United doubles 2nd bag fee...

[KauaiMark]

United Airlines will double the fee it charges passengers for checking a second bag.

Beginning Tuesday, the $25 fee will jump to $50 for domestic travel on or after Nov. 10. United already charges a $15 fee for the first checked bag.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2008/09/15/daily...

 

[nygiants11991]

I understand they need to make money, but doesn't this seem like they are gouging along with the gas companies. Airfare has gone up sooooo much and we're being charged for every bag checked in. This is going to force everyone to carry on everything they can, so those overhead compartments that have already been full are going to fill up even more.

Vacationing is really going to be a luxury...

 

[Talent312]

I understand they need to make money, but doesn't this seem like they are gouging along with the gas companies. ... Vacationing is really going to be a luxury...

Naw, just buy your TS within walking distance.

 

[dmharris]

This is ridiculous, especially with oil prices coming down. NYGiants, you are right! The carry on's will increase. /Anymore, I hate airline travel!!

 

[pcgirl54]

Read this last night myself. That is really too much to charge.

Is this RT or each way like Delta? Bad for multi destination trips. That is really a large enough increase for anyone to stop overpacking and to not buy anything where you travel as there would be no room to bring it back or the desire to pay the $50 to bring it home.

 

[Jimster]

fees

They do this so they can stay in business. In case you didn't notice, all the airlines are having problems except Southwest who hedged against high oil prices and is locked in at least temporarily. I am sure United knows this may make them less competitive but they need the money. They didn't do it to make it difficult to travel or because they know you own a TS in Timbuktu. If you think this is hurting your standard of living, guess what? It is! That is the effect of the greatest transfer of wealth in human history as we constantly pay for oil we do not have because of our failure to modify our buying habits. While you get less food for your money, less travel for your money, and less of everything else, those with the oil have unprecedented amounts of money flowing to them. Sure there are others skimming off untold billions but the root cause is the average American who does not seem to connnect the high price of oil and their buying and usage habits with a resulting decrease in their standard of living. So he/she contniues to go along. The tragedy is that we participate in this process and seem so unwilling to do anything about it. If we continue on this idiocy for another 10 years, we will be a nation of paupers with a standard of living rivaling the developing countries. All ready we can't afford to adequately maintain our infrastructure like highways, bridges and roads. What will happen next? A massive problem on Wall Street? Oh nevermind, that just happened yesterday.

 

[dmharris]

Jim,

Have you been following the energy initiative sponsored by T. Boone Pickens?

 

[GaryDouglas]

Jim,

Have you been following the energy initiative sponsored by T. Boone Pickens?

He's for increasing all forms of energy, including oil and nuclear. We can't even make a dent in the problem unless we do it all...

 

[Jimster]

Energy

I know it is off the topic, but yes I am aware of the different proposals. I am extremely well versed on the entire energy problem and I can say with absolute confidence that this problem has been obvious to anyone that cared to look for a good 20 years. It now seems laughable that when gas was $1.20 a gallon that we resisted a gas tax of up to $.50 a gallon to provide alternative energy. Gee, gas at $1.70 doesn't sound bad. It is only now that it has reached a crisis that we have begun to consider seeking a remedy. Ridiculous as it may seem we even killed alternative energy proposals like synthetic fuel just a few years ago. So, now we have to pay the piper. The problem here is that it will take years to bring alternative energy on line. I just hope we are not impoverished and back in the stone age before that happens. Maybe i will move to Iraq where they have a $73 billion oil surplus or Iran where gas is $.42 a gallon. I am in my 60's and I will make it through this crisis. It is the world we are creating for my children and grandchildren that makes me shudder.

But trying to get off my soapbox and return to the original topic, yes, United has raised prices. Yes, it really hurts many people but this is what this is all about. You can't afford to pay those prices- that is what is meant by a reduced standard of living. Get used to it! There are and will be many things you can no longer afford if you are not wealthy.

 

[pizzagirl]

My mother and her friend just traveled from Vancouver,B.C. to Baltimore last Sunday, after disembarking from their Alaskan cruise. United charged them $20 for EACH bag and stated it was because the air tickets were bought after June 12.

Prior to disembarking from the cruise the party of four signed up for "express boarding", to have their luggage transferred from the cruise ship directly to the airplane. When signing up they were told there was an 80% chance the Canadians would "approve" the express boarding, however they always turn down about 20%. The two people travelling with them were approved while my mother and her friend were not, and had to transport their luggage on their own to the airport. The couple who got approved for express boarding did not have to pay a baggage fee and their bags were already checked. This group all booked the cruise together so the explanation that they had to pay because they did't buy the air fare by June 12 makes no sense at all.

At any rate, it cost my mother and friend $40 each for their two checked bags.

 

[beejaybeeohio]

This really penalizes folks like us who enjoy golfing or skiing on a vacation. We got around the 2nd bag fee on our summer trip by having me check a large duffel, DH checking one golf bag with a few select clubs for each of us inside and each of us carrying on a 22 incher plus a backpack. Now we have to research quite a bit more before booking airline tickets for our upcoming ski trip to make sure we know the bottom line- UA fares look cheaper than others but not with the add-ons....

 

[Jimster]

United

If you have status with United, you are exempt from these fees OR if you travel with someone with status you can have them check your bags for you.

 

[Talent312]

How about this:
Check nothing. Buy whatever clothing and other items you need at a Wal-Mart upon arrival, and donate the stuff to Goodwill B4 departure.

 

[PigsDad]

How about this:
Check nothing. Buy whatever clothing and other items you need at a Wal-Mart upon arrival, and donate the stuff to Goodwill B4 departure.

Just what I want to do: spend my vacation time shopping at Wal-Mart... NOT!

Kurt

 

[Luanne]

How about this:
Check nothing. Buy whatever clothing and other items you need at a Wal-Mart upon arrival, and donate the stuff to Goodwill B4 departure.

And this would be cheaper than paying the bag charge?

 

[Jimster]

Greed

Here is the essence of a recent article from Fare Compare. You decide if the airlines think it is worth it at a time when they are having trouble generating revenue.

"The second quarter of 2008 saw the six largest network airlines pile up a combined operating loss of $1.767 billion. This marked the third straight quarter that the airlines have seen a loss. However, the news out of Q2 wasn’t all bad for the airlines. It seems that those added baggage fees are starting to pay off. CNN Money reports that the “industry collected $182.6 million in excess baggage fees in the second quarter, up from $122.3 million in the first quarter.”

First-checked-bag fees, increased second-checked-bag fees, charges for blankets/pillows, and costly bottles of water have all been put into place to deal with the rising fuel costs the airlines have been struggling with. However, even as we see fuel prices drop, few think these fees are going away.

Scott McCartney of WSJ’s The Middle Seat Terminal took a look at the “3 Billion Reasons” airlines have to love fees. Scott points out that the additional fees we travelers are slowly growing accustomed to have the potential to raise $3 billion annually for the industry. He also points out that due to new fees, travelers are carrying less luggage, which cuts down on baggage-handling costs, opens up space for cargo, and leads to fewer lost bags. All things that the airlines “love.”

With the results of Q2 in and the potential revenue clear, keep an eye on the baggage fees and add-ons that are already in place. More airlines will most certainly join the cause, and don’t be surprised if these fees stick around regardless of what happens to fuel costs."