Airlines still charging for baggage despite lower fuel costs (radio, reservations)

[Phoenix lady]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_FL

When the price of gas had exploded past $3.00/gallon the airlines decided that they would charge for your checked baggage to recoup some of the cost of carrying that extra weight.
Well guess what. Since the price is now below $2.00/gallon, there has been no talk of removing the checked bag fees.
These airlines are getting increased revenue off of fee designed to off-set high fuel prices. This seems a lot like the introduction of income tax during war to pay for those expenses.
There is no reason that we should still be paying to check our bags.

I'm not the best at rallying for support to have corporations change their ways, but I'm willing to take a shot at it...

PLEASE INFORM EVERYONE YOU KNOW OF THIS INJUSTICE. MAYBE IF THE WORD GETS OUT FAR ENOUGH AND LOUD ENOUGH, THE AIRLINES WILL HAVE TO REMOVE THIS FEE.

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease"

True. Food prices, too, haven't gone down that I've seen. Even the shuttle to the airport has only dropped 5 bucks. As gas prices now are what they were 3 years ago, why haven't all of these prices gotten re-aligned/adjusted by now?? Consumer rip-offs.

[nightgirl151]

People also have to remember that cost of living has not gone down. Yes, surcharges are there now, and gas is lower, someone said in the forum that prices should be what they were 5 years ago......would you like your salary to be what it was 5 years ago?? Hence, higher charges.

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by nightgirl151

People also have to remember that cost of living has not gone down. Yes, surcharges are there now, and gas is lower, someone said in the forum that prices should be what they were 5 years ago......would you like your salary to be what it was 5 years ago?? Hence, higher charges.

5 years ago (back in So Cal) I was making more! So, yes, I'd like that very much!

[barryhussein]

Here is a really good discount airline: Welcome to airasia.com...Now Everyone Can Fly... They do charge 1.40 per checked bag, but the flight attendants are hotties. They just started 149 Usd from London to Kuala Lamphur, and should be coming here, next. The last time I flew UAL, the flight attendant looked like a tow truck driver from Arkansas.

[azjack]

"The last time I flew UAL, the flight attendant looked like a tow truck driver from Arkansas."

Looks aside, the last two United flights I was on (years ago), some of the flight attendants were just plain mean to me. I keep a low profile when I fly, I hit the WC before the flight and only get up to stretch my legs when my neighbor needs to get up. I bring my own water, and never ask for extra anything. So I am not exactly demanding, but I just will not stand for a FA who goes out of her way to be nasty.

And I say this as someone who has had a United Mileage Plus account since age 11 and has a family member who loved his 30-plus years as a United mechanic.

When I fly to JFK or IAD from PHX, I stick with JetBlue these days if the cost is reasonable, which it usually is. It is still not super fun, but at least that hostility is not present.

[joninaz]

Don't fret too much. Southwest Airlines is running numerous ads that nail everyone else to the wall for these fees. If SWA makes it a point of differenciation, it's a pretty good bet that most of the other airlines will change their ways.

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by joninaz

Don't fret too much. Southwest Airlines is running numerous ads that nail everyone else to the wall for these fees. If SWA makes it a point of differenciation, it's a pretty good bet that most of the other airlines will change their ways.

Curious, I got a roundtrip ticket with SWA and the price was very reasonable but you are saying there will be some additional and/or hidden charges?
The charge for luggage (check-in I assume) is definitely a new annoyance if it is the case.

[Finger Laker]

no - you still get two bags with SWA under 50 pounds, a carry on and a personal item

I think what Jon is getting at is their ad campaign "fees don't fly with us" ......... basically they're radio or tv spots where people are making reservations with them and asking questions about how much does it cost for this that or the other and they say nothing

or they show the process with a competitor who runs off a string of fees

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by Finger Laker

no - you still get two bags with SWA under 50 pounds, a carry on and a personal item

I think what Jon is getting at is their ad campaign "fees don't fly with us" ......... basically they're radio or tv spots where people are making reservations with them and asking questions about how much does it cost for this that or the other and they say nothing

or they show the process with a competitor who runs off a string of fees

Oh I see. She got me scared there for a second.