Airline fees: What you'll pay to check a bag, change your ticket, more

[jmbklj]

RyanAir is at it again. When the airlines sink to this low level, this is when I stop flying!

"Add any beverage to our list of foods to avoid before flying. European discount airline Ryanair wants to increase profits by swapping bathrooms for plane seats. The Independent reports that Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary announced plans to excise two of the three toilets on its Boeing 737 aircrafts, which will allow room for up to six more seats to be installed in lieu of the loos.

O’Leary told The Independent that such a change would reduce fares by about 5 percent per ticket. The gigantic downside, of course, is that there’ll be just a single available restroom on a plane that carries up to 189 people, according to SeatGuru.com. It’s a scary thought — especially when one considers the possibility of a toilet malfunction happening in the only lavatory on a full flight.

This isn’t the first time Ryanair’s unsettling initiatives have had passengers squirming. In Spirit vs. Ryanair: Who’s the Ugliest Airline of Them All?, we blogged about the carrier’s egregious fees (from a 20 GBP charge for infant fliers to a 6 GBP booking fee) and poor customer service ratings, among other disappointments. Back in 2009, O’Leary proposed charging passengers to use the toilet on flights. That plan has since been flushed, but the CEO’s latest anti-bathroom campaign is even worse.

I’d rather pay a few pounds to use the lavatory on a plane than share a single commode with two hundred fliers. What’s your take? Share your thoughts in the comments.

– written by Caroline Costello

[jmbklj]

Starting 4/4/2012 Allegiant Air will charge for carry-on bags that go in the overhead bins. A bag that goes under the seat is free but you'll be charged for a bag in the overhead bins, on a per segment basis.

I guess Spirit will no longer be the only airline charging for cary-on bags.

I've never flown them. Have any of you?

Overhead Bin - Allegiant Air charging up to $35 for carry-on bag

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Since they started with all the fees, I decided I would never fly Spirit and now have added Allegiant to the list. Pretty soon we will have to fly naked to avoid any fees ;-)

[kyshel]

Even if you're naked, they'll make you buy a cover-up or blanket...

[jmbklj]

Looks like Third Quarter 2012 was a good quarter for the airlines when it comes to revenue generated from fees. And Southwest will introduce a new "no-show fee" in 2013.


Top 5 Baggage Fee Airlines
Delta led the way on baggage fees, pulling in more than $233 million. Some will be surprised to see Southwest in fifth place out of 14 reporting carriers – because Southwest still offers two free checked-bags – but now that its merger with AirTran is nearing completion, the two airlines report fees jointly and AirTran does charge fees for checked luggage.

Airline Baggage Fee Revenue
3rd Quarter 2012

1. Delta $233 million
2. United $187 million
3. American $138 million
4. US Airways $129 million
5. Southwest $46 million

Top 5 Change Fee Airlines
Carriers raking in the most money from changing or canceling a reservation were as follows, beginning with the top earner: Delta, United, American, US Airways and JetBlue. Southwest came in at 6th place, again due to its merger with AirTran, since Southwest does not charge a change fee and AirTran does. Beginning in 2013, Southwest will introduce a new ‘no-show’ fee" though the cost has yet to be specified.


Southwest Sees $100 Million in Revenue From Fee Changes - Businessweek

[kyshel]

Looks like Third Quarter 2012 was a good quarter for the airlines when it comes to profit generated from fees. And Southwest will introduce a new "no-show fee" in 2013.


Top 5 Baggage Fee Airlines
Delta led the way on baggage fees, pulling in more than $233 million. Some will be surprised to see Southwest in fifth place out of 14 reporting carriers – because Southwest still offers two free checked-bags – but now that its merger with AirTran is nearing completion, the two airlines report fees jointly and AirTran does charge fees for checked luggage.

Airline Baggage Fee Revenue
3rd Quarter 2012

1. Delta $233 million
2. United $187 million
3. American $138 million
4. US Airways $129 million
5. Southwest $46 million

Top 5 Change Fee Airlines
Carriers raking in the most money from changing or canceling a reservation were as follows, beginning with the top earner: Delta, United, American, US Airways and JetBlue. Southwest came in at 6th place, again due to its merger with AirTran, since Southwest does not charge a change fee and AirTran does. Beginning in 2013, Southwest will introduce a new ‘no-show’ fee" though the cost has yet to be specified.


Southwest Sees $100 Million in Revenue From Fee Changes - Businessweek

Revenue generated is not the same as profit. There is a HUGE difference.

[jmbklj]

Revenue generated is not the same as profit. There is a HUGE difference.

Duly noted; correction made.