Spirit Airlines to charge for checked baggage

[Mebert]

The airlines are now accepting 50 lbs. of checked luggage without a fee. Most airlines will charge an excess weight surcharge which can be pretty hefty.

Now Spirit Airlines wants to charge $5 or $10 for checked luggage. It was reported that other airlines may follow suit.

What to you think?

[rogue]

If they start to charge for luggage, does that mean that they now will have a larger liability for damaged or lost luggage? I'm not a lawyer, but it seems that this should increase their responsibility to handle luggage better.

[Suzila]

I heard this on the news this week:

Spirit Airlines will charge passengers to check-in more than one item of hold luggage, and will expect cash for in-flight drinks and snacks, in return for its dramatic fare cuts.

Passengers will be expected to reserve additional hold space on the carrier's Web site should they plan to carry extra luggage, and will be charged a $10 fee for a second suitcase. A third bag could cost as much as $100 in proposals due to come into effect on June 20.

Complimentary refreshments will also be scrapped, in plans to make customers pay only for what they use. Soft drinks, juices, coffee or tea, all of which are currently free, will cost fliers $1 each, though water is still included.

Free alcohol will still be served to First Class passengers through June 19, though in further cost-cutting compromises, its premium spaces will be re-branded BIG FRONT SEATS and sold at higher prices, with fewer free frills than before.

"Our customers have called for even lower fares and we have listened," said Barry Biffle, Chief Marketing Officer at Spirit. "We can offer incredibly low fares by enabling customers to pay for only those options they want."

Spirit's one-cent fare sale, forming part of an "unbundling" drive, concluded yesterday.

Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost airline, has helped drop fares across "the Pond" by introducing a charge for extra baggage, a trend emulated by British Airways, which can charge up to $240 for a second bag on long-haul connections, unless fliers seek an online pre-pay discount.

[Mebert]

It's going to be a little more expensive for those passengers who like a change of clothes on cruises every day.

I have a hard time getting my luggage down to 50 lbs. It's going to cost me a little more because I'll probably have to travel with more than one piece of luggage.

[TheSkipper]

Well, we will have to wait and see what happens. The airlines are making so much money now they can really afford to tick off their customers NOT.

I suppose pay toilets will be close behind.

[Spikesgirl]

Not crazy about the idea of having to pay to check luggage, especially since it often gets more travel than we do. Ours has certainly been to more exotic places than we have.

A news report last night said that airlines are going 5to start charging for food and (formerly free) drinks now. I think it said that American was leading the pack on this. let's face it, the good old days are firmly behind us now...

Charlie

[Mebert]

It looks like People Express Airlines was way before its time.

Many years ago People Express Airlines use to collect airfares on board and charge for meals and beverages. One used to be able to travel from New York to Cinncinnati for only $29 one way.