Consumerism Commentary - Latest Comments in How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

M-D November — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:59:04 -0000

The baggage fees are also a ploy by the airlines to keep you loyal - stay loyal, earn elite status; earn status and you don't have to pay checked bag fees. (Although in many cases you can also bypass the baggage fees if you hold an airline's credit card.)

Packing light and sticking to a carry-on isn't always the solution, sadly. You run the risk of your roll-aboard not fitting in the overhead (common among regional jets and the center section overheads on some widebodies) or having to gate-check your bag due to lack of overhead space if you don't have boarding priority. Plus there's the TSA to contend with - you have to make sure any cosmetics/toiletries you take on board are less than 3oz, and all your liquids/gels must fit in a single quart-sized ziploc bag. For some folks, that's a dealbreaker.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

M-D November — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:51:41 -0000

Depends on the airline. I've read that United has pretty good snack/meal options for sale. Contrast that with Continental - sure, the meals are free, but in many cases they're inedible, even in First Class. And remember too that some carriers actually charge for soft drinks, making a stop in the terminal a necessity.

The trouble with bringing your own food in today's era of security theater is that you have to be very careful about what you bring. Solid food like a sandwich or a granola bar will probably pass security without an issue, but TSA will stop ANY liquid - even if it's part of a meal. (Don't laugh - pre-9/11 I saw people come on airplanes with full three-course meals in tupperware.) I've found that most larger airports offer a decent selection of food options - and many airports have established price-competitveness policies to keep people spending in-terminal. Sure, they're not always the healthiest options, but it's good in a pinch.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

M-D November — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:44:29 -0000

The problem is that in looking for low FARES, consumers aren't necessarily taking the extra FEES into account. Look at RyanAir (http://www.ryanair.com/site... as an example: There's a fee for checking in online, and there's a fee for checking in at the airport. (Yes, you read that right.) There's a fee on EVERY bag you check, including infant strollers and the like. There's a fee for paying for your ticket with certain credit cards. And their CEO has half-seriously talked about putting a coin slot on the lavatory doors. By the time you've actually boarded your flight, the cost of their 'low-cost' ticket has doubled - sometimes tripled. But with low-cost carriers (particularly non-US LCCs), you get what you pay for.

Legacy carriers nickel & diming is a whole other story. IMHO, legacy carriers have no business charging for a 1st checked bag, let alone seat assignments or soft drinks just to recoup losses based on lousy fuel hedges.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

M-D November — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:34:40 -0000

The flask wouldn't pass TSA muster if it's more than 3oz. Although you could conceivably buy the 3oz cosmetic bottles from the supermarket or drug store and fill them with your spirit of choice.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

Harlan Landes — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:33:58 -0000

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised to see the "privilege" of using the restroom listed on an airline fee schedule one of these days.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

Harlan Landes — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:31:23 -0000

Yes, when I flew Delta recently, I paid $15 for checking a bag from home on the flight out and I paid $20 for checking a bag at the terminal (curbside, plus $4 mandatory tip) on the flight back. I remember when the fees were $0 and $0 respectively, and that was recently.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

Harlan Landes — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:29:30 -0000

I don't think cutting prices is the answer. The airlines are already slashing prices on fares and probably only partially making back the cuts in these petty fees here and there. What I don't like is being nickel-and-dimed; I'd rather have higher fare prices without the fees for all but breathing airplane air, but I understand why airlines have a need to cut fare prices -- it's basically the only thing most customers look for when booking flights.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

guinness416 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:54:58 -0000

You might like this story from Ireland a few months ago flexo.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

Michele — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:55:30 -0000

Well if you need a drink maybe you should bring a flask with your own liquor lol. I wonder if the police will let you get through with that?

We are going to visit family for Thanksgiving. We are doing carry on, I am rolling the clothes and bringing as little as possible. If I do some really big shopping (Black Friday) I will have it shipped by the US Postal Service.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

Harlan Landes — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:37:16 -0000

Yeah, Andre, there's no need to take that suggestion seriously. Even if you believe in a free market system, you can see that Congress occasionally has the will and the power to enact regulations. The Credit CARD Act is one recent example. Whether you think it was a good idea or a bad idea doesn't affect their ability to put new regulation into law. In fact Congress has regulated the airline industry a number of times in the past century.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

Nandan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:21:19 -0000

One recent change for checked baggage fees (for Delta airlines at least) is a surcharge for checking in baggage at the airport (including ticket counter). There is no surcharge for prepaying for the same during online check in.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

Andre Garrigo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:12:50 -0000

Complain to Congress? Are you fucking kidding me?

What ever happened to the good old free market? These airlines are on the verge of bankruptcy and you want to get the government involved (on your behalf to fight the airlines)?

I hope that was a sarcastic joke. If it wasn't then let me know. I'll be unsubscribing from your RSS feed as obviously our opinions greatly differ and you're just an idiot for promoting these kinds of ideas.

Not sure if you forgot about a little document called the constitution. Read it. Doesn't say anything about Congress regulating airlines does it?

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

craig — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:04:25 -0000

Great tips and as someone who recently just traveled have used those myself. Depending on the airline you have different treatment but pack as light as possible. Not only that you don't have to wait for as many bags when leaving. Eat beforehand, they may not have and like you say bring a book or something cause more airlines are charging for entertainment.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

BarbL114 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:40:59 -0000

I totally agree on bringing your own food, but if you must eat, I'd actually recommend buying on the plane over buying in the terminal. You can frequently get a decent amount of varied food (cheese and crackers, fruit, etc.) for around $5--enough that it qualifies as a meal for me. Considering that the drink is free, not too shabby, particularly considering that you'll easily drop more than that on fast food in the terminal.

Re: How to Avoid Excessive Airline Fees While Traveling

David — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:54:38 -0000

Complain to Congress? The airlines are all perpetually on the verge of bankruptcy, and you want them to cut prices even more? What would they cut from?