spices for cooking, books to read, sunscreen, and food (I know, I'm cheap but food is expensive here), etc... Another bag was full of toys and fun stuff for the kids to do. The other 2 had clothes. We don't bring a lot of clothes to Hawaii. We tend to bring other things like sand toys, polly pockets, fresbie, books to read, guide books, etc... I think, our heaviest clothing bag weighed about 30 lbs. Gotta leave room for the souveniers. Our heaviest bag was the one with all the snorkel stuff it weighed about 45 lbs.

I think, also a lot of resorts aren't really kid friendly. Yes.. a pool and ocean are great playgrounds but sometimes you need other things to do. But most of time either the item is checked out or broken. Resorts need more outdoor activities besides feeding the fish. I did like how Princeville had surf lessons that was fun for the kids.

I'll have to read up on whether or not Hawaiian is charging for surf boards and boogie boards. I know, my kids are getting interested in surfing. So, we'll be doing that on future trips... We bring our boogie boards every time we come to Hawaii. Plus, you know me I bring food too.. We use to bring our golf clubs because you don't really use rented clubs. But we haven't done that in a long time and only when other family comes along to watch the kids while we golf.

 

[Henry M.]

Maybe a Kindle (see www.amazon.com) can help reduce the space needed for books? I'm considering getting one. I've never liked electronic readers because of the sharpness of the characters and availability of titles, but this one is tempting.

 

[DeniseM]

I've found that most resorts have a guest library. On our last trip I bought one paperback at the airport and I exchanged it at the resort 4 or 5 times while we were there for new novels. I took each one back as I read it and exchanged it, so I only took one home. That was a great space and weight saver.

I've looked at the Kindle too, but my techie daughter says to wait for the next generation.

 

[Henry M.]

Your daughter is probably right. If a Kindle 2.0 comes out before Christmas I'll probably get it, though.

When I go to resorts I am usually too active to read books. I'd rather be snorkeling or hiking! However, I do read a lot during the many plane rides I take during the year. A Kindle should be easier on my eyes than my laptop and invaluable during long trips, when I'll read more than one book.

 

["Roger"]

Forget Kindle. Use your Palm, your I Touch, your I Phone ...

Go here for a demo of the I Phone/Touch demo.

The same site sells about 50,000 book titles. There are also quite a number of ways to pick us free or ultra cheap books in the .pdb format. To date, I've read about 50 books on my Palm with a total investment of about $40 in books. (I haven't been using it for current fiction, but am about to make that leap.) That has paid for the Palm.

 

[Henry M.]

I find the screens on those devices too small for comfortable book-length reading. Also, LCDs can't be read in bright sunshine and can't hold a candle to the high contrast of eInk. That's why I would prefer a Kindle type of device even though I usually have my laptop along.

Anyhow, back to your regularly scheduled thread topic ...

 

[talkamotta]

I have not traveled since the implementation of the baggage fees. Has anyone noticed the impact this has on available overhead compartment space?

I used to be one of those people who took 2 bags. Only wore half what I brought. Now its one bag and its a smaller bag but I dont want to pack it all over. If I do a small bag that can be a carry on or I check it in WHATS THE DIFFERENCE IN PLANE WEIGHT?

Besides some of the people who have carry ons cant put them in thier overhead and then want to crush them into my over head where I might have my camera and equipment in my small backpack. I also think it takes longer to load and unload the plane which affects flight times.

I agree with the 2 bag charge, maybe they should lower the weight limit on the first bag. It used to be 70 now its 50. I can go to 35.