Pack light: Spirit Airlines charging fees for 2nd checked bag
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Spirit Airlines, known for its clever (and sometimes politically partisan) marketing, is the first airline in America to charge a fee if you want to check a second suitcase.
Effective February 10, 2007, each passenger will only be allowed ONE checked bag of 50 pounds. The second bag will cost $10 and a third will run you $100. Bags over 50 pounds will cost extra, as always. Full detail of Spirit’s baggage policies is here.
Smells like the nickel-and-diming business plan of European discount carriers like Ryanair, and I don’t like it.
As usual, the airline’s business case is understandable. Less luggage means lower expenses for the airline, and we’re already seeing signs that we’re headed for a-la-carte ticket pricing. But that doesn’t mean we have to like it. For those who are traveling with a second suitcase, this is effectively a fare hike.
If Spirit is in contention for your travels, it’s time to consider your packing strategy before you buy your tickets. Or just reconsider your airline.
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February 7th, 2007 at 11:03 am |
Since there is an actual cost associated with transporting luggage (handling of the bags, fuel, “insurance”), I wouldn’t have a problem with them charging a fee for every bag beyond the carry-on (which, of course, would have to be strictly size-limited). Since I mostly travel with just light carry-on, why should a portion of my ticket price cover the overall cost of transporting luggage? Just because it historically was the way to do business doesn’t mean it’s the right wa to do business. We call’em legacy carriers and dinosaurs for a reason, aren’t we?
The nickel and diming I would NOT like is the stuff that doesn’t cost the airlines anything, like choosing a seat at reservation time.
February 8th, 2007 at 10:29 am |
[…] Just three days ago, we learned that Spirit Airlines would start charging $10 each way if a passenger wanted to check a second bag. But that’s peanuts. British Airways will be charging £120 — the equivalent of $235 — for an extra bag. Each way. […]
February 9th, 2007 at 6:33 pm |
[…] After all, Spirit Airlines just instituted a rule that a second suitcase would cost you $10 extra. So I don’t think there’s anything on the books here in the U.S. […]
March 6th, 2007 at 9:57 am |
[…] The ink had hardly dried on their announcement last month that they would be charging $10 for a second checked bag. Now, Spirit Airlines has rolled out a range of changes, converting the airline into a European-style discount carrier, similar to Ryanair or Easyjet. […]