I was recently interviewed by The New York Times over my pet peeve regarding travel fees imposed by airlines and hotels. Now, Spirit Airlines has announced that it will charge a $100 fee for a carry-on bag. Conversely, other airlines are increasing their charges for checked bags which has generated billions in new revenues. There will be a $70 checked bag fee on international flights at American for some flight, for example. At one time, airlines blamed the new fees on fuel costs but that rationale fell away as the fees continued regardless of fuel costs.
Notably, we discussed these fees in my torts class in discussing the case of Andrews v. United Airlines dealing with the question of negligence by airlines in the design of overhead bins. This case occurred before airlines started charging fees that resulted in many people taking cases on the plane — resulting in delay and an increase in the number of injuries.
As I mentioned to the Times, the strategy is clearly to drop the expectations of the new generation of travelers who do not remember that bags were once considered a basic element of traveling and covered in a ticket. Allegiant Air announced this month that it will be charging up to $35 for bags. Delta will charge $75 for checking a second bag.
JetBlue, which recently shrank legroom in a disappointing reversal, will also start to impose a fee of $40 for a second bag though to it credit the airline does not charge for the first bag.
The fleecing of travelers is now out of control. With the bag fees, boarding has become a contest that makes the Roman games look tame in comparison, People crush each others bags and coats in trying to wedge huge bags into bins. Passengers who check their bags, like me, are now told that they must not use the bins for their jackets or computer bags to make room for bigger bags. You are asked to stuff these bags at your feet while the airlines are continuing to reduce the leg room in standard seats. This leaves you virtually entrapped with no ability to open a lap top or change position if you are average height for a male. After denying you any room, the airline then offers to sell you different seats with varying degrees of space: what I called the “misery index” menu now common on U.S. domestic airlines.
I am only waiting for the baggage fee charges to become uniform so that you are charged on the same airline for carrying one a bag or for checking a bag. The message is clear: put on multiple layers of clothes and go without luggage.
Source: USA Today
Folks, I endorse you waxing nostalgic about days gone by, that’s not a problem for me. Having me pay for your fantasy is. That’s my point.
I would love to see high speed rail throughout the country. Get the trucks off the interstates and city streets, replace them with smaller delivery trucks. I’ve done the train bit – Syracuse to someplace in Indiana; Toronto to Vancouver, Tokyo to Kyoto and Yokohama. Out of city parking and trolleys to inner city. Streets multi-laned for bicycles, skates, skate boards. All new building and reroofing or residing to incorporate solar panels. Roof to include gardens – veggies, herbs, flowers, seating areas.
Ping! Bubble popped. Bring the troops home.
I prefer traveling by train to traveling by plane–as long as the distance isn’t too long. It’s much more comfortable. There’s lots of leg room. You don’t have to pay for your luggage…or wait for it after you reach your destination. You don’t have to worry about losing your luggage. You don’t have to arrive at the train station more than an hour before your departure, take your shoes and jacket off, and wait in line to be checked by TSA. In addition, most train stations are in the centers of big cities. You don’t have to take a long cab/bus trip from an airport to a city. It may be an “old-fashioned” method of travel–but it sure beats air travel these days.
So….
Nick, Some republicans want to contract the running of the Amtrak trains to private operators. It is a convenient was to bust unions.
nick Many republicans want to privatize Amtrak. Amtrak provides rail service.
SWM, How does that “privatize” meme apply to this discussion.
It is unfortunate, Blouise, but we have a group of right wing conservatives now that want everything privatized.
Blouise, I share your lament and it is overused..the left/right thing. That’s part of our insane duopoly political system. But, in this case, involving trains it’s appropriate.
Blouise, Trains flourish as a mode of transportation for cargo. Again, lets look forward. Targeted high speed rail over expanses of less than 200 miles or so will probably sell and work in certain corridors. You simply can’t force down the throats of Americans something they don’t need or want. I think that’s good. For Chrissake, Americans won’t carpool even w/ all the incentives provided. I choose to live in the real world. I have some Quixote in me, but not when it comes to this. Of course even the great Don looked forward.
I really don’t know why everything has to be classified as left or right.
Maybe it’s just the times we’re living in.
SwM,
Nick was probably referring to Mike’s mention of high speed rail which I would also support as real competition to airline travel.
The railroads were the key to economic growth in the second half of the nineteenth century. Besides making it possible to ship agricultural and manufactured goods throughout the country cheaply and efficiently, they directly contributed to the development of the steel and coal industries. Because of their size and complexity, the railroads pioneered new management techniques such as the separation of finance and accounting from operating functions and the development of the first organizational charts that clearly showed the chain of command and responsibility. The total rail mileage in the United States grew from 53,000 miles in 1870 to just under 200,000 miles at the turn of the century, with most of the new track being laid east of the Mississippi River in the nation’s industrial heartland. Cross-country scheduling became easier in 1883 when the railroads established the Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones across the United States.
Considering all that, I wonder how a new high speed rail system that moved people and goods would impact our economy?
Blouise and Swarthmore,
High speed trains would be a great alternative to these air bandits.
ID, What was childish? “The best thing I can say” was childish? I considered it restrained
Nobody knew Europe better than Ike. He knew every town, road, and train track. The US is exponentially larger than Europe. Which is one of the reasons Ike created the Interstate Highway System. I love trains and they’re very practical in urban areas. There are even some cities that don’t have high speed that would be economically feasible..LA to Vegas comes to mind. It’s just more than a bit ironic that folks who purport to be “progressive” want to return to pre WW2 transportation. We’re a car, plane culture. That will not change until a new, more advanced form of transportation is created, which will surely happen. If you’re into nostalgia watch some great flicks from the 30’s and 40’s. I enjoy those classics. But I like to look forward in real life…you know progressively.
For those who desire a government owned and run airline come examine SAS Scandinavian Airling System. Creeated by the scandinavian countries, it die well establishing a profile, offering competitive prices and scandinavian chilled blonde reception on flights.
But like most government things it caught the bureaucratic inflation disease. No more of that tale. It of course was a correct judgement of the market here in the three countries. But the backoffice costs rose and rose……!!!
The same is true of the Swedish government power company, with hydraulic and nuke power, which has bought into dirty german coal power. Check out Vattenfall. It’s a mess. 5,000 bodies to run one nuke plant. Prices not based on costs but using the power poor EU market as base prices. No more for now.
Blouise, I guess it is because we want subsidies. Republicans want to kill mass transportation. Remember what Kasich did? I prefer the train, too, but out here it is not very accessible. Now, we do have the DART train in the city but nothing much inter city. I grew up riding the trains everywhere.
Nick Spinelli,
I like you, but don’t always understand you.
You declare you are a libertarian and know and swear by their principles.
So I can understand why you oppose soccialism and Mikes opinion. But why use such childish remarks.
Don’t you feel it when you piss on your own feet?
Blouise,
Just as long as they don’t weigh the pax and start hacking away the excess poundage.
nick spinelli
What is the lefts fascination w/ choo choo’s.
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Left’s fascination? I’ve used trains for decades as an alternative to flying. Tex and I have traveled thousands of miles through this country and Canada utilizing the “sleeper suites” which come equipped with their own 3/4 bath and full room service from the bar and dining car.
I didn’t realize it was a left’s thing … I thought it was comfort and service. Even the grandkids love it.