First Airline to Charge For Carry-On Bags

Just waiting for a flat rate tickets. The tickets entitles you to 250 lbs for free. You get on the scale with all of your luggage and pay a surcharge for every pound over.

I'd never heard of Spirit Airliones until I read this article. I wonder how long before other airlines follow suit.

The article said all other airlines are watching...which means they will start to charge as well shortly.

The flying public is sc***d.

It should be noted that they only charge for carry-ons that do not fit underneath the seat (16 x 14 x 12), so it's not a completely mandatory charge yet. Also, is Spirit a budget airline or a major carrier? I don't see major carriers following suit too quickly.

Spirit is the U.S. answer to Ryanair. 'Nuff said.

Unless all you travel with is a case 16 x 14 x 12...you'll be paying some type of baggage fee--checked or carry-on.

And since the airlines made $2 billion last year on baggage charges, does anyone really think they won't follow through on this?

I just hope that if it is adopted, it's universal everywhere so manufacturers will start making bags to fit these dimensions. Anyone know of any now?

I guess we will all be wearing 3 pairs of socks/underwear/shirts and using a ScottEvest for our camera and carryon toys!

I figure I'm going to purchase one of those heavy-duty "duster" coats about three sizes too big, sew about 47 velcro-closed pockets into the inside, and jam all my clothes into those pockets. With my 3-1-1 bag in hand, I won't even need a suitcase any more!

I guess the only way to NOT be charged for luggage is a Scottevest and a large daybag.

Frank II,

Thanks for the post. There's going to be a story on this topic on KIRO 7 (Seattle) news tonight at 11:00, but that's still about an hour away.

If the airlines are trying to encourage business in the current economic climate, this is certainly NOT the way to do it!

Cheers!

Norm, then you would be too fat for one seat and be charged for 2! lol.

You think this fee is high? How about the German women who tried to smuggle a 91 year-old dead guy onto a plane in Liverpool in order to avoid £3,000 in repatriation fees? They actually put sunglasses on the corpse in an effort to disguise him a la Weekend at Bernie’s.

It's probably just a matter of time before the airlines start charging for any carry-on, regardless of size. After all, there is money to be made.

Soon they will make us go naked, and charge for the air we breathe! This will go away if everyone refuses to use Spirit. Airlines need to look at their ancilary income (last year was about $4billion+) and just charge reasonable rates that include one checked bag and one carry on plus personal item per passenger. It's like going to a resturant and having them charge you for the glass your tea comes in, the plate your entree is on, etc. etc. etc. and none of those "fees" are listed on the menu!

It has been my expereince that people fly Spirit because they often offer extremely low fares. (They are the home of the $9 fare)

Do you really think a $9 fare is something an airline can afford? No, so .... you pay $9 for the "body" and $45 for the bag. But Americans tend to "jump" on that cheap fare.

If you don't get a good fare on Spirit I can see no reason to fly them. They have some of the worst customer service amoung the US carriers (not exactly an industry known for customer service so being at the bottom is really bad) They "pack em in" even more so then the others etc..

I almost posted this yesterday but decided it was a domestic airline so might not interest a European site.

Personally, I think it's a good idea to reign in the people who load themselves down like pack-mules rather than pay to check their bags. Some airlines have been horrible about enforcing carry-on limits.

If I was writing the rule, I would measure bags at the gate. If they don't qualify for carry-on, I would charge more than the checked bag fee and eliminate any incentive to drag too much into the cabin.

I suppose they could justify charging by the pound - but that could apply to passengers too. Maybe that's the future of flying. Buy a base ticket and figure out the fee for total weight (including bags) and fuel cost surcharge when you show up the day of your flight. That would give us all more incentive to stick to our prevacation diets and not overdo it on the road. :)

Personally, I think it's a good idea to reign in the people who load themselves down like pack-mules rather than pay to check their bags. Some airlines have been horrible about enforcing carry-on limits.

If I was writing the rule, I would measure bags at the gate. If they don't qualify for carry-on, I would charge more than the checked bag fee and eliminate any incentive to drag too much into the cabin.<<

I so agree. Except that in my experience, NO US airlines do much about enforcing carry-on guidelines. I've seen people wheeling "carryon" bags stuffed to the max which must weigh at least 40 pounds, AND carrying another huge non-wheeled bag, plus a shopping bag, get on board. I've seen staggeringly sized hiking/camping type backpacks with frames being toted on board - and in one case watched the guy carrying it nearly pitch a fit when he couldn't find space in the coach section overhead bins for his big grubby heavyweight pack.

There are carry-on measuring boxes, etc., displayed all over US airports in check-in and gate areas. Does anybody from a US airline ever make passengers use them? Well, I'm around airports often and I've not seen it, with the following exception. I've heard an occasional gate announcement that the flight that is boarding is completely full and people will be limited to their one carryon plus "personal item." And they may also scrutinize carryon bags for size in those situations.

But otherwise, the financial incentives for US domestic travel work in favor of stuffing tons of junk into the cabins. And have caused me to change my seat preference from aisle to window. Because I am more than a little concerned about some heavy bag falling out of an overhead bin someday, and want to reduce my risk of being in its path.

It has been my expereince that people fly Spirit because they often offer extremely low fares. (They are the home of the $9 fare)

Do you really think a $9 fare is something an airline can afford? No, so .... you pay $9 for the "body" and $45 for the bag. But Americans tend to "jump" on that cheap fare.

Not just Americans. I don't think it's "only Americans" flying Ryanair?

"Except that in my experience, NO US airlines do much about enforcing carry-on guidelines."

I flew Alaska to Vegas last month. The flight was overbooked and the gate agent was asking anyone with a 'questionable' bag to stick it in the sizer. Everyone I saw managed to pass, but I was impressed they were at least attempting to enforce it. She glanced at our carry-ons (rolling suitcases a size smaller than the max dimensions), saw they were smaller than the other rolling suitcases that were passing the sizer and waved us on.

The first time I flew to Italy, I had a connecting flight to Newark. As one of the last people on the plane, the overhead bins were full and I ended up jamming both suitcase (the RS Appenzell daybag) and purse under the seat in front of me. Not the most comfortable experience since there was little room for my feet, but it worked.

Yeah, but corporations aren’t into charging “reasonable rates” for anything. And, those corporate-style restaurants would certainly charge for using their plates and glasses if they thought they could get away with it. Their marketing departments would come up with new and clever ways to make you feel good about paying extra for the perks (i.e. for the plates and glasses). My guess is that the legacy carriers won’t jump on adding this new fee and will wait to see what happens with tiny Spirit. In the meantime, they’re going to continue to look for new ways to charge fees that they think they can get away with. It’s all about revenue (or capitalist greed if you prefer).

The new thing, besides charging for carry-on, is to sell advertising space. Everything on board is for sale....seat back tray tables, drink cups, air sick bags. I'm surprised they don't do like the subways and sell advertising on the sides of the cars--inside and out.

Look, let's be realistic. People want cheap fares. How many questions do we get here on how to get cheap fares? Someone being offered $9 fare will see it as a $9 fare, will brag to his friends he only paid $9, and will see the extra added fees and taxes as something everyone pays.

Airlines have gone the way of the old buses. I say old buses because there are now private intercity bus companies that offer more amenities and better service than the airlines.

Exactly! Marketing departments everywhere want “open-minded” consumers to believe that they’re getting an exclusive deal. In this case, it’s a great fare at just $9. It works because most consumers are basically ignorant and don’t bother to inform themselves adequately. The folks on this board are different, however. They’re well-informed, smart, and probably don’t like to be thought of as “consumers” of anything.

Maybe we could try disguising our carry-on bags as lap babies to avoid the fee? I know people use mannequins as passengers in the HOV lanes on our freeways…sort of similar.

I heard on the radio tonight that some airlines are considering charging to use the bathrooms! They are currently working with Boeing to redesign the door of the bathroom to accept payment, probably a swip of your credit card. What in the world are we coming to?!

WOW... next they may as well charge you if you want to open up that little air vent above your head so you don't burn up (an A/C cost)... while they're at it, charge you for the reading light above as well if you want to use it...

Michael,

Actually I like to think of myself as a consumer. Consumer in my mind implies someone who shops around to compare prices, service, options and chooses the best deal possible.

The word I use for the non-consumers is "sheep". :)

Anyone else notice the strange nature of this board?

OUTCRY over this "charge" and others... and tons of posts of "I don't want to pay much for a ticket" hmm....

You can't have it both ways. You can't expect an airline to fly you at a loss forever. You can pay a reasonable fare or just get nickled and dimed... it's your vote. And most Americans seeem to vote. "LOWEST FARE REGARDLESS"

I believe it was RayanAir (sp?) in Europe that announced that they would start charging one E. to use the bathroom on the plane. I can't wait until some passengers revolt and pea all over the bathroom door!! I have taken an earlier post to heart and starting really thinking about my own drive to get the cheapest fare (I fly often) along with all the added charges. I need to rethink my thinking and just add everything up when figuring the cost of a ticket rather than just jumping at the lowest price ticket. Happy travels

Spirit charges for sodas, water etc...

Assuming they are an industry "trend setter" is kind of funny. They don't even get the "match our fares" attention from the airlines. When Spirit has a sale out of my airport, Delta and AirTran don't respond at all. If Delta has sale, AirTran matches immediately and pretty much vice versa.

It's a marginal airline. I have yet to figure out how they even make enough to stay in business.

I think this person states what many of us think. Thanks to him for his rational response and thanks to Brad at OBOW for originally posting it.

Spirit To Charge for Carry-On

Brad: Shopping around for a good deal when you really need something (like an airline ticket) is fine, but accepting an insulting label assigned by corporations just promotes a false idea that we all need to buy more goods and services all the time in order to be happy. In that sense, “consumers” become the sheep IMO. But, we all have different opinions, and that’s what makes the world interesting. Cheers!

I really hope that if this catches on--and it's hard to believe it won't, given how much money can be made by this kind of add-on fee--that the bag makers quickly respond with under-seat bags that maximize what can be brought on for free.

I'm also curious about the Spirit Air policy--will they require that bags that comply with the policy be placed under the seats, or if there is room up top will they permit underseat sized bags to go in the bins?

Of course, it may not catch on at all. US Air tried to charge for sodas not that long ago, the other airlines didn't go along, and US Air had to quietly drop the charge.

Spirit's carry-on fee comes under fire from DOT chief, N.Y. senator. New Article

Thought some might find this article interesting:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-travelbriefcase19-2010apr19,0,6644600.story

Apparently, outrage over the carry-on fee spread to legislators and other airlines are (for now) pledging to not charge for carry-on baggage.

Now my cynical side is wondering whether Spirit is doing this for the publicity. Lots of people that have never heard of Spirit now know that they exist and they're a self-styled low fare airline.

It would have cost them a fortune for an advertising campaign that would have gotten them that kind of attention. Is all publicity good for the bottom line? Perhaps...