Sunday, April 29, 2012

New Airline Fees

I see those carry on bags diminishing.... Like Spirit Airline, Allegiant  Airline announced it will start charging passengers for carry-on luggage when flying the airline. Just like Sprint, it will allow customers to bring on one personal item free of charge, but only if those items can fit under the seat in front them. Strange... Bags that must be put in overhead storage bins will cost $35 if not reserved in advance (will offer a discounted rate if purchased online in advance). Are they kidding?
Checked bags cost airlines a small amount in labor ( which most feel is and should be a part of the ticket price, given that passengers must take luggage when they fly) and baggage handling infrastructure. A carry on cost them not much just some fuel burning extra weight   Do airlines really expect people to travel without any luggage at all? I know they want to make money, but small airlines like those two seem to me short-sighted in gouging that way. Surely, it will mean a loss of those customers who have an alternative airline they may flay on that route.

When airlines or any other business needs more revenue they should raise the prices of the commodity bought ( in this case the airline ticket itself) not create ancillary fees. They are charging crazy fees now to cover increased fuel costs.  But that increase is already  covered under the additional fuel surcharge that has been imposed on each ticket sold. So the carry-on fees and the like are charged to generate revenue that goes directly to stockholders. What's next, a  $10 oxygen mask maintenance fee? How about some more suggestions for the fee-crazy airlines. They could charge a fee for wearing clothes, hairy passengers could pay for hair while the bald ones pay nothing,  a small seat belt fee, rest rooms can be coin operated .

Hmmmm Maybe the traveler who pays these ridiculous fees might also find out the hotel room he checks into has added a "bed fee" of $35. And surely his taxi driver should charge a fuel surplus fee of at least $5. That restaurant where the traveler has breakfast will learn from Allegaint  that exporting money is fun and will charge him or her a few dollars to use the restaurant bathroom.
Wait! Maybe I should charge you  for entering my mail box with your messages.  I could call it a "proof of insanity fee".

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