Delta Air is increasing their second checked bag fee to $50 from $25

[burythehatchet]

effective tomorrow.

Go deregulation!

I wish I never had to board an airline again.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I'd sooner mail my clothes via UPS to my destination.

[bdamomma]

9. exactly, or bring enough money to buy new ones.

[Blue_Tires]

24. lol...remember that college kid in the 90s who put himself in a box

and fedexed himself cross country? almost froze to death in the process...

[marmar]

2. Good grief.....

And the airline which operates its biggest hub at my airport (Northwest and Detroit Metro, respectively) is merging with Delta....Mon dieu! (Although I'm sure all the others will follow suit anyway).

[burythehatchet]

3. Oligopoly, defined.

[DemoTex]

4. Back-door fuel surcharge.

It has to be done to survive. The executives, the pilots, the mechanics, the flight attendants, the gate agents, the reservationists, etc., could all work for free and it wouldn't mean squat in the face of what the Bu$h/Cheney oil price gouge has done to the airlines.

[Parche]

15. Exactly

They are being priced out of the business......
only the few will survive


:hi:

[aspergris]

21. yes

and i like it because it distributes the costs to those that incur them.

[Gormy Cuss]

25. How about a front door fuel surcharge? A little honesty would go along way here.

All the legacy carriers are adding fees rather than admitting that their cheapest economy fares are too low. Flying RT cross country for $200 is unsustainable.

[Occam Bandage]

29. They have those too. I like the back-door ones more; you can opt out of them

if you adjust your flying habits to cost the airline less money.

[Gormy Cuss]

32. I suspect that the checked baggage charge doesn't save them much

and it annoys customers. When they imposed the fee on second checked bags, it made sense in terms of trying to convince customers to adjust flying habits. Now that many of the legacy carriers are charging for the FIRST checked bag, they're just asking for more confusion and delays with all the passengers trying to cram those bags in the overhead bins.

I travel light -- it's a habit that I developed years ago. I'm someone who used to check my rollaboard in order to stay out of the fray. Now I'll have to decide whether it's worth $30 to do same.

[pitohui]

34. there is ALSO a front door fuel surcharge

look, with the checked bag fee, you don't have to have a checked bag and you sure as god made little green onions don't need to have TWO checked bags thus incurring the SECOND checked bag fee

if you think flying cross country for a few hundred bucks is unsustainable stay home or drive, but the reality is that it's a global world and that people's businesses and families are all over the map

in my humble opinion, since flying can't be operated at a fair price that's fair to families and business AND turn a profit, it should be subsidized to keep prices fair

the capitalist business model that everything has to turn a profit doesn't work (see under health care)

[Gormy Cuss]

37. pitohui, you do know that four of the major carriers are charging for all checked bags now, right?

So now every good little doobie who checked one small bag rather than jockey for room in the overhead bins is faced with the choice of paying to check a carryon size bag or joining the newly expanded number of passengers trying to cram their bags into the overhead bins. People aren't going to put up with $30 RT fee just to check a small bag, or $80 RT to check two medium size bags. They'll check one BIGGER bag, weighing just under the limit because it maximized the value. That's human nature.

I agree with you that we have enough evidence that the current system doesn't work anymore. Perhaps if the industry was re-regulated we'd get some common sense solutions rather than the crazy model in place now/

[pitohui]

40. absolutely, you are paying for all bags, not just second bags checked

the first bag free option was never going to work for the reasons you state -- people were just going to load the first bag up to the 50 pound max and never bring a second bag

the option now is really just to pack it light, wear it, and carry it on

turns out we didn't need the 15 costume changes that we used to pack in the day of the 75 pound bags...

[AlCzervik]

5. more people will travel with a carry on only. My sister and her 2 kids came out to visit

me for about 16 days (still trying to repress that) and they brought carry on luggage only, i ended doing their laundry every 3 days for them.

[NightWatcher]

6. ok, no problem. we just wot do business with them anymore. (flash forward 6 months to bankruptcy)

make flying pain in the ass and wallet and watch us run away from you.

[burythehatchet]

10. My driving threshold has risen to 10 hours. But the main reason for that is that

I am constantly harassed by TSA due to my non-beige skin color.

[NightWatcher]

11. my threshold is 16 hours (usually because I like taking my guns for work)

[samdogmom]

7. ME? I want them to charge the "carry on" fliers! Leave us considerate bag checkers ALONE!

I hate how the "carry-on" customers block the aisles trying to shove their "too large" bags into overhead bins upon boarding and then block the aisles again upon leaving to wrestle their bags back out of the overhead bins. Meanwhile, they're up and down during the flight trying to retrieve some item from said bag...and they're generally sitting in the window seat, so two others have to stand and wait...and wait..and wait until the clown recovers the very "needed" item. Then this whole debacle gets repeated near the end of the flight when the needed "item" is returned to the carry-on bag.

GRRRRR!

I want the "carry-on" customers to pay! They are VERY annoying!

(I know frequent fliers HATE waiting for checked baggage...but I HATE dealing with carry-on passengers!)

[fifthoffive]

14. Preach it!

What the heck is the baggage compartment for if everyone carries their luggage into the passenger compartment? Personally, I hate being encumbered by luggage. I much prefer to check my bag - then I can have as much shampoo as I want, a penknife, etc.

At least they're not charging for the first checked bag...yet.

[samdogmom]

19. Thanks!

I simply don't get the latest moves by major airlines. They must be completely STUPID! (That's probably why they're losing money and on the brink of bankruptcy---another story...another day.)

Unfortunately, because of their new policies, more and more people are going to "carry-on" now. This will impact metal check and make getting on and off an aircraft a much longer process! (Think of the time ramifications!)

I simply DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THIS LATEST MOVE. Just raise ticket prices, for goodness sakes! We all know what gasoline costs these days...certainly jet fuel isn't cheap! I'd rather pay more for my ticket and be done with it, than be surprised at the airport by excessive extra charges. (My guess is that the airlines want you to be captive before they spring the new fees on you! My take: that will work EXACTLY ONE TIME---and then people will get smart and say "*@*%" You! We're just going to suffer through a period of maximum "carry-ons"! There is a space limit on the plane, so this will become a JOKE very quickly when it's evident that there is simply no overhead bin space available to stash your "free" carry-on" in!

Then what happens? These clowns get to "check" their baggage for free? Can you imagine the outrage if this happens?

[Owl]

20. Well said samdogmom and fifthoffive!

And why don't airlines discourage the carry-on luggage? And better monitor and check the size / weight of carry-on's?

People bumble onto planes with purses/briefcases, coats, laptops and usually oversize / heavy bags. It's great fun to have some clown's huge beer-belly in your face while they're trying to lift and force their too-damned-big sack of crap in the overhead.

[pitohui]

35. they ARE charging for the first checked bag

american airlines started it and the others are following

[LuckyLib]

17. Absolutely. Check your bags? Free. Drag it on to have someone else lift it? $50.

My sister is a flight attendant, and she refuses to lift folks' bags. She says they weigh a ton, and if you can drag it on, you can put it up.

[samdogmom]

23. Yikes! When the plane is crashing...do you or anyone want that over weight bag over their head....

waiting to break free???

Okay...I said it once...now it's twice...YIKES!

Hello airlines---you've made it so "NOT" enjoyable...I'm staying home this vacation!

Unfortunately, EVERYTHING about airline travel scares me to death right now!

[Lance_Boyle]

39. yeah, as a matter of fact, I would

much rather be quickly knocked unconscious by the wayward oversized carry-on bag than ride the damned tin missile all the way to impact. ;-)

[CrispyQ]

22. That's exactly what I told my husband this morning.

Great minds!

I hardly ever fly - last flight was 2000. But I agree that the carry ons are annoying & rude. Like you, I perfer to go through security with a very light load - usually my wallet & a book.

:hi:

[pitohui]

36. well it's obvious you don't fly and you just make yourself look ignorant

anyone who prefers to go through security w. a wallet and a book has not been paying attention

lost luggage is up a huge percentage since the liquid ban, ask people who actually fly, not people who last flight was in 2000 -- the prehistoric era when it comes to air travel, jesus, how do you comment when you have no experience whatsoever of the multiple changes since 911, aug 10, and so on?

if you want your luggage, keep it with you, otherwise, very high odds of a misconnect or a loss -- also NO AIRLINE will be responsible for your computer, electronics, camera etc. if you check it -- read their terms and conditions! you MUST carry on expensive items, they don't want the liability

it is also your duty to carry on sufficient food, since catering no longer supplies sufficient, on many flights there is no food or just some food for sale, not enough for everyone in case of a significant delay or ground hold

[CrispyQ]

43. I may be ignorant about flying, but you're rude.

x(

Get off your high horse & learn some tact. There are nicer ways to educate someone than name calling & put downs. :eyes:

[Occam Bandage]

27. So lemme get this straight:

Guy with a large, heavy bag who requires an agent to check it, a guy operating a sorting mechanism to stick it on the appropriate conveyor belt, a guy to load it onto a cart, a guy to drive the cart to the airplane, a guy to put it on a portable conveyor belt, a guy to scan it into an enormous network tracking the location of every checked bag, a guy in a nearby office checking the number and weight of bags in each bin in the airplane, a guy to stack it inside the airplane, a guy to pull it out of the plane and toss it onto another portable conveyor belt at your destination, a guy to pull it off the belt and toss it onto another cart, and a guy to drive it and toss it onto a final conveyor belt, and a network of customer support people to handle people whose bags have at some point fallen off a belt or cart (or gone on an improper belt or cart) without being immediately noticed : Oughtta be free.

Guy with a small bag that he handles himself: Oughtta cost money.

There's a reason they charge for those bags.

[samdogmom]

30. Well...you have a good scenioro...except:....

The "guy" is all wrong. Have you flown lately? Who tries to carry on a "small bag"????? Are you kidding me?

I have no problem with "small carry-on bags". Unfortunately...they are far and few between! Everything I've seen is just pushing the carry-on limits!

So...the ball is back in your court...explain!

[Occam Bandage]

31. *shrug* That's a matter of enforcement of preexisting carry-on rules.

I'd agree that airlines should enforce their carry-on regulations; it's rude to take up the entire overhead bin with an enormous duffel bag. At the same time, I kind of understand why they don't; gate agents and flight attendants would of course rather not have to take a passenger aside, argue with them about their bag, confiscate it, tag it, fill out a form or two, and tell the ramp guys to pick it up.

[samdogmom]

33. Hugs! We're on the same side...no use arguing with you!

Me? I just want the "rude" carry-on" passengers penalized!

I'm an open-minded "check your bag" liberal. My fear: the right-wing wackos are going to take advantage of this latest ticket price increase and all of us "fair-minded" liberals are going to pay through the nose to carry these jerks! NO THANK YOU!

ME? I want every person on the plane to pay for the increase in jet fuel costs! Is that too much to ask?

[pitohui]

38. your post is just silly

no one at the airport has ever asked my politics before charging me a fee or selling me a ticket -- no wingnut is flying more cheaply than i do, because i use my head when booking tix and researching deals, wingers usu. don't bother or don't have the brains

if you have to check a bag, you are requesting an additional service (plus taking the risk of the bag being lost or things being stolen out of the bag ) so yeah you should pay MORE than the do it yourselfer who is smart enough to pack light

on the last trip we hit the bonus round, i had an item stolen from my checked bag, and my friend's bag was lost altogether

we don't pay the fee because we are frequent flyers but honestly if you ask me, anyone who checks bags this time of century is gambling

people carry on lots of stuff because their stuff has value and doesn't need to be stolen

read the terms and conditions sometime, the airline will NOT take responsibility if you check items like computers, electronics, medicine, jewelry, etc. they warn you that if it's of value you MUST carry it on


by the way, most of the passengers you see with HUGE carry-ons ALSO have HUGE multiple checked bags, so your entire argument is ridiculous from the get-go

only check items that are not of serious value to you at your destination, which means if you're not a frequent flyer, you should not be checking a bag at all, because why pay to cart around items that are of low value?

[samdogmom]

41. Okay...whatever...just DON'T CLOG up the aisle ahead of me when we're boarding....

Glad you can fit your things into a "carry-on"...just don't whack me in the head when you're trying to "store" this carry-on in an overhead compartment!

I'm not trying to be "silly"...I'm just stating the deep resentments non-carry-on travelers have with the crazy "carry-on" crew!...AND...I beg to differ with you about the "carry-on/vs. checked baggage audience". In this case....you need to take a big look around at the people trying to stuff the overhead bins full.

Do you identify with these people???????? End of story!

[lpbk2713]

8. That does it for me. I'd just as soon hitch hike.

Between the BushCo TSA and the unreliability and poor performonace of the airlines, I doubt if I will ever fly commercially again. A two hour flight will usually take six hours or more out of your day. Customer service is non-existent. It's just not worth what you have to endure. Let them all go belly up. I won't miss them.

[burythehatchet]

12. A story from last week:

I was visiting family in Cali and my return flight on Delta was a 4 PM departure. Multiple delays resulted in the flight leaving 4 hours late.

When I try to change a flight time because of unforeseen circumstances, or even when I arrive early for a flight, I have to pay a couple hundred dollars in fees. Evan when there are plenty of open seats. These "gotcha" fees are infuriating. But when Delta sends its' flight out 4 hours late - tough shit.

This is symptomatic of corporate rights stepping all over consumer rights and it is wrong.

[lpbk2713]

13. Yup

I was being way generous with that six hour figure. :thumbsup:

[RB TexLa]

16. But we can't have foreign owned airlines operating domestic routes

:banghead:

[burythehatchet]

18. If Singapore Air, or JAl, or Malay Air operated in the US, no one would ever fly

domestic airlines.

[Occam Bandage]

28. If they operated in the US, they would either

cost a hell of a lot more than domestic airlines, or (more likely) would provide service equal to that provided by domestic airlines.

[Occam Bandage]

26. Air travel is still cheaper than the market can sustain.

:shrug:

[bikebloke]

42. United

United is still letting the first bag travel free on international flights. But my flight is for October, so there's still time for them to toss a wrench into my budget. I used to be a big traveller. The last few years, I've taken go-nowhere holidays. Now, I'll put up with the hassles and indignities on last time. Air travel will probably be out of reach before long.

[samdogmom]

44. My daughter flew United domestically yesterday.

The first checked suitcase was free. A second checked bag cost $25! WOW!

I truly don't get this nonsense! Just raise the fares to account for the fuel increases and don't try to nickle and dime the traveling public to death! Believe me, we remember nickel and dime treatment...but we rarely remember what we paid to purchase an actual plane ticket!

Just simple words of advice!