Airline Services Go La Carte
How much is that one seat on the Window?
I can remember the first time I went to a fancy cafeteria (if you can have such a thing) with my grandparents. I loved the idea of collecting plates of food as my journey progressed, sliding my tray from Jell-o salads past vegetables to desserts and finally to the cash register. My grandfather was less enthusiastic about the final tally of my dish-laden landscape.
What's this have to do with travel? Plenty. Airlines are borrowing one from the cafeteria playbook: a la carte pricing. In the past, travel was an all-you-can-eat buffet; today, the traveler is faced with a pay-as-you-go menu where any additional item has an additional cost. Since airfares have remained somewhat stable since 2001, while fuel prices have almost doubled, airlines are looking for every opportunity to generate extra revenue. Just in the first quarter of 2008, U.S. airline losses ranged between $500 million to $6 billion.
Every major U.S. carrier is charging $25 for a second checked piece of luggage beginning in May. Even if you have just one suitcase, you need to consider its weight. In most cases, the fee is $50 for anything over 50 pounds and up 70 pounds. Anything exceeding that weight is usually prohibited or prohibitively expensive to check, usually around $100.
And should you wish to check your bags curbside, expect a fee of $2-3 per bag when traveling on American, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways (not including tip).
Most international flights now have additional ticket surcharges to offset fuel prices. For long haul flights it can be in the hundreds of dollars. Another area for income generation comes in the form of ticket changes where some carriers are now planning to increase ticket change fees to $150.
In the realm of seat assignments, airlines are beginning to recognize the value of a coveted window or aisle seat and charge accordingly for that added comfort, anywhere from $5 -$35. An exit row seat is fair game if you wish to ante up a little extra to secure it. In most cases the seats become available for purchase online 24 hours prior to departure.
As airlines scramble to offset fuel prices, travelers can expect to encounter new fees or surcharges for services that once were included in the price of the ticket. If you want to save on fees, there are a few you can affect. But even if you pack lightly, bring snacks, charge up your MP3 player and stick with your itinerary, it looks like the all-inclusive air fare has no intention of booking a return flight.
And since I brought up luggage earlier, here are the latest baggage allowance links by airline.
AirTran
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
JetBlue
Northwest Airlines
United Airlines
US Airways
Tom Conway, who learned the difference between a cafeteria line and a smorgasbord at an early age, says share your comments about airline service fees.
Comments
Recently traveled BWI -- ATL on Delta for family reasons. Checked luggage at ATL at the curb (lots of sports gear). The $3 per bag fee is waived if you checked your bag in on-line when you check-in. Tip was not waived, but glad to pay it for exceptionally helpful and cheerful service provided before the skycap was offered a tip. (A rare occasion these days.)
PS Sunday 5pm at ATL between dropping off rental car (had to wait to get into Hertz return lot), luggage check, the longest security line I have ever seen, and the need to go all the way to gate E-2, we used every minute of the two hour time at the airport.
Posted by: S. Kraft | May 1, 2008 11:35 AM
Sorry, but a middle seat on a 3 hour flight, when there is an window or asile seat available,is just not a traveling option
Posted by: traveler | May 1, 2008 11:51 AM
Last Sunday, I was on a 6:30 a.m. United flight (757? 3-3 seating) from Boston to Denver.
There were 35 passengers onboard. The flight attendants wouldn't allow anyone to move forward of the mid-cabin exit rows because those are the "Steerage Plus" seats (with an extra charge) and 5 or 6 people had paid for the extra leg room.
Of course, anyone who really wanted extra space moved to an open row, raised the armrests and stretched-out full length for the flight!
Posted by: B. Smith | May 1, 2008 12:30 PM
Never used to take a carry on... always used to check 2 bags... wonder how much the carry-on luggage will increase? Hmmmm... carry on or $25?
Posted by: Stephanie Wolfson | May 1, 2008 2:40 PM
Never used to take a carry on... always used to check 2 bags... wonder how much the carry-on luggage will increase? Hmmmm... carry on or $25?
Posted by: Stephanie Wolfson | May 1, 2008 2:40 PM
Great Advice! And thank you for the links-it seems like carry-on is so complicated nowadays.
Posted by: PSI Geek | May 1, 2008 3:54 PM
I had no idea the extent to which this was going on! When booking a recent trip on AirTran through a travel rewards program we were dinged right and left with ala carte charges!
First (not sure if this was AirTran or the rewards program), we must have paper ticket and so must pay $15 for delivery of said tickets.
Second, we must pay $6 per person, each way for the priveledge of receiving seat assignments. WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?! Since when??? Like H I'm not going to have seat assignments with two little kids! Argh!
Oh yeah, and while on hold waiting for the pleasure of forking over money for guaranteed family unity, I was informed that I could book travel on line and avoid the $10 per person booking fee.
Posted by: kmn | May 2, 2008 12:11 AM
Travelers should start billing the airlines for inconveniences in return for these added charges. Misdirected luggage, late flight (due to the onslaught of carry on luggage now resulting from second bag fees), being trapped in a parked airliner on the tarmac and/or forced to sit next to that huge guy who should have been charged for two seats (and maybe considered a shower before the flight)! Maybe an invoice for my time spent because of inadequate staffing at the check in counters. All of the above have been experienced on my last few flights. We have lost all rights as a consumer!
Personally, I am choosing not to fly airlines that nickel and dime me (even if that becomes a very short list). US Air was the first to go since the last four flights with them were either delayed at the gate, late for arrival or just plain canceled, yet they were the first to adopt these added fees. Maybe the net result will be a "weeding out" of those carriers that just don't perform...good riddance to those carriers with poor service! I won't miss you!
Posted by: Frustrated in Portland | May 2, 2008 9:17 AM
I agree with the person who said maybe we should start charging for the inconveniences. I will be driving WHENEVER I can (anything 12 hours and under!). Damn the airlines! I would rather rent a car with good mileage and pay a bit extra if necessary! For my own comfort and convenience. I can take as many clothes as I like. More leg room and on my own schedule so delays are my own!
Posted by: Edris cooper | May 4, 2008 7:47 AM