One theory on charging for the second checked bag
February 29, 2008 at 3:01 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTom Parsons, chief executive of Arlington, Texas,-based Bestfares.com has this theory on why US Airways so quickly instituted the $25 charge for a second checked bag after United did: code-sharing.
“The confusion regarding excess charges or no excess charges for a second bag would lead to mass chaos for the flying public,” Mr. Parsons wrote in a press release issued this afternoon. “
He backs his theory up by pointing out that the charge could put US Airways at a disadvantage at his important Phoenix hub, where it competes against Southwest Airlines (which does not charge for a second checked bag).
I’ve been wondering how long it will be before other airlines to jump on this revenue bandwagon.
I posed the question to American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith earlier today.
Here’s what Mr. Smith wrote back to me:
Being a pricing issue (much likes fares) we can only discuss what we have done — not what we may, or may not, do. We have not made any changes to our checked bag pricing or policies.
You may certainly say we are watching the marketplace closely on this issue.
Mr. Parsons also had a small cautionary tale about carry-on bags for those of you planning international travel.
“This spring break, my daughter is flying to Europe on a class trip,” says Parsons. “She is flying from Dallas via Atlanta nonstop to Madrid on Delta Airlines and is permitted to carry a purse and an extra carry-on, such as a small backpack. The school group is returning from Paris to Atlanta on Air France, a Delta code share partner. From Paris back to Atlanta, the students are permitted one carry-on – not two.”
Mr. Parson notes that many airlines do not permit excess luggage, overweight or extra bags at all to many international destinations during peak holiday periods.
Bottom line — not that this should surprise you — check with your airline (and its partner airlines if you’ll be flying with them) before you leave town so you know what to expect.
For more information on flying commercial, click here
US Airways Adopts Second Bag Fee
February 26, 2008 at 7:49 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: fees, Luggage, US Airways
FEBRUARY 26, 2008 —
US Airways today joined United Airlines in charging passengers $25 to check a second bag each way. US Airways said the new fee is effective for tickets booked on or after Feb. 26 for travel beginning May 5.
US Airways said the new fee applies to flights within the United States, and to and from Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, which is in contrast to United’s policy, which does not apply to itineraries that include international flights, except those to Canada.
Like United, US Airways is making some passengers immune to the fee, including preferred frequent flier members, passengers in first class and elite Star Alliance members. US Airways also said it would exempt active military and unaccompanied children. United earlier this month enacted a similar baggage charge for travel beginning May. (BT online news)
For more information on flying in and out of Aspen with a second bag or not, click here.
Frontier landing in Aspen early
February 26, 2008 at 3:12 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: Frontier, special
by Catherine Lutz, Aspen Daily News Staff Writer
Locals planning an off-season trip to Mexico can now find a cheap flight on Frontier from Aspen three weeks earlier than expected.
On Friday, the low-cost airline quietly moved its start date up for Sardy Field service from May 15 to April 26, Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas confirmed Monday. Hodas announced the change on Plum TV’s MorningNoon&Night Show on Saturday.
The low-cost airline will operate five daily departures from Aspen/Pitkin County Airport through its wholly owned subsidiary, Lynx Aviation.
Hodas said that when the airline put out its original
schedule, “we thought we could exceed the timeline,” and managed to get agreements from all its partners to do so. He said it was an advantage to the airline to get the service up and running, but it also benefits the consumer. Frontier is offering a $79 one-way introductory fare (before taxes) between Aspen and Denver through June 11.
The accelerated time frame likely won’t be much of an advantage to Aspen’s tourism community, said Stay Aspen Snowmass President Bill Tomcich, hitting in the depths of off-season, but locals planning spring trips after the mountains close April 13 will benefit.
To continue reading this article, click here
Want to know more about flying into Aspen/Snowmass, click here
United hikes fares by $10
February 25, 2008 at 9:45 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: Oil., Prices, United Airlines
A spokesperson for the carrier confirmed last Friday (February 22) that passengers on flights to several cities in the U.S. will be charged $10 more for tickets as oil prices reached record levels.
Robin Urbanski, told Reuters: “We must be able to pass commodity costs onto customers just like other industries do.”
These price increases will only apply to routes where United is not in competition with other low-cost carriers.
Ticket prices for journeys also offered by competitor Southwest Airlines will not be changed, Urbanski added.
Southwest Airlines recently added a hold luggage charge on its flights as a means of avoiding an increase in ticket prices.
For more information on click here
Ship, don’t Schlep!
February 19, 2008 at 3:06 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
My father, a shoe retailer who never took an out-of-town business trip, nevertheless taught me a practical lesson about life on the road: You get what you pay for — and anything a supplier throws in for free probably isn’t worth buying when it charges for it.
The old man pretty much nailed the airlines on their current strategy of checked luggage.
As we discussed last fall, the government says that airlines are “mishandling” checked bags at a record clip. That’s bad enough when they throw in the service for free. But along with their luggage-handling inefficiency comes a barrage of niggling new rules and fees: They have reduced the free allowance to two bags from three; slashed the maximum weight of the bags to 50 pounds from 70; begun charging for curbside check-in; and have imposed hefty surcharges of as much as $100 whenever you check an extra (or extra-heavy) bag. On Monday, United Airlines went even further: Most travelers on the nation’s second-largest airline will now be permitted only one free checked bag, not two. And some carriers (most notably, Spirit and Skybus) have reached the final frontier: They have unbundled luggage handling from the ticket price and charge for any bag you deign to transport inside the bellies of their aircraft.
Please, click here to read more.
To ship, visit www.stayaspensnowmass.com
Tourism and Gaming: United a trendsetter on baggage charges?
February 18, 2008 at 3:48 pm | In Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: Luggage, Stay Aspen Snowmass, United
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Last week’s announcement by United Airlines that it will begin charging an additional $25 to check a second bag on its flights is bad news for tourists and conventioneers who visit Las Vegas.
Not only will United’s new policy affect a customer base that local tourism officials are trying to expand, but it appears that the nickel-and-diming United is imposing on its customers may spread faster than you can say airborne virus.
For more information, on what to do with your luggage, visit my website www.stayaspensnowmass.com
Frontier plans to announce flights to 8 new cities
February 14, 2008 at 5:50 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: Aspen, Bill Ritter, Frontier airlines
Frontier Airlines is expected to announce it will begin flying to Aspen, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and possibly Vail, as it plans new routes for its turboprop subsidiary Lynx Aviation and other schedule changes.
Frontier plans to announce today it will begin flying to eight new cities. Aside from the Colorado airports, Frontier is also expected to announce it will begin flying to Jackson Hole, Wyo., with three flights a day on its Lynx Q400 turboprop planes.
Gov. Bill Ritter is expected to speak at the news conference.
For Frontier Airlines deal. visit my website www.stayaspensnowmass.com
United fee hits where it counts
February 8, 2008 at 6:51 pm | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: Aspen, Luggage, Stay Aspen Snowmass, United
Will United Airlines’ price gouging ever stop?
Apparently not. The Chicago-based carrier’s latest cash grab will hit passengers who check a second piece of luggage. The price tag: $25. That means a two-way flight with at least one extra bag will cost fliers another 50 bucks.
United will pardon frequent fliers — those who have Premier status or higher in United’s Mileage Plus program — from the surcharge. They happen to be the same type of fliers who can afford this spike.
But for the leisure/economy travelers who like to bring their outdoor gear — think a second bag with skis, golf clubs or a fishing rod — flying in and out of Aspen is already expensive enough.
Not surprising, United said the reason for the fee is to keep fares competitive. It also added that the rule change will generate another $100 million annually in revenues and cost savings (fewer bags to handle and therefore lighter planes).
United can call this new “fee” whatever it wants, but it’s a fare hike.
Even the perpetually positive Bill Tomcich, the president of central reservations agency Stay Aspen Snowmass, deemed it as such. Tomcich, whose job includes negotiating with commercial airlines and maintaining a positive relationship with them, could not bite his tongue on this one.
“This, in disguise, is the largest single fare increase I have ever witnessed in the 17 years I have worked in this industry,” he told The Aspen Times this week. “This is the first time that a major carrier has done this.”
United’s move — which takes effect for flights after May 5 — will be felt in fliers’ pocketbooks all over the country, but especially in resorts, where leisure travelers tend to bring extra gear. As the anchor airline of both Denver International Airport and Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, United has a virtual monopoly in Colorado, though it has seen challenges from both Frontier and Southwest, neither of which serve Aspen.
There’s still hope that Frontier will penetrate the Aspen skies, but nothing has happened yet.
In the meantime, air travel to Aspen will get more expensive very soon. And with such a limited choice of airlines to fly here, the only way some travelers can avoid the fare increase is to choose another resort. This could be a deal breaker for many travelers, and that could hurt Aspen.
What are your thoughts on the $25.00 Fee? Are you still going to take your skis on vacation? Let the Fly Guy know your thoughts, comments or just ask him wha this trick would be to avoid the fee…
Visit his website: www.stayaspensnowmass.com
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