Baggage fees can now cost more than a ticket
Can checking bags actually cost more than your airline ticket?
“Yes, it’s come to this,” says the LA Times.
United Airlines, for instance, recently offered a $119.40 round-trip fare, taxes included, from Los Angeles to San Francisco. If you were to check two bags both ways, your luggage charges would total $120, the newspaper said.
“It’s no cheaper on the rest of the Big Five airlines — American, Continental, Delta and US Airways — which, like United, last month increased checked-luggage charges in the US to $25 each way for the first bag and $35 for the second,” says the Times.
But brace for more increases this year, said Jay Sorensen, president of IdeaWorksCompany.com, an airline consultant based in Shorewood, Wis.
"We will see these fees tied to length of flight," he predicted. "If you travel across the country, why should the fees be the same as for a one-hour flight?"
"Most airlines now clearly consider baggage fees the holy grail of revenue treasure," said a report by Sorensen’s company.
Big money is involved. The Big Five are expected to haul in $1.7 billion from bag fees this year, estimated the company’s report. This is a quick turnaround from May of 2008 when most bags were free.
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025