Latest fee for carry-ons creates new controversy
Allegiant Air has become the second major airline in the US to charge passengers a fee for carry-on luggage. The move has already generated controversy, with some consumers urging better disclosure of all fees.
A low-cost airline flying out of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and some Florida cities, Allegiant last week introduced a fee of up to $35 per bag.
It’s all part of an "ongoing effort to develop an innovative, new approach to travel", according to Airline President Andrew Levy.
The airline follows the lead of Florida-based Spirit Airlines, which was the first major airline in the US in 2010 to charge a fee of up to $45 for carry-on bags that do not fit under the seat, according to the LA Times.
Spirit’s fee captured a lot of criticism and Allegiant’s is expected to also generate heavy controversy.
TravelMole publisher Charles Kao recently flew from LA to Vegas on Spirit Airlines, and booked the trip on Orbitz because it was up to $30 cheaper than United.
"There was a mention of possible baggage charges, but like any other consumer, I thought they were referring to check-in bags, not carry on," he said. But he ended up paying $35 for carry-on luggage each way of the trip, "while it would have been free on United".
He says he has become an advocate of the government requiring the airlines to very clearly disclose all possible fees.
The US government says it is forcing airlines to be more upfront about total costs with fees added, but such groups as "Open Allies for Airfare Transparency" say more work clearly needs to be done to ensure full disclosure of all fees. The group’s members include travel management companies, travel agencies and consumer groups.
"Otherwise, consumers face another year, or longer, of confusion and complexity, with no meaningful way to compare offerings across airlines to secure the best deal on the all-in price of air travel," said Art Sackler, executive director of the group.
Allegiant said the carry-on bag fee will vary by route, ranging from $10 to $35, with the highest charge for passengers who wait to pay just before boarding. As with Spirit Airlines, passengers on Allegiant will be allowed to carry smaller bags, such as briefcases, purses or laptops, for free as long as they can fit under the seat or in the passenger’s lap.
By David Wilkening
David
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