ExplorerGirls

And, here I keep thinking that flights are expensive enough…only to read that those pesky, expensive bag fees airlines have been charging us across the US are going up!  In a recent article posted in the LA Times, airlines have made a billion dollars off the checked bag fees in the last year and plan to make billions more.

International flights are also in danger of major excess baggage charges.  The article announced Delta was already charging $50 for the second bag. So, it might not be long before others follow.

Last year when I travelled to the US from Australia for some snowboarding, a Grand Canyon adventure and to visit some friends and family for Xmas, I had to put the blinders on every time I checked my bags for the next flight just to keep calm.

The Qantas flight over the big pond was fine, managed to get my suitcase and snowboard bag on with no extra fees, but once I touched down in the US, I could here the sounds of the old cash register as I was hit with a fee to check the first bag and another larger fee to check the second for every flight from Colorado to Texas, Texas to NJ, NJ to Virginia and back to LA.  

The fees just kept coming and the credit card just kept coming out of the wallet so I could board the next flight.

Now it seems if you don’t pre-pay your fees online first you will be paying more.  I can see that the only thing this might help is to speed up the lines of people waiting there to check bags with credit card in hand.

I keep asking…is there something we can do to change this or are we doomed forever to pack lighter and lighter or pay higher and higher fees for baggage.  We already have to pay for food and drinks, blankets and pillows.

Oh and it seems Australia is catching on fast….after trying to board a domestic Qantas flight recently, I was told at check-in they have dropped the allowed baggage weight for all passenger classes and are charging $10 per kilo.  (Again, my credit card was back out of the wallet and suddenly the cheaper flight got more expensive!)

TRAVEL WARNING:  Before your next flight make sure to check your airline website and pay all fees online for checked baggage to save money and weigh your bags a head of time to avoid extra fees! You might save money by only bringing one bag, if it doesn't weigh too much.  The fees can add up!

Anyone have any tips, suggestions or ways we can get together to help change this? Leave a comment below or start a Forum conversation.

(Report fromTraveMole.com about article in LA Times)

Big bags mean big bucks for the airlines

According to The LA Times, American carriers made more than $1 billion last year from additional fees on checked baggage. That was more than double from the year before. Airlines are so hip to this that they're hiking the fees up even more. So, plan ahead and pack light.

United Airlines, the first major carrier to begin charging for checked bags that otherwise was included in the airfare, said this week that it was raising the bag by $5 to up to $20 for the first bag and $30 for the second.

Travelers can keep paying the current price if they prepay online. The fee increase takes affect for domestic flights beginning June 10 and applies to economy tickets bought on or after May 14.

More Fees Please!

This concept is catching on as United's hike follows US Airways, which is increasing the bag fees by $5 for those who don't prepay on its website. As if that's not enough, in July, Delta Air Lines, the world's largest carrier will begin charging international passengers a $50 fee to check a second bag. The fee is the first on overseas flights by a major U.S. airline.

The extra revenues from the new bag fees have helped soften the blow of losing billions of dollars in the aftermath of high fuel prices last summer and the recent economic downturn in travel that began last fall.

With more airlines adding or hiking bag fees, revenues could exceed $3.5 billion this year, according to Airline Information LLC, a Miami-based management consulting firm.

Source: LA Times

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