First airline to begin charging for carryon luggage

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

well, yeah. I'm not paying that. but I'd be ok with my company paying it.

When we have company, we usually pay

[bjones9942 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bjones9942]

I always carry on, but it's a backpack full of clothes that can fit under the seat. I don't have to wait for bags (if they show up) that sometimes contain broken items (last was my laptop screen - in a padded laptop bag - thankfully I could fix it myself [$50 new screen on eBay]). I also use the kiosk's to check in.

One reason that there's the mad shuffle in the overhead bins is because they started the charge for checked bags.

I just wish they'd raise the fares $10 for everyone and stop this crazy nickle-and-dime stuff.

But that's just me. Everyone has their own preference!

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

[QUOTE=BoardGirl;381284]yep. all you rule-breakers are what make it a pain for those of doing what we should.

Sorry,no one has ever said I was breaking any rules.There are a lot of people doing this. It does not slow you down anyway.
If a rule is made,then I'll do what it says. Till then, I'll use my head !!!

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Your experience is like mine with checked baggage. I don't want my luggage at the mercy of the airlines' baggage mishandlers / luggage throwers.

I always carry on, but it's a backpack full of clothes that can fit under the seat. I don't have to wait for bags (if they show up) that sometimes contain broken items (last was my laptop screen - in a padded laptop bag - thankfully I could fix it myself [$50 new screen on eBay]). I also use the kiosk's to check in.

One reason that there's the mad shuffle in the overhead bins is because they started the charge for checked bags.

I just wish they'd raise the fares $10 for everyone and stop this crazy nickle-and-dime stuff.

But that's just me. Everyone has their own preference!

[mdurette Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mdurette]

And yet Southwest posts good financial numbers and still doesn't charge a dime for checked in bags and your carry on.

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

Airlines and other industries have forgotten the number one rule in marketing - don't p-- off the customer. I would much rather take an extra day to drive somewhere because I can't stand the hassle at the airports, flight delays or cancelled flights, and long waits to get luggage (if it comes at all!). If airlines would get their act together and stop nickel and diming people, more people would fly. With more customers, executives wouldn't need to worry so much about finding ways to pad their greedy pocketbooks.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

I would much rather take an extra day to drive somewhere

This is one of those things that really depends on your specific circumstances. My wife is an independent contractor, and I have a consulting business on the side. An extra day or two of travel means losing potentially billable hours. We might do *one* summer trip where the one-way drive time is longer than eight hours, but usually we start thinking hard about flying at that point. It's economically foolish not to.

At some point in the future, when we're both working fewer hours, then driving will be more attractive.

I don't care about nickel-and-dime vs. just higher fares. The airlines need to increase revenues one way or another, and so I'll eventually end up paying it. As an industry they are going broke even though they are cutting capacity and decreasing costs as fast as current contracts allow. In the limit, we'll see either continued consolidation and contraction (i.e. the USAir/United on-again/off-again merger), or a few carriers simply going out of business.

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

I would think that the drive/fly decision is also largely dictated by the group of people that are actually travelling. Last summer we went up to Door County for a few days and it was a 5+ hour drive for us. Having a 6 month old and 5 year old (at the time) that was the max that was feasible unless we plan on leaving late at night and hope that they sleep through the entire journey, but not sure that that's going to happen anytime soon either, so we're pretty much tied into flying for the next few years at least. Older kids or an adults only trip is a different beast all together.

Chris

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

I wonder who will be first to start charging customers by the pound?? That really could be entertaining.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

I wonder who will be first to start charging customers by the pound?? That really could be entertaining.

Oh no! Now you have gone and done it.....new fee on the horizon....

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

We have been lucky in that we have never had a problem with our checked-in baggage. We don't mind the extra time to pick up our bags as we are never in a rush. Time is something that we have a lot of. We don't like carrying stuff with us, especially if we have to change planes.

I hate the hassles of flying and would much rather drive if feasible. When we drive somewhere, we always take our time and don't drive more than 4 hours in a day. We like to stop about noon and relax in the hotel along the way. We go back and forth to the San Francisco Bay area and take 2-3 days to get there even though it is only 470 miles. We enjoy the sights along the way.

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

I wonder who will be first to start charging customers by the pound?? That really could be entertaining.

Oh no! Now you have gone and done it.....new fee on the horizon....

If this happens, I'm going to become a millionaire opening up colon cleansing stations in all the major airports

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

I have ressies on Spirit in August and I got an email from today saying that since I made my ressies before 4/6. I will be allowed 1 free carry on plus 1 personal item.

[mdurette Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mdurette]

I would think that the drive/fly decision is also largely dictated by the group of people that are actually travelling. Last summer we went up to Door County for a few days and it was a 5+ hour drive for us. Having a 6 month old and 5 year old (at the time) that was the max that was feasible unless we plan on leaving late at night and hope that they sleep through the entire journey, but not sure that that's going to happen anytime soon either, so we're pretty much tied into flying for the next few years at least. Older kids or an adults only trip is a different beast all together.

Chris

I'm with you....even with just one kid. We flew from Providence to Philly 3 times when she was 2 & 3 years old. A 45 minute flight was much better than a 5-6 hour car ride in my book!

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

If this happens, I'm going to become a millionaire opening up colon cleansing stations in all the major airports

Gross!!!! And now I can't stop laughing visualising the end result (if you pardon the pun)