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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Spirit's carryon bag fee: What do you think?

Let's have a conversation. As you may have heard, Spirit Airlines on Sunday implemented its policy of charging for carryon bags. You could pay as much as $45 for a bag brought into the cabin, although most customers won't pay that much. The move has not been matched or imitated by any other airline we know of. In this region, Spirit serves only Atlantic City.

So what do you think of the charge? What do you think of Spirit? Have you had any recent experiences flying the airline? Anyone still waiting for a refund from flights not flown because of its pilots' strike earlier this year? This is your chance. Post your messages on the blog in the space below. Thanks for your participation. 
Posted by Tom Belden @ 11:16 AM  Permalink | 14 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:01 PM, 08/03/2010
    I won't fly Spirit because of it. Unless there's an AMAZING deal, I'm picking a different airline.
    — Vote for Dickie
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:01 PM, 08/03/2010
    They are a disgraceful company. They will post the lowest fares on the web to suck people in to buying their ticket on line because of their low cost tickets without properly disclosing this fee. This is the same as a bait and switch scam. Then, when an argument breaks out with a pasenger over the fee they will blame the passenger for not reading the fine print. Disgraceful. I flew with then to FLA a couple of times. Never again.
    — standard50
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:22 PM, 08/03/2010
    I used to fly Spirit quite a bit because I like AC airport so much better than Philly (super cheap parking, no long parking shuttle wait, no long baggage handling delays, no long security lines, etc.) and I was willing to pay up to an extra 50 or 60 bucks over PHL just for the ease and convenience. I never liked that they have the tightest seating in the industry in which my knees are firmly dug into the armrests in front of my for the entire flight, but I was willing to overlook that and the fact that their planes always seemed dirtier and smellier than any other carrier in exchange for the perceived convenience. My last flight with a 300 plus pounder soaking my shirt through with their sweat made me realize I had been overvaluing what they were bringing to the table. I got put over the edge with this fee, I won't fly Spirit unless no other options are within $150. It just seems like such a blatant kick in the crotch of their consumers especially those who travel light like me (shouldn't the reduced weight we are bringing aboard be encouraged?). I really hope they go under so we can get another regional carrier - Jet Blue in Atlantic City anyone??? I would drool.
    — Twocents
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:29 PM, 08/03/2010
    I can't see how anyone would be willing to fly them except for short-stay business trips where you leave and arrive the same day. I can't imagine they're not shooting themselves in the foot with this decision.
    — UCityGardener
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:52 PM, 08/03/2010
    I was looking into Spirit several times going from AC to southern locations, mainly Florida. They have a terrible ontime rate, and cancellations are the norm for them. The do have low price fares, but it's just not worth the hassle of knowing if they are going to be ontime or cancel the flight. Spirit can't compare in price or service to JetBlue, Southwest or Airtran. It's just a matter of time before they go bust or get swallowed up due to the new carry-on fees.
    — sjcruiser36
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:07 PM, 08/03/2010
    I'm in favor of the fee for carryon baggage, and I've been advocating it for years. Why should some arrogant sleazeball get a free pass to jam a footlocker into the overhead bin, while I have to pay $30-$40 to check my small suitcase in the hold. If the overheads are considered the premium space for luggage, then why not charge for their use, and allow checked bags to fly for free (within a pound limit) in the less desirable baggage hold?
    — xenon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:07 PM, 08/03/2010
    I'm in favor of the fee for carryon baggage, and I've been advocating it for years. Why should some arrogant sleazeball get a free pass to jam a footlocker into the overhead bin, while I have to pay $30-$40 to check my small suitcase in the hold. If the overheads are considered the premium space for luggage, then why not charge for their use, and allow checked bags to fly for free (within a pound limit) in the less desirable baggage hold?
    — xenon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:12 PM, 08/03/2010
    I decided months ago to avoid Spirit: 1. Their call center (Mislabeled "Customer Service) is in India and the agents have trouble with our language and read from corporate scripts. 2. Change and cancellations cost $100 ea. For a couple that MUST change departure/arrival times or dates, thats $200 each way! 3. Check Bag Fees and now this just confirms my decision as correct.
    — MJU
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:29 PM, 08/03/2010
    This article fails to mention that you are permitted to bring one carry on free of charge, so long as it can fit beneath your seat. I mean even with the charge, Spirit offers some deals to places other airlines cant beat, plain and simple. Even if the tickets were $5, people would still find something to complain about. SMH
    — cairosuave
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:31 PM, 08/03/2010
    The airlines have made millions (billions, in aggregate) and screwed the customers and attendants along the way. Forcing people to bring excess baggage into the cabins only made life miserable for the attendants and everyone else trying to find overhead space for reasonably sized carry-ons. The carriers never monitor or penalize the sleazes who knowingly bring oversized bags to the door of the plane so they need to be be tagged and put down below...at no charge. No-one doubts the airlines suffered when fuel prices soared, the economy tanked and seats went empty...but that's no longer the case and we can all be assured we'll never see "givebacks" on these annoying and exhorbitant fees. Carriers like Spirit should be allowed to fail as a result of these fees and its apparent (by the comments of other readers) terrible service record. One has to wonder why Southwest's business model is so successful and why the other carriers don't adopt similar ones. People actually enjoy working for and customers enjoy flying SW. What other carrier can boast that?
    — sky173
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:00 PM, 08/03/2010
    I'm all for the fee. One of the most obnoxious parts of flying(and there are many)is passengers totally cramming suitcases into the overhead compartments. If you are the last to board good luck finding a place to put your carry on. Once trying to deplane it is so much fun waiting for someone to pull their luggage for a weeks vacation from various parts of the plane so you can exit after such a wonderful experience at the airport. At this point to expect any customer service and quality out of flying is a joke. THere is no real alternative to flying the airlines no it so get used to it.
    — chham57
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:07 PM, 08/03/2010
    To those who are taking the contrarian view and supporting the fee because of the now crammed cabins, do you not realize the only reason these cabin overheads are now cramped is because of the fees now charged for checked baggage?? So because they are charging another fee to cut back on abuses caused by the first fee, you support them? Can I interest you in a game of three card monty?
    — Twocents
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:51 PM, 08/03/2010
    Although i never flew Spirit, i applaud them for charging for carry on baggage (i don't support fees for checked luggage however). I too am sick and tired of having to use the precious little leg room for my laptop because of those inconsiderate passengers that use the overhead compartments to stow their luggage that should have been checked in the first place.
    — DougBomberger
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:48 PM, 08/05/2010
    I have followed this line of comments and cannot believe the writers that condone the charge for carry-on's, much less checked baggage. Do you guys fly anywhere? Do you like long lines, poor service, pay for soft drinks? Especially when you can cross over to a real low-cost airline like Southwest and get treated much, much better. True, still not the "glory days" (never thought I'd say that) of air travel of the 80's when airlines were competeing on services like triple frequent flyer points, better food prep and convenient and timely connections with no cancelation or change fees (Southwest still doesn't!)
    — MJU


14 comments
About Tom Belden
Tom Belden has been reporting about Philadelphia International Airport and other air travel subjects for more than 20 years, writing columns for The Inquirer's Travel and Business sections. His reporting (with colleague Craig McCoy) on baggage handling problems in Philadelphia have been credited with helping to improve the system. His previous blog was called Road Warrior. He can reached at tbelden@phillynews.com.
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