There was an interesting article in todays USA Today about the domestic issues with carry-on luggage. The article made me wonder, If carry-on luggage becomes an issue, will arlines start charging you for carry-ons?
www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-10-21-airlines-carryons_N.htm#uslPageReturn
Frankly, Joel....I'm surprised they haven't started charging us already! ;)
I agree with Norm...I'm surprised it hasn't started....one of the reasons may be lack of personnel to deal with it.
Virgin American is going to try letting people without bags board first to speed up boarding.
As someone who flies regularly, I have seen more and more folks "carrying on" way too many items and too large of items trying to beat the charge for 2nd checked bag or even 1st checked bag that some airlines are now doing. I am surprised that the airlines have not cracked down on this so as to make passengers check their excess items at the gate for the going charge. What I am also finding, is that if I have a seat in the back half of the airplane, the overhead compartments are already full by the time I get to board. Many folks seem to want to park their carry ons in an overhead bin as soon as they get into the plane so that they don't have to drag them up and down the isle, or, find no space in the overhead bin by their seat. I have suggested to several airlines that it is about time that they start assigning the overhead bins to the seats immediately below them. No response. No money in it for them could be the reason. I saw an advertisement recently here in Hawaii by UPS/Post Office that said to ship your suitcases with them rather that fight the airport traffic and then have to pay the airlines to check them. They wanted $80 to ship amy 50 pound suitcase from Hawaii to Seattle. For that price I'll take it to the airport and check it in. Happy travels everyone.
AND....British Airways I believe is going to or are seriously thinking of charging for preflight seat selection. So, Mom, Dad? Want to set next to your child/wife/elderly parent/friend. Get ready to start paying for it. You can just see this cash cow coming our way. What recourse will we really have? Now I do understand the baggage fee thing...bags are heavy and fuel is a cost factor except of course that the flight price already accounts for that. The Wall St. Journal (or IBD I forget which) said the airlines generate billions of dollars in fees charging for checked bags and you KNOW that's never going away. Does anyone know if Ryan Air actually implemented the charge for using the loo?
Ryanair hasn't started charging to use the loo...yet. I think people will riot if they do tho.
I think it's predictable that, if airlines charge to check luggage, people will start abusing carry-on. Airlines need to strictly enforce their carry-on rules. I carry-on only (whether for a few days business trip or a month vacation) and would prefer they regularly enforce the rules.
What I see instead is they don't think about it until the overhead bins are full, then they start bugging everyone boarding later about "giving up" their carry-on. I often book late, which puts me at the end of the line more often than not. I would prefer it if they bug the people who are obviously carrying more than they should as a matter of course rather than an afterthought.
Of course this makes people mad at the gate people and flight attendants and further degrades the flight "experience".
I wish we could just go back to "the good old days" when luggage was "esential" to travel and the airlines accepted that! I can understand charging for oversized/overweight bags and for charging for "extra" pieces. I understand limits for carryons. But if the airlines really want our business, they should charge a reasonable fee for the seat that includes basic luggage. USAir has "recendided" their charging for non-alholic drinks- thank goodnees. Maybe one day (I can hope can't I) they will come to their collective good senses!
If you ask any airline exec what passengers want most, they'll tell you: cheap flights. To do this, the airlines have to find other ways to get income.
Let's face it...when you get a great $50 flight, you tell people you only spent $50....not $50 plus $5 for a drink, and $8 for a sandwich, and $15 to check your bag...no, just $50. And admit it, you're thinking, wow, I got a flight for $50.
In the U.S., the airlines have been lax to enforce rules at the gate. So much so, that some frequent fliers have found a loophole. Rather than check a "larger" bag, they bring it to the gate. If they can get it on, great. If the overheads are full, chances are the bag will have to be checked. To save time, and arguments, the gate agents/flight attendants will usually do it for free.. No checked baggage fee.
Either way, the passenger has won. Yes, he's inconvenienced those who follow the rules, but do you think he cares?
Frank - You hit the nail right on the head. It's all about the cheap flight. Like all here I've traveling for many years, and only until recently have I seen any airline try to enforce their carry-on policy. When the gate agent tries to enforce the policy, they're met with intimidation from the passenger, and 9 out of 10 times the passenger wins.
As a side note I was traveling recently on US Airways from Oakland to Phoenix, and they were enforcing the carry-on policy with a great deal of success.
As another side note; The airline industry is looking to generate 2 BILLION dollars off of baggage fees for 2009. They are on pace to generate 2.5 BILLION.
Somebody needs to prevent people from carrying-on overpacked luggage. I was on a flight where a man carried-on a 22" expandable bag. And he had expanded it to about 12" thick. It wouldn't fit into the overhead bin, so the genius decided to fit it under his seat. That didn't work, either. I suggested that if he took some stuff out to make it thinner it might fit into the bin. He took out something and his travel partner forced the still-fat bag into the bin.
Personally I don't mind charging for baggage. Airlines and airports invest in massive infrastructure and personnel to move, keep track of and deliver luggage. They pay for luggage they lose (although usually less than you have invested in your bag and clothes). Plus checked bags use additional space and fuel in the plane.
Since I haven't checked a bag in years, I think it's fair that my ticket price reflects the savings to the airline. To the extent that charging for checked bags encourages people to pack lighter, it's also a good thing.
KLM, as of Nov. 1, 2009, allows two carry-on bags but will charge the economy class passenger 70 euros for the second one. In other words, they no longer allow two carry-on bags for free. However, if you are a frequent flyer, there is no charge for the second bag.
The only time I have experienced control over carry on luggage was on a Sydney to Auckland flight with Qantas. Staff examined all carry on at the gate and accompanied by the usual Aussie forthright no-nonsense manner, forgive the stereotype, overweight and/or oversized luggage was removed and put in the hold.
