Airline costs getting crazy

[masraum]

I haven't flown in 3-5 years. I know they had started adding costs the last time that I flew, but it's gotten crazier. I'm flying United tomorrow. I chose "no checked bags" because I always took one bag and carried it on and put it overhead. Turns out you can't do that any more. If you try to do that they'll charge you for the bag plus a $25 gate handling fee at the gate. WTF. I don't want to check my bag, but I guess I don't have much choice. I guess either the bins are now empty or only frequent flyers or folks that have paid can carry on their big bags now. What a pain in the aß.

Now all that can be carried on is a small bag to go under the seat in front of you.

Wankers!

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by masraum

I haven't flown in 3-5 years. I know they had started adding costs the last time that I flew, but it's gotten crazier. I'm flying United tomorrow. I chose "no checked bags" because I always took one bag and carried it on and put it overhead. Turns out you can't do that any more. If you try to do that they'll charge you for the bag plus a $25 gate handling fee at the gate. WTF. I don't want to check my bag, but I guess I don't have much choice. I guess either the bins are now empty or only frequent flyers or folks that have paid can carry on their big bags now. What a pain in the aß.

Now all that can be carried on is a small bag to go under the seat in front of you.

Wankers!

You can carry one on for free..it just has to be a size that will fit under the seat ahead of you.
I do that all the time. It's surprising how big of a bag will fit under there. I never check a bag.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

When I flew out to Portland OR last year to ride my bike back across country, instead of checking a suitcase with all my gear, I shipped it out via UPS. A little cheaper and less chance of getting lost.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

You can carry one on for free..it just has to be a size that will fit under the seat ahead of you.
I do that all the time. It's surprising how big of a bag will fit under there. I never check a bag.

Yeah, but I need the old small suitcase type that would go in the overhead bins. I haven't checked a bag in years, but I guess this trip will be the first time in a long time.

[look 171]

was going to book tickets to Calgary in April, and discovered that one check in luggage is 95 bucks and 35 for carry on. Crazy. Talking about nickel and dime someone to death. Just include that in the ticket price and be done with it.

[wdfifteen]

The experience of flying seems to get worse and worse. When we retired Vicki and I swore we would never get on an airplane again. So far we've stuck to it.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by masraum

Yeah, but I need the old small suitcase type that would go in the overhead bins. I haven't checked a bag in years, but I guess this trip will be the first time in a long time.

This is the American Tourister expandable bag I use. I fill it right up in the expanded position and it fits under the seat ahead every time.
Makes for a handy foot rest also....the attendants don't care if it sticks out on the side of the owner.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

When I flew out to Portland OR last year to ride my bike back across country, instead of checking a suitcase with all my gear, I shipped it out via UPS. A little cheaper and less chance of getting lost.

"mail" shipping costs have gotten crazy. I'm sure that I could fit my crap into a box much smaller than an "overhead" suit case, but I'm not sure how much cheaper it would be.

I get it. I've always taken a small bag, and then a suitcase that fit into the overhead bins.

A lot of folks bring too much crap, or use bags that are too large to fit as carry on. Lots of folks were also incapable of managing their bags or were unable to get them into the overhead bins.

And when the airlines started charging for checked bags, I'm sure the carry on situation got worse. And then all of those folks that were bringing too much stuff or stuff that was too large or unable to manage their stuff were causing delays for boarding and de-planing. Now only frequent flyers seem allowed to bring on carry on and those folks should be experienced enough to not cause issues.

Still, I hate checking my bag. I've had a bag get misplaced once or twice which is a huge PITA. Plus there's the delay while waiting for your bag at baggage claim instead of just heading straight for your transpo.

But I'm stuck with the current situation.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

was going to book tickets to Calgary in April, and discovered that one check in luggage is 95 bucks and 35 for carry on. Crazy. Talking about nickel and dime someone to death. Just include that in the ticket price and be done with it.

Wow, I just paid $40 for my checked bag and one carry-on is free.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

This is the American Tourister expandable bag I use. I fill it right up in the expanded position and it fits under the seat ahead every time.
Makes for a handy foot rest also....the attendants don't care if it sticks out on the side of the owner.

I wish I'd know this a week or two ago! I think I could manage with that. I'll have to see what sort of backpacks we have laying around. Maybe I'll be able to manage only a carry on. (wonder if I'd be able to get a refund on the fee, seems unlikely) But at least I wouldn't have to pay coming back.

[Eric 951]

Originally Posted by masraum

I wish I'd know this a week or two ago! I think I could manage with that. I'll have to see what sort of backpacks we have laying around. Maybe I'll be able to manage only a carry on. (wonder if I'd be able to get a refund on the fee, seems unlikely) But at least I wouldn't have to pay coming back.

Unless you are flying "basic economy"--which is different than "economy", you would have been allowed (1) carry on and (1) personal item for free.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Eric 951

Unless you are flying "basic economy"--which is different than "economy", you would have been allowed (1) carry on and (1) personal item for free.

I'm paying for the extra leg room. When i checked in, it said that I would only be allowed 1 item that had to fit under the seat in front of me.

But, yes, at the bottom of the email when I bought the ticket it does say

United accepts the following items, per customer, to be carried on the aircraft at no charge:
One carry-on bag no more than 45 linear inches or 114 linear centimeters
One personal item (such as a shoulder or laptop bag)

I think when I checked in there was an extra message about this being a full flight and so unchecked bags would not be allowed.

I'll see if I can find someone to call to ask about it.

[dad911]

I recall Round trip airline tickets in the 70's to be $6-700, when a new Camaro was $4k.

That would make a ticket $5000 now.

Then we had the fun of flying through vegas or buying round trips and throwing away a leg to save money.


Now I fly mostly allegiant, $69 or less 1-way when I can buy in advance and am flexible with dates, and a free drink.

[t6dpilot]

The Legacy airlines are doing this (and have been for some time now) to compete with the ULCC carriers and their "unbundled" fares. If you want checked bags or overhead bin carry-on, then buy the fare that includes bags.

[Otter74]

We flew a lot when I was little, in the mid 70s to the early 80s when we moved to Atlanta. Flights were between Venezuela and Colombia or the US, sometimes domestic in the US. In my dad's things I have some of the old tickets and receipts for those flights, and it's a bit amazing to me how much they cost. I don't remember without looking it up, but it was on the order of the same dollar amount I can fly the same routes for today if I buy a retail ticket. Flying used to be *expensive*. Now it's not. I'll take it the way it is now.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Eric 951

Unless you are flying "basic economy"--which is different than "economy", you would have been allowed (1) carry on and (1) personal item for free.

It was a pain, but I was eventually able to get them to refund the $40.

[stealthn]

Originally Posted by look 171

was going to book tickets to Calgary in April, and discovered that one check in luggage is 95 bucks and 35 for carry on. Crazy. Talking about nickel and dime someone to death. Just include that in the ticket price and be done with it.

Coming to my hometown, what's here?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by look 171

was going to book tickets to Calgary in April, and discovered that one check in luggage is 95 bucks and 35 for carry on. Crazy. Talking about nickel and dime someone to death. Just include that in the ticket price and be done with it.

What if a person doesn't want to bring checked luggage....like myself?
I surely wouldn't want the price included in my ticket.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

What if a person doesn't want to bring checked luggage....like myself?
I surely wouldn't want the price included in my ticket.

We've got an airline for you.



No, wait, this is your airline.



THe video is weirdly fuzzy, but she looks thin and fit and potentially hot (probably the funny adds to that impression).

[stevej37]

[QUOTE=masraum;12353881]We've got an airline for you.
No, wait, this is your airline.



She is funny...and Spirit often has attendants giving a show before take-off.
I use Spirit often for DTW to FLL, RSW, or TPA....all under $150 R/T

Spirit uses Airbus 320's and the video doesn't look like one.

Is that Snoop in the first pic?