Got more than one carry-on? That'll be 40 bucks, or you don't fly
Filed under: Ripoffs and Scams, Transportation, Travel
The European giant Ryanair isn't gonna take any guff, mister. The airline just announced that effective immediately, passengers who are caught with more than one carry-on bag will be charged a chunky €30 right there on the spot. That's about $40 in American dollars.
The airline says it doesn't care if one of those bags is your laptop, your purse or even your lunch. No "personal items" allowed. Everything has to fit in one bag of less than 22 pounds, and if it doesn't, Ryanair wins the point. And you lose cash.
Ryanair's rep virtually stomped his feet in the media equivalent of a temper tantrum over us. "Passengers are made clearly aware of their cabin allowance at the time of their booking and it is also printed on their online boarding cards," he said. That means that if passengers refuse to pay up, they can't fly, because they agreed to the baggage terms when they bought their ticket.
Think it couldn't happen here? It can and it will. The American airlines have been moving toward Ryanair's model of charging passengers for every muscle twitch, and with baggage allowances dwindling and per-bag charges escalating, our own carriers know that there's a cash cow waiting to be milked at the departure gate. They have been prepping us for this step for many months now.
All carriers need to do is assign a single agent to enforce the carry-on rules when you hand over your boarding pass for inspection. Give that agent a hand-held, wireless credit card reader, and the revenue stream will become a flow.
Ryanair always charges for checked bags, and that fee starts at €15, or about $20, for one seriously underweight bag. The gate-check fee for extra carry-ons is twice that. Should American carriers adopt the same zero-tolerance policy and charge double for the sinners they nab at the gate, the usual $15 per-bag fee would become a $30 per-bag fee for everything you tried to sneak by the Gate Gestapo.
Ryanair's rep virtually stomped his feet in the media equivalent of a temper tantrum over us. "Passengers are made clearly aware of their cabin allowance at the time of their booking and it is also printed on their online boarding cards," he said. That means that if passengers refuse to pay up, they can't fly, because they agreed to the baggage terms when they bought their ticket.
Think it couldn't happen here? It can and it will. The American airlines have been moving toward Ryanair's model of charging passengers for every muscle twitch, and with baggage allowances dwindling and per-bag charges escalating, our own carriers know that there's a cash cow waiting to be milked at the departure gate. They have been prepping us for this step for many months now.
All carriers need to do is assign a single agent to enforce the carry-on rules when you hand over your boarding pass for inspection. Give that agent a hand-held, wireless credit card reader, and the revenue stream will become a flow.
Ryanair always charges for checked bags, and that fee starts at €15, or about $20, for one seriously underweight bag. The gate-check fee for extra carry-ons is twice that. Should American carriers adopt the same zero-tolerance policy and charge double for the sinners they nab at the gate, the usual $15 per-bag fee would become a $30 per-bag fee for everything you tried to sneak by the Gate Gestapo.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
2-02-2009 @ 12:35PM
mathew said...
What happend to 2 70lbs checked bags 1 30 lbs carry on and 1 small personal item?
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 2:17PM
jojo said...
First class transatlantic maybe... never on Euro discount airlines
2-02-2009 @ 2:44PM
Theresa said...
There used to be an inverse relationship between airline cost and passenger cost.
This isn't sustainable any longer.......
This is what happened to.
2-02-2009 @ 5:00PM
Heather said...
It seems that airlines are going about these problems in the incorrect manner. They are trying to cust their noses off to spite their faces.... What they don't seem to understand is that customers want courtesy and consideration, and the impression (even if false) that they are being taken care of by the airlines. But they have put themselves into a cycle that will only make it worse on the consumer.
If a traveler could check 2 reasonably-sized bags at no extra charge, then they wouldn't try to cram extra bags into the overhead compartments, which would eliminate the need to charge for carry-on bags.
I would gladly pay more money for a flight that 1) doesn't charge for checked baggage 2) offers a drink on the flight 3) offers a small snack on the flight (pretzels, at least!) 4) has courteous staff. How much would that all cost per person? $20? Who wouldn't pay $20 to eliminate the hassels that keep piling up on us as consumers?
I think if an airline realized that people are wiling to pay a little more if they offer a little more, it would be beneficial to everyone! Who wants to fly when it seems that they want to squeeze every penny that they can from you? Somehow, customer service has been lost in our country and the airlines are the worst.... Traveling used to be fun! Let's get back to fun!!!
2-02-2009 @ 2:09PM
x said...
And airlines wonder why they're failing left and right. I used to fly about twice a month, but after the extra baggage charge, cutting back on a free drink (water would be nice), and general all-around unpleasantness, I've cut back to once every other month.
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 2:45PM
gary said...
I flew Ryanair and my ''cheap'' ticket turned out to costs more then the big aorlines with all their ridiculous add ons! No more for me...
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 2:19PM
karl kocher said...
I will never fly an airline that wants you to spend more of your money to purchase your needs once you arrive (usually late) at your final destination. I will not support any tax dollars going for a bail-out either.
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 2:28PM
mike said...
Time to take the train.
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 6:45PM
Lyn said...
Ok so take the train to London, Paris or Rome....
2-02-2009 @ 11:07PM
jack taylor said...
I agree. If I can not take the train or bus or drive....Then I will not go. I will not fly again until I can feel less like a cow and more like a customer.
2-02-2009 @ 2:33PM
Deb said...
Yes I am all for this. It took 45 mins for us to load a plane from Mpls to Indpls last month all because everyone shoving and trying to fit carry-ons. And people complain of delays in connecting flights. Go figure!!
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 3:11PM
Susan said...
I agree, Flew US Airways in December and like a good passenger I checked my duffle bag and paid the $25.00 fee. Imagine my surprise when boarding at the gate people trying to board the plane with suitcases that clearly wound't fit in overhead..The check in clerk would take their bags and check for free. I went to clerk and complained why aren't they being charged like I was when I checked my bag..Was told in a very rude voice that they didn't want to hold up boarding..Emailed US Airways to ask for refund, of course it was denied. So the moral of the story is, never check your bags, bring them to gate and at boarding have them checked for FREE..Beat them at their own game. I will never check a bag again on US Airways.. I learned..
2-02-2009 @ 2:34PM
Gary Lee H said...
Well at least the airline is going in the right direction to charge for carry-on luggage in excess of one item. The problem now is that passengers crowd the overhead bins with 2 and 3 pieces of carry-on stuff to get around the checked baggage fees. Excess carry-ons delay the passenger loading process and I have always wondered why the American airlines haven't done more to crack down on excessive or oversized carry-ons. How many times have you see someone with a roll-on piece of luggage that is obviously over the size restrictions. Yet they are allowed to bring large carry-ons on the plane and end up trying to cram it in the overhead storage area. It about time the airlines start to enforce their policies regarding carry-on luggage.
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 3:11PM
larry doll said...
Right on Gary. What really frosts me are those who are have seat assignments aft of the wings and they stuff their two carry on bags into the overheads at the front of the plane, leaving those seated up front with no overhead space.
2-02-2009 @ 2:36PM
cal10pilot said...
so??? let them fly empty.... what is it about market forces that these pseudo clown management types don't understand?
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 2:37PM
Charlie Reid said...
I have some hiking coats that have alot of big pockets.
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 2:39PM
De said...
Well, this will knock families out of the air travel sector.
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 2:38PM
JJ said...
I learned long ago never to fly any American air carrier if possible accross the Pacific......I fly it round trip about 4 or 5 times a year.
You just cannot beat the service and amenities most Asian flag carriers have.
With Asian carriers you get service and a nice relaxed ride.......with American carriers all you get are extra charges, bad attitudes and constant paranoia about terrorism.
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 7:15PM
ann said...
asian airlines are usually receiving government money to supplement their cost. would you like to pay more taxes?
2-02-2009 @ 2:42PM
JerseyGirl71 said...
This is out of control. At this rate, I'll be able to ship my belongings to my destination for less! It's no wonder I have no desire to travel anywhere. The airlines are going to put themselves right out of business... How much longer to they think they're going to get away with ripping it's customers off by nickle-and-diming them? What a crock!
Reply