JACK02116 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2006, 145 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 7558 times:
the only downside is that they get very strict on enforcing the rules around cabin baggage and take any discretion away from the gate staff when someone's bags are borderline.
GCT64 From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2007, 1125 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 7361 times:
Charging for hold baggage / offering "hand baggage only" fares ONLY works if you are strict on hand baggage (a la Easyjet):
Quoting JACK02116 (Reply 3): the only downside is that they get very strict on enforcing the rules around cabin baggage
If you charge for hold baggage and are lax in controlling the hand baggage you end up in the chaotic US situation - which surely no one in Europe aspires to emulate?
vhtje From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2009, 307 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 7115 times:
How will this work for the frequent BA traveller? If the traveller was BA Premier or Gold and turned up with luggage to check-in - and perhaps the corporate travel agent unwittingly booked this no-checked-baggage ultra-low fare, unknown to the traveller - what happens?
YYZYYT From Canada, joined Apr 2005, 858 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 7021 times:
My thought is that there is no distinction between "offering a discount" for travellers with no baggage and "charging more" for travellers with. The only real difference over the present US approach is that the fee is not a fee per piece, but rather a flat fee included in the fare.
And it begs the question: are the savings really passed on to passengers or an additional source of revenue to help the bottom line? Call me suspicious, I assume the latter.
I personally dislike this trend, and would like to see some airlines keeping proper service (within reason of course).
abrown532 From UK - Northern Ireland, joined Feb 2008, 131 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 months 4 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 6572 times:
Personally I think this is a very good idea as I try and fly with BA as much as possible between LHR-BHD as I love their service and clean aircraft, my second choice would be EI.
However, I very rarely will have a suitcase and as a student the possibility of a lower fare due to losing service which I don't use anyway sounds very appealing.
planeguy727 From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 1077 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (3 months 4 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 4212 times:
Three things:
1) What happens if a bag is deemed too big and needs to be checked?
2) What if a person changes her/his mind? What's the process to add a checked bag?
3) The articles notes "BA added that passengers choosing the “hand baggage only” fare would be able to carry on cases measuring up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm as well as a laptop bag and a handbag. " So is that up to 3 carry on items?
1) What happens if a bag is deemed too big and needs to be checked?
2) What if a person changes her/his mind? What's the process to add a checked bag?
3) The articles notes "BA added that passengers choosing the “hand baggage only” fare would be able to carry on cases measuring up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm as well as a laptop bag and a handbag. " So is that up to 3 carry on items?
1) Normal rules would apply, you would be required to pay the airport check in fee. In my experience, BA tend not to bother measuring any bags up, so don't know how well it'd work.
2) As with my answer 1, you would be required to pay the at airport fee.
3) The article is incorrect if it says that, the allowance is one 10KG bag and 1 laptop OR handbag=2 pieces of hand luggage.
fca767 From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2006, 1720 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 months 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2713 times:
I think it will be the same price...if the baggage handler is still loading bags what difference is another 100? they're not going to knock money off their wages for loading less bags they still need paying
LHRFlyer From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2010, 745 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (3 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 2304 times:
I think it's inevitable that charges for checking in bags on short-haul flights will become standard in Europe.
The days when European airlines could afford to lose hundreds of millions on short-haul operations to be compensated for by profits on long-haul are over.
I have been on a few different airlines over the past 12 months, and I increasingly hear the words, "Please place your larger bag in the overhead locker, and place all other bags under the seat in front of you." followed by something like "This will allow all passengers to use the overhead lockers safely"
BMED From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2004, 856 posts, RR: 7 Reply 14, posted (3 months 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 1866 times:
I am impressed by the BA website in that it is clear for the passenger to see the rules and pricing rather than going to another page that might then ask you to select the luggage been taken and add to the pricing. Operating as crew I find if you ask passengers to place their larger bags in the overhead bins they will do.
Quoting fiscal (Reply 13): "Please place your larger bag in the overhead locker, and place all other bags under the seat in front of you
This makes sense and ensures that large bags are been squashed under seats and taking up floor space that might be required in an emergency.
r2rho From Germany, joined Feb 2007, 2274 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (3 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 1522 times:
Quoting seansasLCY (Thread starter): I think this is much better than the KLM approach as we can actually see cheaper fares are being offered.
Definitely. From the passenger point of view, the perception is completely different to that of a pure LCC-style fee. You are given the new option to save money by not checking a bag.
Quoting goldorak (Reply 1): It seems they copy the new AF mini offer for European routes
AB is going the same way, VY already had it, 4U as well... tiered fare options seem to be the way to go and will likely become the new standard fro intra-EU flying.
Quoting YYZYYT (Reply 6): My thought is that there is no distinction between "offering a discount" for travellers with no baggage and "charging more" for travellers with. The only real difference over the present US approach is that the fee is not a fee per piece, but rather a flat fee included in the fare.
And it begs the question: are the savings really passed on to passengers or an additional source of revenue to help the bottom line? Call me suspicious, I assume the latter.
You are most probably right, but as I said above the passenger perception is completely different: you are given the feeling that you have larger choice, rather than being nickel and dimed for everything.
Quoting LHRFlyer (Reply 12): I think it's inevitable that charges for checking in bags on short-haul flights will become standard in Europe.
Not necessarily - as I say above, IMO tiered fare structures will become the standard. At least among the legacies and their short-haul subsidiaries.
ABQopsHP From United States of America, joined May 2006, 837 posts, RR: 3 Reply 16, posted (3 months 4 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1228 times:
I dont see why it cant work. Eastern did something similar to this with its Moonlighter flights. Even tho, that was because the belly was used for cargo only. I took one of these flights out of MCO, late at night. It was 90% full. I think its a great idea.
offloaded From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2009, 718 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (3 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 1048 times:
Next column will be if you don't want a drink and a snack on board have a £3 discount.
I was only discusing with my BA rep last week what sets BA apart from EZY, with regard to EZY introduced a free bag with their flexi fares, and general pre-assigned seating......
To no one will we sell, or deny, or delay, right or justice - Magna Carta, 1215
AIR MALTA From Malta, joined Sep 2001, 2367 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (3 months 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 971 times:
Note that if you buy the no luggage fare, your Exec Club tier level Gold or Silver or One World equivalent does not count and you won't be able to take luggages.
BD338 From United States of America, joined Jul 2010, 603 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (3 months 4 weeks ago) and read 748 times:
Quoting YYZYYT (Reply 6): And it begs the question: are the savings really passed on to passengers or an additional source of revenue to help the bottom line? Call me suspicious, I assume the latter.
None of the airlines who initiated fees etc. talks about how much they saved passengers it's always about the additonal income, so that should be a clue right there.
I've no problem with a fee for anything outside the basic cost of travel when the ticket price is dirt cheap (FR, G4, NK etc. etc.) but when an airline, not naming names but they have a rather large presence in Atlanta, wants to charge me $400+ for an alleged discount fare (L class) on a 500 mile flight AND wants to charge me for a bag then I feel nickel and dimed. Can only dimly hope that BA doesn't follow that road, but I have my doubts.
avek00 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 4094 posts, RR: 18 Reply 20, posted (3 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 634 times:
The USA legacy airlines are leading the world in the art of transformation of legacies into highly efficient, revenue-maximizing enterprises. European legacy carriers -- the costliest airlines in the world to operate, and with their bread-and-butter longhaul flying under major threat from Mideast rivals -- are most in need of transformation at this point, so expect to continue to see more ideas (and in time, specific practices) exported from their USA peers.
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