Spirit To Charge For Carry-On Luggage

"Spirit Airlines will soon be the first of the major U.S. airlines to charge passengers to carry on their luggage."
Online in advance- $30
At the gate- $45


"In addition to reducing fares even further, this will reduce the number of carry-on bags, which will improve inflight safety and efficiency by speeding up the boarding and deplaning process, all of which ultimately improve the overall customer experience,"
Chief Operating Officer Ken McKenzie said in a statement.

Spirit Airlines to charge for carry-on bags - Apr. 6, 2010

"speeding up the boarding process...... " I don't think so.
I perdict, upset passengers, exasperated gate agents and police in riot gear.

Hahaha.... oh my.

From what I can tell though, spirit is a very "special case" type airline... heavy on the vacation market and cheapie fares, famous for CCing someone into an abusive email etc.? I think airlines like that can probably get away with this sort of thing.

To me it makes a little sense, I have seen how large the bags are on US aircraft and it astounds me that people seem to think they will fit!

That being said, I sit here in my ivory tower where AA etc. don't charge us nonrevs for our bags so who am I to judge

You gotta love JetBlue's response to Spirit's announced carry-on fees.

BlueTales » JetBlue

"In case you were wondering, JetBlue will continue to offer a free first checked bag, not to mention that you can bring your Mickey Mouse ears, your magazine collection, your favorite wrinkle-free slacks, and your lunch onboard, and enjoy free use of the overhead bins and more legroom than any other airline in its class."

and you have to check out the new "Extrago Sherpa Shirt" for travel - lots of pockets. ;) ;)

I see the orginal concept as a marketing ploy--get more potential pax to pay the membership fee up front for the $9 club (whether they buy a tkt or not)
They get super cheap fares (WHEN avail) and lower carry-on bag fees. I think the rest of the industry (and the media and general public) made it out as a gouging effort. Nothing is FREE, period.

You just know ...."pay toilets" are next. Sad.

Ryanair actually announced that today. Not kidding, either...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spongebue

Ryanair actually announced that today. Not kidding, either...

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See Ryanair moves ahead with pay toilet plan - Globe-trotting - The Boston Globe and Ryanair toilet charges to be phased in | Mail Online

This I totally get... I mean it's Ryanair, deep discount, short hop service - who needs a toilet?

Part of me appreciates the Southwest model - low cost and high customer service, but part of me also appreciates this bargain basement don't expect anything from me but safety thing. They both have their place, is all i'm saying. Personally I love good customer service etc... which is why I work for a full service airline!

So what happens when a pax who had a few drinks, doesn't have the proper change...he'll do it in the aisle? Or, one pax will leave the door open
for others? Should be fun with the soccer fans on board.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pago Flyer

So what happens when a pax who had a few drinks, doesn't have the proper change....

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Clean up on aisle 1. *faint*

Senator says five airlines won't charge for carryons.

"(Senator)Schumer said Sunday he's gotten commitments from American, Delta, JetBlue, United and US Air. He reached out to the companies' CEOs after Spirit Airlines recently announced it would charge up to $45 for passengers who bring a bag on board and put it in the overhead compartment."


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...p7oqgD9F5H4R00

Seems to be the in thing to regulate a deregulated industry... how is tarmac delays and overhead baggage costs of any interest to senators?

Spirit now has no recline seats.
Spirit Airlines seats: New Spirit Airlines planes have seats that don’t recline - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

"Spirit's new stationary seats weigh less offering greater fuel economy, Pinson said. In addition, there are fewer moving parts built into the seat, which minimizes maintenance costs associated with broken seat backs. Pinson said the result is lower fares.

Hmmm, a 28 inch seat pitch and carryons under the seat......sounds a "little" cramped. :o

"In addition to reducing fares even further, this will reduce the number of carry-on bags, which will improve inflight safety and efficiency by speeding up the boarding and deplaning process, all of which ultimately improve the overall customer experience," Chief Operating Officer Ken McKenzie said in a statement.

Doubt very seriously he's ever worked the ticket counter to collect baggage fees or boarded a full outbound flight on a tight turn time with aisle chairs... doubt very much he did a lot of market research on this either, as most customers I speak to at the ticket counter hate bag fees, think they are a huge airline rip off, and would (alledgely) pay $15 more for their fares as long as there were no first bag fees... what our customers want is fair value at a fair price, with no "hidden" fees...

In a recent article in U.S. News & World Report (“Will the United-Continental Merger Raise Airfares?”, 3 May 2010), Ben Baden writes: [H]e believes consumers may have been spoiled in recent years. “It’s kind of misleading to be talking about the fact that prices might go up for an industry that’s lost $60 billion in the past ten years. In some respects, maybe there has to be some realization on the part of consumers that it costs more to fly than what they’ve been paying."

Ok, so Spirit Airlines does somewhat nickel and dime you, but......its way cheaper I've noticed. For example, I bought a fare for someone from FLL to San Jose Costa Rica, ran 383 bucks round trip. This was way cheaper than the 800-900 bucks I could get at the time via other airlines. This included a 10 dollar aisle seat, plus taxes and fares. The carry on is up to the individual, pay another 30 RT for carry on over the aisle. Still a far cry cheaper. Maybe not the best accomodations, times and hours of flying, but its a cheap alternative. This fare was cheaper than it would cost me to buddy pass them considering its a STANDBY situation for them. 150 each way for buddy pass, and I think this is only for someone on your buddy pass list that is family. Say what you will about this cheezy airline, but it works for the economically disadvantaged or as I would rather say, budget minded traveller. If I didn't work for the airlines and I lived in Fort Lauderdale, I would join their 9 dollar fare club, at 60 dollars per year, it would pay for itself eventually saving you more money. But I also agree that you would have to use them quite often. It can't be all that bad, maybe a cut above nonreving, for at least you get to chose your own aisle seating or whatever. (I still prefer to pay zero, so nonrev for me is a great fit.) Next?

Reclining seats can be a double edged sword too. The person in front leans his chair back, then you have to lean yours back to gain back that space. If they all stayed upright, there wouldn't be that problem, besides, they recline to a joke. You call that reclining? Also, its probably better for circulation and your back to not recline to that "joke level". Changing recline actuators is a simple operation, easy money.

I have friends who flew Spirit from DTW to MCO. By the time they were nickeled and dimed to death they realized flying DL would have been cheaper and better.

The worst part of Spirit is no recourse for cancelled flights. No partners, stranding pax for days until seats or sub AC became available. Not for me!

I flew NK once before they went ultra lowfare and vefore I worked for an airline, even back then I did not enjoy the experience.

Regards,

Chepos