Baggage charges crowd airline carry-on space
The anticipated increase in carry-on luggage is beginning to strain America’s legacy carriers charging first-checked-bag fees and excessive second-checked-bag fees. While dollars are rolling into the airlines from these baggage charges, the carry-on space is dwindling.
Predictions made here that overhead and under-seat baggage space would fill up with the new airlines excess baggage policies such as the first checked bag and second checked bag revenue “enhancements” promulgated by the airlines coming into full effect, have proved true. Only now are the full ramifications of rules instituted three and four months ago coming into play. It isn’t pretty.
USA Today’s blog reported that carry-on baggage space is becoming more of a problem.
Checked-bag fees recently imposed by airlines to increase revenue are squeezing business travelers out of their most precious real estate: the overhead bins … Passengers are bringing more carry-ons, and finding enough space to put them away properly is becoming increasingly difficult … “Flight attendants are seeing more bags in the cabin, and we have to work harder to make sure they fit,” says Candace Kolander, coordinator of air safety, health and security for the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA).
During my travels, TSA personnel have told me that the numbers of bags coming through the screening process have increased dramatically as well. One inspection team working in Boston told me during a short conversation that they have been opening extra lanes because of the additional screening. This means the airline first checked baggage policies are costing the taxpayers more money as the new policies are bringing in almost 50 percent more “excess baggage” revenues.
USA Today’s report validated the additional airline income. “According to data released by the Department of Transportation Monday, the U.S. airlines industry collected $183 million in excess-baggage fees in the second quarter of 2008, up from $122 million in the first quarter and $113 million in the second quarter of 2007. The DOT defines excess baggage as any bag that requires payment for checking.”
What these figures do not include are additional costs faced by the airlines and TSA needed for dealing with the increase in carry-on luggage and the added costs that the checked baggage fee collections impose, let alone new expenses for more personnel to police these misguided policies.
Unfortunately, these baggage fees imposed by American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and Continental and some other smaller carriers are effectively “hidden fees.” Unaware passengers do not even see these extra charges until they have worked their way through the entire reservation process. Here, the government needs some sort of “truth in advertising” regulation that clearly states the airfare does not include any baggage and that excess baggage charges may nearly double the effective airfare.
Additionally, the structure of these additional fees forces families to bear the brunt of the costs. Anyone traveling with small children will find it impossible to corral their kids for flights and security checks, plus have them all drag carry-ons behind them through the airports. They are the passengers who have few other choices. But, if they decide to try and save money (big money), the problems for the boarding agents, flight attendants, TSA and the families will increase exponentially.
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2 Responses to “Baggage charges crowd airline carry-on space”
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I recently wrote Continental Airline asking what they intended to do about non enforcement of carry on rules since they have initiated the infamous $15. first bag fee. My letter pointed out that we can now expect everything except the ‘kitchen sink’ and maybe even that, to be brought into the cabin and stuffed into the overheads. Also the certainty, when boarding last rather than first,of finding no room for the authorized carry on items.
The first response from the ‘We Care’ personel was a form letter outlining the new checken bag policy. No where in that form letter was the potential carry-on problem addressed. I wrote back noting that Continental really ‘Didn’t Care’ since they never responded to the subject of my letter. I received a letter back Anne Santos, Customer Care Manager. This letter outlined the present carry on policy of 1 bag not exceeding 51 linear inches plus one small personal item.
The letter closes with and I quote - “We invite you to report any instances where you notice an inconsistant application of this policy. Our Customer Care Managers will file the complaint, as we have for you, and forward them to senior management so your concerns will not be overlooked and management can take appropriate action”
Just thought you might like to hear what sounds like a real fairy tale to me.
Maybe the airlines should pay TSA for each bag that is being carried on the plane rather than being checked. Then the real costs and benefits for the airlines can be compared between charging for checked luggage and what they have to pay for carry-ons. But then the airlines would just start to charge for carry-on luggage (look for that to be next with only one personal item allowed for free).