Hawaiian charging for 1st bag

[isisdave]

There should really be an excess of holiday spirit this December on airlines that charge for the first bag, as everyone tries to put their clothes carryon and their bag of presents and their parka in the overhead bins.

Except that holiday prices will be so high and availability so low, according to recent reports. that we'll all be staying home and celebrating via webcam.

Ho ho ho.

P.S. I don't get the reason behind charging for the first bag. You're going to carry the same weight, whether it's checked or not. Checking means higher costs for the airline in baggage handling; carryon means slower enplaning and deplaning and more TSA costs (and they'll raise their fees if the amount of luggage doubles).

The bottom line is that the consumer pays for everything. This a la carte system just makes it harder to figure out.

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

Denise, you must have amazing packing ability, or a HUGE carry on to carry snorkel equipment also. I do bring books, as one of my favorite things is just relaxing at the beach and reading. Unfortunately, most resorts, even if they have a lending library rarely have anything I want to read. For people with kids, maybe it would be cheaper to buy some sand toys there and just leave them for the next people. I know that's what I do for a beach chair. Boogie boards are more expensive and of course, surfboards, much, much too expensive to not bring yours with you. I'm thinking when the overheads are full, people are blocking the aisles to put stuff up there and the airlines are having to check through people's carry ons from the plane directly, and it takes forever to get on and off the plane, maybe the airlines will rethink this first bag thing.
Liz

 

[DeniseM]

Denise, you must have amazing packing ability, or a HUGE carry on to carry snorkel equipment also.

No - we take the standard size carry-on. Did you see my packing list? We don't take many clothes and we take no food, and no bottled toiletries like shampoo, lotion, or sunscreen.

 

[Icarus]

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.

Did you ever think that you might be the poster child for why airlines should charge for checking bags?

We do have Walmart and Costco on the islands. And you can buy a Styrofoam cooler really cheap just about anywhere.

-David

 

[Stefa]

Did you ever think that you might be the poster child for why airlines should charge for checking bags?

We do have Walmart and Costco on the islands. And you can buy a Styrofoam cooler really cheap just about anywhere.

-David

David

We try to minimize the junk we buy (and have to throw out) in Hawaii. We do have a soft-sided cooler that packs easily (or can be used as carry-on).

We try to get by with only carry-ons, but I don't see the difference between checking or carrying the same amount of stuff. I'd rather see a nominal charge (or no charge) for checked bags up to a certain weight and then a hefty charge for more weight.

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

The argument that one checked bag plus one personal item is the same as one carryon and one checked bag sounds reasonable. Checking that one bag makes it easier for others to utilize the overhead bins and get on and off the plane quicker and the weight is the same, either way. My son brings a small carryon and his backpack (with computer) as carryons. I could do that if I could just reach the overhead compartment.
Liz

 

[Icarus]

I'd rather see a nominal charge (or no charge) for checked bags up to a certain weight and then a hefty charge for more weight.

$14 for the first checked bag, usually up to 50 pounds, seems pretty nominal to me.

When they first started this checked baggage fee, the first bag was free. Then one airline (Delta maybe? I forget when one. Maybe it was US Air.) decided to try to institute the $14 fee for the first checked bag and all the other legacy carriers followed along.

BTW, I think the first bag should be free, for the reasons some of you have stated.

-David

 

[ciscogizmo1]

Did you ever think that you might be the poster child for why airlines should charge for checking bags?

We do have Walmart and Costco on the islands. And you can buy a Styrofoam cooler really cheap just about anywhere.

-David

I thought Hawaii had a garbage problem... hmmmm... I don't use styrofoam anything.

I give up... You all won because you are so right... I should have know better to get into this conversation because it leads to nowhere.

Really a better solution would be to charge by weight. So, you weigh everyone including their carry-on. So, there isn't some advantage taken by someone who weighs more. This way my 40 lbs dd can make up the difference in our luggage offset...

 

[Icarus]

I give up... You all won because you are so right... I should have know better to get into this conversation because it leads to nowhere.

I don't know if there's a right or a wrong here. These are opinions.

PS: The comment about being a poster child for the new charges was in jest.

-David

 

[Stefa]

Really a better solution would be to charge by weight.

I was thinking the same thing bit didn't want to be the first to say it.

I guess my earlier point was that if they are really concerned about weight, they should allow up to 25lbs free per traveler (or something like that) and penalize the ones who are bringing all the extra weight. There are a lot of reasons why someone might chose to check their bags instead of dragging them through an airport and $15 EACH WAY seems very excessive to me.

 

[LisaRex]

I wish they charged based on the passenger's weight. That would sure be an incentive to diet.

 

[cvmar]

I wish they charged based on the passenger's weight. That would sure be an incentive to diet.

As long as they do a height weight calculation to make it fair I am nearly 6' tall so I'll pay for my extra weight if those of you say 5' - 5'6" give me your extra leg room

 

[jehb2]

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.

No-can-do with little ones. I have to use my carry-ons for food, diapers, change of cloths, few toys and books, some baby meds, disposable cups, etc.

American doesn't serve any type of meal and it's a long flight (8hours) from Dallas to Hawaii so we all need food. Last trip we went through LA and got stuck in LAX for 9 hours. Lucky I had the things that I did. I pretty much utilized everything in my carryons. We arrived in Kona at 3:30 am.

We do have Walmart and Costco on the islands. And you can buy a Styrofoam cooler really cheap just about anywhere.

It may seem silly to bring pool toys when you can purchase them. However, the first time I took my daughter to Orlando I purchased some arm floaties at the Hotel poolside for $12.95. Back home I got 2 of $1.00 at Academy surplus. In January in Waikoloa I purchased a little bucket set for yes $12.99. Saw the same thing back home for $1.99.

We go to Hawaii once or twice a year. Even now that we have kids we can still make it affordable but that means bringing some things from home. Having to re-buy all that stuff really adds up. I mean don't get me wrong. We're pretty efficient packers but if you're taking kids to Hawaii you have to plan accordingly.

3 small suitcases total (my husband and I each have one and the 2 kids share 1)
2 large car seats
1 stroller
1 bassenett (timeshare cribs can be horrible if not outright dangerous)

2 backpacks (these are the carryons)
1 laptop

I also look at it this way. It's great if you can get by with just a carry-on. But I thing the idea is a bit over-rated. You might save what 20 min. checking-in and maybe 30 min. when you land. I rather have to check my luggage and not have to worry finding stuff when I get to my destination. I grew up in a lot of foreign countries. I'm at the point where I want my soap, my lotion, and my deoderent especially when I'm on vacation.

 

[Icarus]

It may seem silly to bring pool toys when you can purchase them. However, the first time I took my daughter to Orlando I purchased some arm floaties at the Hotel poolside for $12.95. Back home I got 2 of $1.00 at Academy surplus. In January in Waikoloa I purchased a little bucket set for yes $12.99. Saw the same thing back home for $1.99.

Are you comparing resort poolside prices to WalMart prices?

I also look at it this way. It's great if you can get by with just a carry-on. But I thing the idea is a bit over-rated.

Not having to check bags is overrated? Not to me it isn't. I think your estimated times are a bit low for most large airports these days. And there's always the possibility of lost luggage when you check bags.

You might save what 20 min. checking-in and maybe 30 min. when you land.
I rather have to check my luggage and not have to worry finding stuff when I get to my destination. I grew up in a lot of foreign countries. I'm at the point where I want my soap, my lotion, and my deoderent especially when I'm on vacation.

Well, I guess you are going to have pay for that from now on.

As they say, you have a choice as to how much you pack and bring with you. Only now, you will have to pay to check even the first bag per person.

-David

 

[tompalm]

By FAA regulation, the airlines calculate weight on a ball park figure for each person that walks on board at 190 lbs a person during the summer and 220 lbs during the winter. Those were the numbers a couple years ago and they get updated and adjusted often. Those numbers include the carry on. Most airlines have a weight limit for carry ons that some gate agents enforce and some don't. Most of the time, carry ons never get weighed.

The checked suit cases all get weighted and that info is used to calculate weight and balance for the aircraft. The point is that the checked bags are all that really count for aircraft weight, the rest are just a ball park figure.

 

[potchak]

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.

I love your list, but unfortunately we have a ton of gear we have to bring as we are divers. It is so much better diving in your own gear than rentals. Although, you can bet we will not be bringing the tanks or the weights! Too much weight for the airlines to take them without charging a fortune. I bet we could fit the rest of our clothes into 2 carryon's though and put all the toiletries into the scuba bags. Guess we will end up paying for at least 1 bag for each of us.

 

[thinze3]

Carry-ons, carry-ons, and more carry-ons!
Passengers will fighting in the isles for overhead space before long.


Terry

 

[jehb2]

...you are going to have pay for that from now on.
-David

It will still be far cheaper for me to pay $45 for 3 checked bags on an interisland flight then to pick up things in Hawaii. There is such an incredible disparity in prices between Hawaii and the mainland. I live in Texas where the cost of living, food, yes and even gas are among the lowest in the nation. By taking some particular items to the island I save a bundle which allows us to enjoy excursions and activities in Hawaii. Given that we sometimes go twice per year, this has a large impact.

I'll give you another example. I paid $12.00 for a styrofoam ice chest at K-mart on the Big Island. That same ice chest is $3.00 at the K-mart here. WE have a sporting and outdoor store "Academy Surplus" here in Texas where I buy a lot of my Hawaii stuff. The prices pale in comparison to the K-mart and Walmarts in Hawaii. (Granted Costco prices are great for food purchases, but the lotions and shampoos come in those big bulk sizes, defeating the purpose of traveling light).

I don't travel with a lot of luggage. Three suitcases for a family of four seems reasonable to me. I can't do anything about the two car seats and stroller which is why American Airlines doesn't charge for them.

The expectation that people with kids should go without checked baggage seems a bit overstated.

 

[Wishiwasatthebeach]

luggage

On our last trip to the islands in June, they ran out of overhead space for carry-ons on 1 leg of the trip. Depending on how they board the plane, if you are at the end of the boarding queue then you run out of storage space. Someone on that flight had to check their bags. I would hate to have my camera and valuables in the carry-on and have to end up checking it in due to boarding last with no overhead space.

We packed our own snorkel gear (4 of us). I have to use my own facial cream/wash, kids are the same (medicated facial wash for their teen complexion). So purchasing at Walmart is not an option. Bringing our own sunscreen (we use a lot) that we purchase in TX is a lot cheaper than buying in HI. We also packed some nuts/dried fruits for hiking trip snacks and use their empty space on the way back for souvenirs. We'd love to have carry-ons only, but due to the above reasons, we have to check them in. I also packed a few poly/technical fabric shirts/shorts for running . They are very lightweight and also use them for hiking. We packed less clothes and wash them, but still could not cut down and ended up having 5 suitcases. Sigh.

I also rather pay $25 on Continental to be able to use our own snorkel gear and extra stuffs. I do feel sorry for travelers who go skiing. Imagine the extra $$$ they have to pay.

Thanks for letting me share my opinion.

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

One time I did have a car in checked bags and it arrived damage. Hawaiian said they weren't responsible as it should have been in carry on. Our CPAP machine and meds can't be in checked. Does it really make sense to force more people into using the overhead bins and as mentioned, cause others to have no room at all?
Liz

 

[DeniseM]

One time I did have a car in checked bags and it arrived damage.

Liz - I'm sorry, but I don't believe you!

 

[LisaRex]

In lieu of a styrofoam cooler, I always bring one of those collapsible coolers. You can fold it easily and it weighs practically nothing.

This year we managed to get to Maui with one carry-on and one checked-in bag per person. We even packed snorkeling equipment, including flippers for each of us. Having a washer/dryer was essential because we could get by on 3 pairs of shorts, 1 skirt, etc.

If you haven't gotten new luggage in awhile you might consider buying new luggage when it goes on sale at the end of the summer. The newer pieces are much lighter than the old ones. Most have the weight of the piece written somewhere. eBags is a great resource as it lists the weight, too.

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

Denise, you must not have seen my other frantic post. I burned my finger and am typing with one hand.
Liz

 

[ciscogizmo1]

Here the pathetic book library at Waiohai beach Club at Poipu:

I couldn't resist...

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

I guess I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not. It would depend on how much you want to read and if you have read most of the books there or not. Many timeshares have no library at all. When we were at Fairmont Mountainside I found one book I managed to read. I guess I want to read what to read, which is part of the joy of being on vacation for me.
Liz