www.airfarewatchdog.com Airlines Poll

[omegaet]

I would be more surprised if some of these extra fees do not appear with US carriers during 2011. Let's face it, those of us who incorporate air travel into our business model would have to deal with these creative fees like it or not.


http://www.publicradio.org/columns/m...ir_passen.html

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I just read an article similar to this in my local newspaper - I am disgusted at these fess period! Just more ways for an industry that is actually now making profits to get even more from the passengers- I especially have a real problem with the checked bag fee - do they think that folks go away for 1-2 weeks or more and do not need a bag and I really feel sorry for those travelling with a couple of children - the fees add up to almost another whole airfare! Food is another thing - what exactly are we getting for our fare now - just getting to point A from point B and nothing else.

[Mountie]

I just read an article similar to this in my local newspaper - I am disgusted at these fess period! Just more ways for an industry that is actually now making profits to get even more from the passengers- I especially have a real problem with the checked bag fee - do they think that folks go away for 1-2 weeks or more and do not need a bag and I really feel sorry for those travelling with a couple of children - the fees add up to almost another whole airfare! Food is another thing - what exactly are we getting for our fare now - just getting to point A from point B and nothing else.

So far, other than RyanAir, I think most US airlines will still allow us to use the toilets for free during the trip from point A to point B. On the other hand, there are possible considerations to charging for toilet tissue.

[kapper]

I would be more surprised if some of these extra fees do not appear with US carriers during 2011. Let's face it, those of us who incorporate air travel into our business model would have to deal with these creative fees like it or not.


http://www.publicradio.org/columns/m...ir_passen.html

Good poll on the subject.

I would expect airlines to start charging for infants and more than one carry-on if it required using the overhead bin.

I would keep an eye on Spirit Airlines here in the US. They seem to be the most innovative at getting those extra dollars out of their customers.

[jmbklj]

Some of the airlines - American, Delta & Air Canada - are already talking to TSA about pilot programs where passengers would tag their own bags instead of airline agents doing it. With passengers tagging their own bags, this would produce labor savings. If this program was eventually successful, I could see an extra fee assessed if a ticket counter agent tagged a bag.

Because of the labor savings, in theory, fares should decrease, but in reality it never seems to work that way. I guess it would instead postpone a future airfare increase.

[jsattapr2]

Some of the airlines - American, Delta & Air Canada - are already talking to TSA about pilot programs where passengers would tag their own bags instead of airline agents doing it. With passengers tagging their own bags, this would produce labor savings. If this program was eventually successful, I could see an extra fee assessed if a ticket counter agent tagged a bag.

Because of the labor savings, in theory, fares should decrease, but in reality it never seems to work that way. I guess it would instead postpone a future airfare increase.

Well now, maybe we should take a look at the revised fine which will, without a doubt, be involved with passengers self tagging checked bags.

"Where is my bag?"

"Don't know for sure, we're checking our scanned log tag logs and looks like the passed through ATL but nothing shows up after that. Are you 100% certain you attached the tag securely? Sometimes passengers, who are not properly skilled and experienced in this technical procedure, fail to secure them properly. In those cases, we eventually find a number of bags, but names have not been 'burned' into the sides of them, and we have difficulty in matching the bags with the passengers. By the way, did you notice that upon acceptance of the responsibility of attaching your own tag, you completely absolved us, the carrier, of any responsibility? Thanks for flying with us today, buying that $11.00 stale sandwich and not dropping dead from DVT as a result of our reducing your seat pitch when we installed the new comfy eight across seating in coach!"

Could happen!