Getting ready to fly? It'll cost you even MORE

[seaboy4hire]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=86761.blog&loc=interstitialskip

 

Spirit Airlines has become the first airline in the USA – perhaps in the world – to say it will charge fliers for putting carry-on bags into its overhead storage bins. That news came this morning as part of a complicated new fee and fare scheme Spirit announced.

 

As part of that effort -- which Spirit describes as "progressing to the next phase of unbundling" -- customers must pay to join Spirit's "$9 Fare Club" to get access to discounted fees and fares. Tucked away in that somewhat convoluted release is the mention of the carry-on fee.

 

OTHER FEES: Ryanair to increase checked luggage fees during peak months (Business Traveller)

 

How much will checking a bag in Spirit's overhead bins cost you? Fliers that do not belong to the $9 Fare Club will have to pay up to $45 each way to put a bag in the airline's overhead storage bins if they don't declare their bags until they get to the gate. The fee drops to $30 for customers who "reserve" a spot before getting to the gate – either online or at a ticket counter. Members of the Fare Club pay $20. The carrier also charges for checked bags.

 

Basic carry-on items -- things like a purse or laptop bag -- can still be brought on for free, but only if they measure 16" by 14" by 12" and can fit underneath the seat in front of you. The carrier apparently will have new bag sizers at its gates to help enforce its policy, The Wall Street Journal reports.

 

Scott McCartney, The Middle Seat columnist at the Journal, explains what boarding will look like: "Passengers who have paid for carry-on bags will board first. Those that haven't paid will be warned–their boarding pass will say 'No Carry-On Bags.' Once the first group has boarded, it will be easy for gate agents to police the fee rule during boarding, Spirit says." Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza tells McCartney: "After Zone 1 is on, there are no more carry-on bags. If you have one, you'll have to pull out your credit card and pay at the gate."

 

The carry-on fee will start no earlier than Aug. 1 and only on tickets purchased after April 5 as Spirit works to tweak its reservations systems for the change -- as well as to train its agents on the policy, according to McCartney.

 

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Does Spirit Airlines's new fare sale ad poke fun at Tiger Woods? | DOT smacks Spirit with $375,000 fine for 'host of consumer-protection violations'

 

As for Spirit, the carrier claims the change will help it lower base fares while also giving "customers the option of paying only for the services they want and use rather than subsidizing the choices of others."

 

MORE: Spirit Air now charging for both carry-on and checked baggage (Jaunted.com) | No Joke: Spirit Airlines rolls out carry-on bag fee. Seriously. (Onlinetravelreview.com)

 

"In addition to lowering fares even further, this will reduce the number of carry-on bags, which will improve inflight safety and efficiency by speeding up the boarding and deplaning process, all of which ultimately improve the overall customer experience," Spirit's Chief Operating Officer Ken McKenzie says in the airline's release. "Bring less; pay less. It's simple."

 

Today's talker: What do you think of Spirit's carry-on fee for items that don't fit under the seat in front of you? Share your thoughts.

[Doe Be Doe]

Have we reached the point where it's cheaper to overnight your luggage the day before you travel?

[KMEM]

And, more reliable. There are a plethora of express services, which, with a little planning, could be cheaper and more reliable. Standard overnight usually gets the package there noon-3 PM. 2nd Day Air gets it there day after tomorrow. 2-3 Day Air, no later than the second day after tomorrow. Any and all of these with usually more care for your "freight" and more reliable than checked baggage.

 

I avoid the airlines as much as possible, but, when I have to fly on them and take more than carry-on, I always send it ahead (as far ahead as possible). Your hotel or friend or business acquaintance will take delivery and take care of it until you arrive.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[+ deej]

Yep, I've shipped in advance for several years if I'm going anywhere for long enough to actually need luggage. For shorter trips, I pack VERY light.

 

Another option is to pack the bare basics and purchase to meet any additional needs at the destination, and then ship the lot home (which doesn't need to be overnight). Of course this requires that the destination have good shopping and that you'll have the time and/or inclination.

 

I have a trip coming up and I'm seriously considering just taking a change of underwear and socks and hitting the Galleria once I arrive.

[Bart]

Hopefully they will also begin charging for screaming children, for each time they kick the back of your seat, maybe and extra fee for all children under the age of 10, asking stupid questions, have a pay toilet, not showering, getting out of your seat and crawling over you, using the vomit bag, not using mouth wash, and any attempt to talk to you.

[KMEM]

Yep, I've shipped in advance for several years if I'm going anywhere for long enough to actually need luggage. For shorter trips, I pack VERY light.

 

Another option is to pack the bare basics and purchase to meet any additional needs at the destination, and then ship the lot home (which doesn't need to be overnight). Of course this requires that the destination have good shopping and that you'll have the time and/or inclination.

 

I have a trip coming up and I'm seriously considering just taking a change of underwear and socks and hitting the Galleria once I arrive.

 

You remind me of a UA 747 captain of my acquaintence. He only took his toothbrush, an extra pair of socks and one change of underwear. When I asked him how he managed his laundry, he replied, I go to Target (or whatever the local place to buy underwear might be).

 

Best regards,

 

KMEM

[Epigonos]

I already have three or four carry-ons in storage. I have simply down sized every time the airline changed their size regulations. My current carry-on is 21x14x8. I'm sure I can go out and find one equal or under the 16x14x12. I may eventually end up carrying everything in a plastic grocery bag.

 

Over the last year or so I have noticed that more and more people, especially young travelers, are traveling with huge back packs plus additional carry-on. I must admit I find this irritating as they quickly fill up the overhead bins and leave no room for passengers who board later.

[+ deej]

You remind me of a UA 747 captain of my acquaintence. He only took his toothbrush, an extra pair of socks and one change of underwear. When I asked him how he managed his laundry, he replied, I go to Target (or whatever the local place to buy underwear might be).

 

Works for me!

 

I actually got the idea for this after a ton of friends found themselves stuck in San Diego following 9/11 when all air traffic was grounded. K-Mart and Target sold a LOT of underwear that week.

[instudiocity]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=86761.blog&loc=interstitialskip

 

Spirit Airlines has become the first airline in the USA – perhaps in the world – to say it will charge fliers for putting carry-on bags into its overhead storage bins.

 

And for our next trick, we will offer an ALL-IN-ONE Fare where for the price quoted, you'll receive

-free curbside check-in

-up to 3 free articles of luggage checked through to your destination

-up to 2 free carry-on items

-unlimited free beverages including adult beverages

-your choice from 3 hot meals with wine and dessert

 

Remember when First Class was CLASSY?

[KMEM]

I not only remember when First was classy but when it actually existed.

 

Not now. Basically F has not existed since 1979, so few will remember it for long. Even then, there was a distinct difference between airlines. Oh, well. We live and learn or live and forget.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[Guest Spanky]

 

Over the last year or so I have noticed that more and more people, especially young travelers, are traveling with huge back packs plus additional carry-on. I must admit I find this irritating as they quickly fill up the overhead bins and leave no room for passengers who board later.

 

You got that right. This has been happening for a while, but then when all the airlines started charging for checked baggage it got so much worse. So now everyone carries on their bags and still the flight attendants yell at us to load the plane faster. Ah...Stop the disincentive to check bags and maybe everyone won't have to load their 8 ton suitcases and that will speed it up, sweetheart. And now, we're getting charged for overhead space as well. It's like we were getting fucked in the mouth and that wasn't enough, so they decide to fuck us in the ass at the same time. And not in a good way.

 

Remember when we were kids? Flying, especially the first few times, was such an awesome experience. Even back in the 90s when I was flying 2-3 times a week I still enjoyed it because you could get upgrades and other benefits from the FF programs and you weren't treated like cattle. I absolutely dread it now. To the point that if I am going anywhere within about 300 to 400 miles I do everything I can to leave the night before and drive. Yeah it takes a lot longer though if you factor in the time you spend getting to the airport, going through the lines, and then perhaps delays, it's probably about the same, plus it has the added benefit of not raising my blood pressure.

 

I can't believe there are still people like the Clooney character in Up In The Air that are flying as much as they can to max out benefits. And I ship bags before and after a flight as well sometimes, like other posters have suggested. For multiweek engagements I just leave all my stuff at the hotel and travel with nothing my my laptop.

 

Pardon my crappy language and bad construction. I'm ranting.

[+ deej]

I not only remember when First was classy but when it actually existed.

 

Not now. Basically F has not existed since 1979, so few will remember it for long. Even then, there was a distinct difference between airlines. Oh, well. We live and learn or live and forget.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

 

There are still differences in airlines. Continental is the last (I think) that still serves an actual meal (such as it is) in coach. I don't normally fly their routes so it stunned me to actually get fed on a recent flight.

 

Midwest Express used to have a small fleet of planes where coach was ripped out and replaced with the same leather seats used in first class, meals were served on actual china, and after serving, the stewardesses walked up and down the aisle with white wine in one hand and red in the other topping off everyone's glass. Dunno if they're even still in business.

 

None of this is like air travel of yore, when people dressed to the nines and everyone was served champagne because it was an EVENT. Today, air travel is a necessary evil. A commodity.

[Guest Spanky]

Midwest Express used to have a small fleet of planes where coach was ripped out and replaced with the same leather seats used in first class, meals were served on actual china, and after serving, the stewardesses walked up and down the aisle with white wine in one hand and red in the other topping off everyone's glass. Dunno if they're even still in business.

.

 

"The best care in the air" is their slogan and yes they are still around. I just flew them recently. We didn't get meals, but we did get the freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies as we were departing. They cook them while you are flying and the smell wafts through the whole plane.

[kjun]

What service do you use to ship luggage ahead of your travel?

[MichiganMan]

Boycott

 

I for one will no longer fly Spirit. They charge if you pick your seats ahead of time, and now this crock of shit. If they were a true discount carrier I could understand, but it is extremely rare that they price beat Delta when flying out of my home city of Detroit. I just hope the others don't follow in Spirits footsteps. I have a free flight coming on Spirit, and will certainly tell them that will be my last with them...doubt they'll get the message....

[+ deej]

What service do you use to ship luggage ahead of your travel?

 

Any of them. Stop off at FedEx/Kinkos or the UPS store.

 

Address the box to yourself c/o your hotel, and mark it "HOLD FOR ARRIVAL".

 

Almost any decent hotel will have some provision, either through the concierge or the convention center, to arrange for return shipping, or find a FedEx/Kinkos or UPS store again. They're *everywhere*.

[Guest Spanky]

Any of them. Stop off at FedEx/Kinkos or the UPS store.

 

Address the box to yourself c/o your hotel, and mark it "HOLD FOR ARRIVAL".

 

Almost any decent hotel will have some provision, either through the concierge or the convention center, to arrange for return shipping, or find a FedEx/Kinkos or UPS store again. They're *everywhere*.

 

I generally use the second day Fedex service and find it's a bit cheaper than UPS (and more importantly, closer to my home). There also are some luggage shipping companies like Luggage Free and bunch of others that I can't remember. Try Google. I've never used them as they are more expensive.

 

When shipping to a hotel, I make sure that I have a reservation and I still call ahead and let them know.

[doitb4ugo]

Carry-ons are over-rated

 

I have a trip coming up and I'm seriously considering just taking a change of underwear and socks and hitting the Galleria once I arrive.

 

Hey Deej,

 

We don't know each other but you would not need to hit the Galleria if you happened to be visiting me. ;)

 

Sorry for the horndog post. I tried to resist but couldn't.

[Guest OCBeachbody]

Ouchies.... I was joking around the other about just traveling light.....

 

Send your business stuff via FedEx.... or print via Kinko's upon arrival.

If you plan to buy new clothes before a trip.... wait till your arrival and hit the local wal-mart or target (consider these throw away clothes).

 

Ridiculous at what they are charging.... next fee will be the Oxygen "fee" for when your on the plane.

 

LOL thank goodness for all my free miles.... they at least cuts down cost for my vacations.

[+ Hoover42]

I've been thinking of taking nothing but what I was wearing on my next trip, but I'd be afraid of triggering a DHS alert at the apparently suspicious behavior!

 

I'd love to travel if I could just click my heals together three times and just BE there. Otherwise, I'd almost rather stay home.

[seaboy4hire]

Be carefull! With so little luggage you may trigger a DHS pat down!

 

I am all too familiar with that pat down esp at LAS and LAX. I'm waiting for the cavity search flying out of LAX next month. Blah!

[edjames]

This Takes "Carry-On" To A New Level!

 

Reported in this morning's newspapers..

 

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/04/2-women-accused-of-trying-to-take-dead-relative-on-plane/1

 

ED

[seaboy4hire]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=86948.blog&loc=interstitialskip

 

 

Ryanair pushes ahead with plan for toilet fee

Comments 89 | Recommend 5

Buzz up!

Like this story? Share it with Yahoo! Buzz

 

European discount giant Ryanair is pushing ahead with plans to charge passengers to use the lavatories, news that comes just a day after U.S. low-cost carrier Spirit said it would charge for overhead bin space.

 

OTHER FEES: Spirit Airlines to become first to charge for carry-on luggage

 

The Daily Mail of London writes "no-frills [Ryanair] is working with Boeing to redesign the cabin and develop coin-operated toilets on 168 of its planes. Not content with charging passengers for use of the facilities, the airline is also looking at reducing the number of toilets on board, leaving just one available cubicle for up to 189 passengers."

 

How much will it cost you? The airline plans to charge either €1 or £1 on flights of an hour or less, according to ATW Online. That works about to between $1.30 and $1.55 for the privilege of using the toilet.

 

A Ryanair official tells the Mail the carrier hopes the toilet fee will change customers' habits. "By charging for the toilets we are hoping to change passenger behavior so that they use the bathroom before or after the flight," Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara tells the paper. "That will enable us to remove two out of three of the toilets and make way for at least six extra seats."

 

Meanwhile, Ryanair is making news with other fees, as well. The carrier announced this week it would hike its checked-bag fees by about 33% for the peak summer travel period. Business Traveller magazine writes Ryanair says it's making the move to "incentivise all of its passengers to travel light during the peak summer months." The BBC adds Ryanair said it would urge its passengers to avoid check-in baggage fees by travelling with carry-on bags only."

[KMEM]

The airlines are only alienating those who would like to become frequent flyers. Those that are FFs' already avoid most, if not all, of these charges. I think they are doing this exactly backwards. Up the price of the ticket a little bit and "insist" upon checking baggage; then charge for carryon beyond a very small purse, laptop or the like. Everyone on board will be happier with very little clutter around them. The flight crew will be happier without having to help passengers load steamer trunks into the overhead bin and with the extra room available to "serve" better; every passenger will be happier knowing that a 4,000 pound piece of luggage will not fall unto their heads when the planes lands, as well as having more room to get around in the cabin. Everyone will be happier that the boarding process will be speeded up and ditto the disembarking process. The only possible fly in the ointment will be the baggage smashers who will have to increase their efficiency. There is always a price.

 

I know for a fact that a major US airline once carried a US passenger from NRT (Toyko) to the west coast (left coast) while he was "completely" dead upon boarding and also shortly after arriving, but, like the German gentleman, wished to "die" at home.

 

Best regards,

KMEM