Higher Fees

[playacaribe2]

American Airlines will begin charging $5 more per checked bag beginning August 14, 2009.

Not to be outdone Spirit, an airline I used to like until they became the epitome of nickel and dime, is being rumored to be considering a $5 fee to book your ticket.....online.

Where/when will this end? For cost comparison purposes, I would rather have all these fees incorporated into the price of the ticket.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

[Kyle]

when will the rate wars stop ?
one another note, that's why at 320.00 and 348.00 with taxes from Baltimore, costa rica and panama are the two best places to go right now. i take AA all the time and these rates never change.
i hope to one day return to the DR but i can't see paying over 500.00 and the rates seem to be increasing as we get closer to the fall holidays.

[Expat-in-Cabarete]

This $5 increase for US domestic flights, right? I like American because they don't charge for checked-in luggage in international flights. I hope this didn't change.

[playacaribe2]

Originally Posted by Expat-in-Cabarete

This $5 increase for US domestic flights, right? I like American because they don't charge for checked-in luggage in international flights. I hope this didn't change.

about a baggage fee not being applicable to international flights........
yet.

Give AA time and they will certainly impose a nominal fee per bag, and then slowly begin to raise it, just as they and the other carriers have done domestically. They must be salivating thinking about all those bags on a DR bound flight.

I understand the airlines need to stay profitable, but I remain amazed at the fees the airlines are attempting to try and make stick. Ryan Air, I believe, tried to impose a bathroom fee. As I stated above, rumor has it Spirit is considering a $5 fee to book a ticket online.Some airlines charge more for window and aisle seats. Water on Spirit is $3. Need a blanket/pillow for a child, if they even carry them.....pay a fee. And, the list goes on. It has, in my opinion, gotten a bit ridiculous.


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

[edm7583]

Whenever anyone complains about being nickel and dimed, I always ask them.. "and you paid how much??"


I've said it before on here, and I'll say it again. The reason for the ancillary fees are because the traveling public absolutely refuses to pay a fare that allows the airline to make a profit, or even break even. If the airlines charged fares that allowed them to make money, the public would balk at the high fares, most people would just stay home (especially on heavy leisure routes), the planes would be empty and the airline would lose millions. If they charge deeply discounted fares that people will actually buy, they will have full planes, but not enough revenue to cover the actual operating costs, and the airline loses millions. The only difference is that they will lose money at a little bit slower rate with low fares and full planes than with high fares and empty planes. The ancillary revenue is one of the few chances the airline has to earn a few pennies of profit. If people paid ticket fares that actually reflected the cost of the service they are receiving, there would be no need for additional fees. (In fact, on most airlines, the baggage fees, if any, are waived for First of Business class passengers, passengers traveling on the full Y class fare, or elite level frequent fliers)

I am 100% in favor of the a la carte pricing system! Why pay for services you don't need? Why should I fly American and pay $150 more for what?? Two free bags and a soda? That's an awfully expensive soda. In fact. That's Spirit's new marketing campaign. "Don't pay $150 for a free soda."

As for Spirit charging a $5 fee to book on their website. They've been doing this for about 6 months now. They call it a Passenger Usage Fee and they hide it in with the taxes. $4.90 fee per one way trip and it's 100% revenue for Spirit.

Example:
8/18/2009 FLL-SDQ NK717 leave 6:05pm arrive 8:20pm $45.00
9/01/2009 SDQ-FLL NK718 leave 9:06pm arrive 11:23pm $80.00

Fare $125
DO Airport Infrastructure tax $32.60
DO Airport Authority Fee $30.00
DO Departure Tax $20.00

US Immigration user fee $7.00
USDA APHIS inspection fee $5.00
US security tax $2.50
US Passenger facility charge $4.50
US international dep. tax. $32.20
Passenger usage fee $9.80

Total $268.60

I dare you to find that fare on AA, or anyone else. (and this isn't even with Spirit's occasional $8 and $9 fares to Santo Domingo) People who pay fares like this for international travel have absolutely zero reason to complain about being "nickel and dimed"

[AlterEgo]

Originally Posted by edm7583

Whenever anyone complains about being nickel and dimed, I always ask them.. "and you paid how much??"

I dare you to find that fare on AA, or anyone else. (and this isn't even with Spirit's occasional $8 and $9 fares to Santo Domingo) People who pay fares like this for international travel have absolutely zero reason to complain about being "nickel and dimed"

I live in NJ, the AC airport is about 8 miles away. So we booked Spirit to SDQ for a month in January '10. 2 tickets were just under $1000 with taxes. Plus another $100 for 2 bags each, round trip. If I wanted to pick my seats, $12.50 per person per leg [4 legs each way through FLL] = another $100. We had decent connection times in FLL. Within a few weeks the layover in FLL became 9 HOURS. I cancelled the flights.

I rebooked with AA out of JFK for $129 each way for the same days, direct flights. Total with taxes for 2 was just over $800. Picked my seats for free. 4 free bags round trip. Yes, I have to drive 3 hours to the airport, costs me a tank of gas and tolls, but that's a lot less than the layover in FLL. I can leave my car with my brother on LI, so I save airport parking charges too.

Spirit isn't always cheaper. I've flown them a lot to Florida and never have had a complaint.

[playacaribe2]

was not the cost of the flight, but rather being able to easily make cost comparisons without actually searching an airlines site for all the new and hidden fees.

While it is clear that you like the a la carte format, as presented, I do not. This format as it currently exists with most airlines is cumbersome and difficult to quickly ascertain final pricing.

As to saying "people that pay international fares like these have absolutely zero reason to complain about being nickel and dimed," I respectfully disagree."


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2

Originally Posted by edm7583

Whenever anyone complains about being nickel and dimed, I always ask them.. "and you paid how much??"


I've said it before on here, and I'll say it again. The reason for the ancillary fees are because the traveling public absolutely refuses to pay a fare that allows the airline to make a profit, or even break even. If the airlines charged fares that allowed them to make money, the public would balk at the high fares, most people would just stay home (especially on heavy leisure routes), the planes would be empty and the airline would lose millions. If they charge deeply discounted fares that people will actually buy, they will have full planes, but not enough revenue to cover the actual operating costs, and the airline loses millions. The only difference is that they will lose money at a little bit slower rate with low fares and full planes than with high fares and empty planes. The ancillary revenue is one of the few chances the airline has to earn a few pennies of profit. If people paid ticket fares that actually reflected the cost of the service they are receiving, there would be no need for additional fees. (In fact, on most airlines, the baggage fees, if any, are waived for First of Business class passengers, passengers traveling on the full Y class fare, or elite level frequent fliers)

I am 100% in favor of the a la carte pricing system! Why pay for services you don't need? Why should I fly American and pay $150 more for what?? Two free bags and a soda? That's an awfully expensive soda. In fact. That's Spirit's new marketing campaign. "Don't pay $150 for a free soda."

As for Spirit charging a $5 fee to book on their website. They've been doing this for about 6 months now. They call it a Passenger Usage Fee and they hide it in with the taxes. $4.90 fee per one way trip and it's 100% revenue for Spirit.

Example:
8/18/2009 FLL-SDQ NK717 leave 6:05pm arrive 8:20pm $45.00
9/01/2009 SDQ-FLL NK718 leave 9:06pm arrive 11:23pm $80.00

Fare $125
DO Airport Infrastructure tax $32.60
DO Airport Authority Fee $30.00
DO Departure Tax $20.00

US Immigration user fee $7.00
USDA APHIS inspection fee $5.00
US security tax $2.50
US Passenger facility charge $4.50
US international dep. tax. $32.20
Passenger usage fee $9.80

Total $268.60

I dare you to find that fare on AA, or anyone else. (and this isn't even with Spirit's occasional $8 and $9 fares to Santo Domingo) People who pay fares like this for international travel have absolutely zero reason to complain about being "nickel and dimed"

[Luperon]

In comparision to the taxes the DR govt STEALS, it is just nickels and dimes. But if a fee is required on every ticket, like the Spirit $4.90, it has to be part of the ticket price. Its just a matter of time before

[Beads]

Originally Posted by edm7583

Whenever anyone complains about being nickel and dimed, I always ask them.. "and you paid how much??"


I've said it before on here, and I'll say it again. The reason for the ancillary fees are because the traveling public absolutely refuses to pay a fare that allows the airline to make a profit, or even break even. If the airlines charged fares that allowed them to make money, the public would balk at the high fares, most people would just stay home (especially on heavy leisure routes), the planes would be empty and the airline would lose millions. If they charge deeply discounted fares that people will actually buy, they will have full planes, but not enough revenue to cover the actual operating costs, and the airline loses millions. The only difference is that they will lose money at a little bit slower rate with low fares and full planes than with high fares and empty planes. The ancillary revenue is one of the few chances the airline has to earn a few pennies of profit. If people paid ticket fares that actually reflected the cost of the service they are receiving, there would be no need for additional fees. (In fact, on most airlines, the baggage fees, if any, are waived for First of Business class passengers, passengers traveling on the full Y class fare, or elite level frequent fliers)

I am 100% in favor of the a la carte pricing system! Why pay for services you don't need? Why should I fly American and pay $150 more for what?? Two free bags and a soda? That's an awfully expensive soda. In fact. That's Spirit's new marketing campaign. "Don't pay $150 for a free soda."

As for Spirit charging a $5 fee to book on their website. They've been doing this for about 6 months now. They call it a Passenger Usage Fee and they hide it in with the taxes. $4.90 fee per one way trip and it's 100% revenue for Spirit.

Example:
8/18/2009 FLL-SDQ NK717 leave 6:05pm arrive 8:20pm $45.00
9/01/2009 SDQ-FLL NK718 leave 9:06pm arrive 11:23pm $80.00

Fare $125
DO Airport Infrastructure tax $32.60
DO Airport Authority Fee $30.00
DO Departure Tax $20.00

US Immigration user fee $7.00
USDA APHIS inspection fee $5.00
US security tax $2.50
US Passenger facility charge $4.50
US international dep. tax. $32.20
Passenger usage fee $9.80

Total $268.60

I dare you to find that fare on AA, or anyone else. (and this isn't even with Spirit's occasional $8 and $9 fares to Santo Domingo) People who pay fares like this for international travel have absolutely zero reason to complain about being "nickel and dimed"

If I paid $268 round trip I would not have any complaints either.The airlines should be forced to show bottom line prices for a standard trip. (All taxes seat charges and charges for 1 checked bag and carryon so we accurately make price comparisons).

Airlines complaining they cant make any money?How about cutting some of the fat off at the top. Lay off those high salary CEOs and managers. There are plenty of people out of work right now to take their place for more reasonable pay and you can save the jobs of some pilots and crew members who actually generate money for the company.

Start basing these CEO and management level guys paychecks upon company profit and company stock values and maybe we will see some better talent and performance in those positions earning their salary.

[edm7583]

The airlines make no secret about these fees. In fact, when you book a ticket on Spirit, as soon as the ticket is bought you are given the option of booking checked baggage and picking your seat on the aircraft. If you don't like the idea of paying for a pre selected seat, THEN DON'T PRE SELECT A SEAT! The airline will gladly assign you a seat from what's left when you check in and it won't cost you another dime. Not everyone has the need to take all their worldly possessions with them when they go on a trip. The ones that do should pay for the privilege. (I realize that especially on DR flights, people like to bring a lot of bags for gifts for family/friends/themselves, but in the broader picture of things, the $19 for your bag is a bargain. Try shipping two 50lbs parcels by air from the US to the DR and I can assure you that you will pay more than $19 and $25, respectively. You've never had such a good value for money!) You are paying for an optional service. Why should airlines be forced to show "bottom line prices" as you put it when not everyone needs or wants the same services? The fare will be different for different passengers.

I realize that its hard for people to adjust to paying for things that used to be free, but this is the way things are going to be from now on, and it's going to be the standard for air travel more and more in the future, as it is the only way the airlines can stay above water. Even Southwest, which had a huge marketing blitz about "No hidden fees", since they are the only airline left that allows two free bags per passenger for domestic flights, has quietly withdrawn this campaign. There's rumor that a bag fee, even for Southwest, is in the future.

I look at it this way. Either the airlines will raise base fares, which effects everyone, or will have these fees, which effects only the people who need or want a particular optional service, thus leaving the people who do not use these services with a lower total cost. I prefer the latter.

And CEO pay has nothing to do with the airline's success. Like in any other business, a company has to pay the market value for an individual's labor and talent, whether it's the CEO or the lowliest of baggage handlers. If the going pay for an airline CEO is $20 million, the airline has to pay it, or the CEO will simply go somewhere that does. There are plenty of people out of work right now who could take their place?? Believe me, if they could do the job, they wouldn't be unemployed.