Comments on: Checked Bag Fees - The Bright Side, Maybe http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/ Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:03:12 GMT http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.4 By: Lynn http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-21315 Lynn Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:25:58 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-21315 It is sad to see how many people will now be unable to fly based on all the new fees and higher rates. Believe it or not, many people are on very restrictive budgets, ie: social security, students, etc. Many of my friends have already decided to drive instead of flying whenever possible. Is this just another way to squeeze out the middle class? Looks like you're doing a great job on your part. By the way, my carryon has been getting heavier and heavier. I anticipate this will be the next thing they start weighing. I feel like I'm being nickle and dimed to death by the airlines. I will certainly join those who are choosing to travel by car when possible. It's becoming much easier and less stressful. It is sad to see how many people will now be unable to fly based on all the new fees and higher rates. Believe it or not, many people are on very restrictive budgets, ie: social security, students, etc. Many of my friends have already decided to drive instead of flying whenever possible. Is this just another way to squeeze out the middle class? Looks like you’re doing a great job on your part. By the way, my carryon has been getting heavier and heavier. I anticipate this will be the next thing they start weighing. I feel like I’m being nickle and dimed to death by the airlines. I will certainly join those who are choosing to travel by car when possible. It’s becoming much easier and less stressful.

]]> By: Brenda http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-21154 Brenda Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:35:28 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-21154 When checking my daughter in the other day at an airline that charges for the 2nd bag, I was amazed at all the HUGE luggage. Everyone seems to have pulled the large suitcases out of the closet and started using them again. Many were overweight, so the fee was double what a 2nd bag would have cost. Seemed like a revenue generator to me! It also means the weight savings is not as great as one might think. Half the number of bags does not equal half the weight. And then there are those fully stuffed carry-ons. When checking my daughter in the other day at an airline that charges for the 2nd bag, I was amazed at all the HUGE luggage. Everyone seems to have pulled the large suitcases out of the closet and started using them again. Many were overweight, so the fee was double what a 2nd bag would have cost. Seemed like a revenue generator to me! It also means the weight savings is not as great as one might think. Half the number of bags does not equal half the weight. And then there are those fully stuffed carry-ons.

]]> By: CR http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-21103 CR Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:48:14 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-21103 This is not a good idea at all. We are going back to the "skeleton" system. Where you get charged for a plane ride, want anything else? pay, pay, pay. When all is said and done, you've paid an arm an a leg. The problem is, the basic or skeleton system is that they always keep raising the prices and never get anything in return. This is not a good idea at all. We are going back to the “skeleton” system. Where you get charged for a plane ride, want anything else? pay, pay, pay. When all is said and done, you’ve paid an arm an a leg. The problem is, the basic or skeleton system is that they always keep raising the prices and never get anything in return.

]]> By: Jamie http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20953 Jamie Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:26:16 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20953 Just one more way people on a budget get screwed..people paying full fare can take as many as they want while people on a budget get charged?! Whew, God bless America1 Just one more way people on a budget get screwed..people paying full fare can take as many as they want while people on a budget get charged?! Whew, God bless America1

]]> By: Pamela http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20893 Pamela Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:16:59 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20893 The moment that American Airlines instituted the bag fee, I knew it spelled trouble. Does anyone (with two cents worth of brains) honestly believe that that means people will <b>not</b> try to "bring it ALL" on the plane with them in order to avoid the fee? This insane approach only invites chaos into the airline cabins, as if there wasn't enough for the attendants to do before - managing unruly passengers. It will be even worse now. I can see countless passengers jamming the aisles with their overstuffed suitcases and and insisting that they will fit into the limited overhead space. This is only going to slow down the boarding process - causing delays and endless headaches. Gee, do you think this might make the already surly attendants even more polite and gracious? NO!!!!! GET REAL! The moment that American Airlines instituted the bag fee, I knew it spelled trouble. Does anyone (with two cents worth of brains) honestly believe that that means people will not try to “bring it ALL” on the plane with them in order to avoid the fee? This insane approach only invites chaos into the airline cabins, as if there wasn’t enough for the attendants to do before - managing unruly passengers. It will be even worse now. I can see countless passengers jamming the aisles with their overstuffed suitcases and and insisting that they will fit into the limited overhead space. This is only going to slow down the boarding process - causing delays and endless headaches. Gee, do you think this might make the already surly attendants even more polite and gracious? NO!!!!!

GET REAL!

]]> By: Becky http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20828 Becky Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:31:46 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20828 I find all of the above comments valid arguments for not traveling in the air. I too have stopped flying/traveling due to cost. My family is divided up by many states and this movement in over charging consumers just means that I don't get to see my daughters and their families as often...What a bummer for me! I realize this is not a concern for Corporate America. But, so note that we are being controlled by the terrorist's through our economy. Taking us over militarily is not a concern but we are vulnerable through our economic system. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out. Signed: Grandma Becky I find all of the above comments valid arguments for not traveling in the air. I too have stopped flying/traveling due to cost. My family is divided up by many states and this movement in over charging consumers just means that I don’t get to see my daughters and their families as often…What a bummer for me!
I realize this is not a concern for Corporate America.
But, so note that we are being controlled by the terrorist’s through our economy. Taking us over militarily is not a concern but we are vulnerable through our economic system. It will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.

Signed: Grandma Becky

]]> By: VerdureVision http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20803 VerdureVision Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:59:35 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20803 Nikki, Do you have any friends who have a job in shipping? For a 6 to 8 week stay somewhere, you might be better off shipping your things to your destination than you would be packing and checking them as luggage. After 9-11, my sister, who is a shipping manager, started shipping the contents of her luggage to her travel destination vs. dealing with the new hassles attached to checking luggage. Now, all she brings with her to the airport--through TSA and straight to the gate--is a small personal bag with her ID, money, and snacks for the flight. When she arrives, her stuff is there, waiting for her. The day of her flight, she re-packs the shipping container she used, return addresses it, and ships it back home. (Or, if she has an early flight, she asks friends or family to ship it back for her.) In addition, she's never had a lost bag or anything stolen from her luggage using her shipping method. When the airlines starting charging for bags, I asked her if she could tell me how much her last three flights cost her in shipping. She pulled up the records, and we found that she paid LESS to ship her items than she would have paid in fees had she checked them. I don't know if this would work for your situation, but it might be worth researching. With a bit of advance planning, you might be able to save yourself a bit of money AND some big headaches at the airport. Nikki,

Do you have any friends who have a job in shipping? For a 6 to 8 week stay somewhere, you might be better off shipping your things to your destination than you would be packing and checking them as luggage.

After 9-11, my sister, who is a shipping manager, started shipping the contents of her luggage to her travel destination vs. dealing with the new hassles attached to checking luggage. Now, all she brings with her to the airport–through TSA and straight to the gate–is a small personal bag with her ID, money, and snacks for the flight. When she arrives, her stuff is there, waiting for her. The day of her flight, she re-packs the shipping container she used, return addresses it, and ships it back home. (Or, if she has an early flight, she asks friends or family to ship it back for her.) In addition, she’s never had a lost bag or anything stolen from her luggage using her shipping method.

When the airlines starting charging for bags, I asked her if she could tell me how much her last three flights cost her in shipping. She pulled up the records, and we found that she paid LESS to ship her items than she would have paid in fees had she checked them.

I don’t know if this would work for your situation, but it might be worth researching. With a bit of advance planning, you might be able to save yourself a bit of money AND some big headaches at the airport.

]]> By: Pam http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20791 Pam Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:30:54 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20791 I just returned from Denver, CO and flying out I checked only 1 bag. Returning I had a few souveniers that could not be packed. I had a carry-on shopping bag and my computer case. I opted for a fanny pack and packed my purse in my check through suitcase. I was charged for my second suitcase $25.00 although I made my reservations long before the new rules were put into place. Will I travel lighter in the future? Probably. Will I fly to Michigan next year on vacation? No, it is only a 13 hour drive. I will probably drive my own car and save on rental cars and airport parking for a week. I just returned from Denver, CO and flying out I checked only 1 bag. Returning I had a few souveniers that could not be packed. I had a carry-on shopping bag and my computer case. I opted for a fanny pack and packed my purse in my check through suitcase. I was charged for my second suitcase $25.00 although I made my reservations long before the new rules were put into place.

Will I travel lighter in the future? Probably. Will I fly to Michigan next year on vacation? No, it is only a 13 hour drive. I will probably drive my own car and save on rental cars and airport parking for a week.

]]> By: Linda Smith http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20787 Linda Smith Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:07:30 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20787 I agree that the second bag fee may be a good thing, making people think about what they really need to pack. But a danger I see is that people are going to begin putting heavier things, such as bowling balls, in their carry-on to avoid the overage charges; that could be a safety issue, all that weight in the overhead. I think the charge for the first checked bag is ridiculous, and will definitely lead to "carry-on abuse". I agree that the second bag fee may be a good thing, making people think about what they really need to pack. But a danger I see is that people are going to begin putting heavier things, such as bowling balls, in their carry-on to avoid the overage charges; that could be a safety issue, all that weight in the overhead. I think the charge for the first checked bag is ridiculous, and will definitely lead to “carry-on abuse”.

]]> By: Nikki http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20786 Nikki Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:55:04 +0000 http://rickseaney.com/2008/07/18/checked-bag-fees-the-bright-side-maybe/#comment-20786 What I find hilarious is that everyone always assumes the passengers with the two full sized checked bags and the carry-on (plus small bag for meds, snacks, etc) is only going on a pleasure trip for a week or two, and how dare they pack so much. Sometimes, people are going away for much longer periods and NEED more than one full size bag. Myself, when I travel, it is generally due to the end of a university term such as winter or summer holiday, and I'm going to be gone for 6-8 weeks if not longer. Now if those of you with the haughty attitude really think you can pack for say May to September in ONE checked bag and ONE carry on- be my guest. I'd like to see it happen. I'm one of those unfortunate students who has an apartment at school and does not have clothes, personal items, etc left back at home. And the distance between 'school' and 'home' makes driving a near impossibility. Realistically, the cost of air travel has become unreal. They are nickel and diming us to death with fees and fees for the fees, etc. And the service we are paying for sure as heck isn't getting any better. It's an all around no win situation. Sure, there has been a reduction in luggage checked, but tell me why that hasn't translated into less lost baggage? What I find hilarious is that everyone always assumes the passengers with the two full sized checked bags and the carry-on (plus small bag for meds, snacks, etc) is only going on a pleasure trip for a week or two, and how dare they pack so much. Sometimes, people are going away for much longer periods and NEED more than one full size bag. Myself, when I travel, it is generally due to the end of a university term such as winter or summer holiday, and I’m going to be gone for 6-8 weeks if not longer. Now if those of you with the haughty attitude really think you can pack for say May to September in ONE checked bag and ONE carry on- be my guest. I’d like to see it happen. I’m one of those unfortunate students who has an apartment at school and does not have clothes, personal items, etc left back at home. And the distance between ’school’ and ‘home’ makes driving a near impossibility.

Realistically, the cost of air travel has become unreal. They are nickel and diming us to death with fees and fees for the fees, etc. And the service we are paying for sure as heck isn’t getting any better. It’s an all around no win situation. Sure, there has been a reduction in luggage checked, but tell me why that hasn’t translated into less lost baggage?

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