Spirit is using an increase in checked bag fees as a way to pass off fuel cost increases without raising fares.
The carrier is doubling its checked bag fee to $10 per piece if pre-reserved on its Web site and $20 if requested at the airport.
Spirit said the new baggage policy “gives passengers the option to avoid the increased cost of travel due to rising fuel costs by packing lighter…less baggage means less weight, which translates to lower fuel burn,” the airline said.
A340Crew From United States of America, joined Jan 2008, 261 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 1019 times:
I think it was NK that proposed the hike first, they announced this a few weeks ago
PilotNTrng From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 897 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (5 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 1003 times:
Spirit's ground crew should be loving this new policy. It really makes sense if you stop and think about it. The cost of fuel obviously has to be absorbed somewhere, and I personally think this is the fairest way.
LTBEWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12331 posts, RR: 12 Reply 3, posted (5 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 993 times:
PeopleExpress charged a fee of $3.00 per checked bag on all flights for all of the times of it's existance 1981-1987. That would be about = to $ 7.00 - 8.00 today. You would pay for it at the check in/security counter (all bags went through x-rays before check in as part of security check at the gate areas enterence. You could pay for the fee in cash or credit card. You could also bring on up to 2 smaller carry on's depending on the a/c used.
I can understand Spirit doing this, but still comes off as 'bait and switch' tactics which most see as unethical and even illegal.
PilotNTrng From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 897 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (5 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 963 times:
I am more than likely wrong, because I have absolutly no clue when it comes to economics, but if your costs of operating are rising, obviously you have to raise your prices or reduce your product. I think charging for extra luggage by 10 bucks or so isn't that big of deal. From my expierences on the ramp, most people have no clue how to pack their luggage any how, so why not take advantage of this and try to soak up some of the blood?
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From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22030 posts, 
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