Airlines!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I compared more than 8 airlines, so it is rampant. Aer Lingus was the one that charged for texting ($2). United charges extra for a “preferred seat” (just closer to the front of economy.) Most now charge if you want to choose your seat in advance.

The particular airline is not the point. It is an obnoxious industry trend.

OK -- some airline economics. What you pay for your ticket does not pay for your share of the plane's cost. Tickets need to be way way more expensive to over costs but people will not pay so they go at it this way. The entire profit on a flight is first class or bus class.

Why are they charging for things that were free in the past?

Because they can, it’s a business. Flying isn’t a right, it’s a choice.

It’s a race to the bottom. Too many consumers will pick the airline with the lowest base fare—typically Spirit/Frontier. The other airlines have adopted the same strategy as a result.

[Anonymous]

I like it actually. Airlines use to charge one base price, and you got paper tickets have paper tickets, check in at the counter, check your bags, have carry on, etc. etc. etc.

I was an early adopter to using the self-service kiosk, then checking in on my phone. I usually only have a carry-on even needed.

Instead of thinking of it is paying extra. Think of it as you get the discount rate only using what you need. I look at it like this.. my $230 Air fare could be $300, but they unbundled the $40 checked bag and $30 if I take a randomly assigned seat. It’s actually discounted.

I would rather get a discount for not carrying anything on board, but my purse. I’d rather get a discount, we’re not checking a bag, and I only have a carry-on. I’d rather get a discount, because I want to use my phone or I am not talking to an agent and I’m checking in online. I’d like to get a discount when I don’t care which seat I have. I’d like to get a discount when I have no bags and I’m traveling on a day trip.

I hate it that checked bags were included in my international fare, when I only have a carry-on for the week. I’d rather the discount.

[Anonymous]

Why in the world would you pay to text when flying. Can you not just sit back and watch a movie for a few hours?!?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like it actually. Airlines use to charge one base price, and you got paper tickets have paper tickets, check in at the counter, check your bags, have carry on, etc. etc. etc.

I was an early adopter to using the self-service kiosk, then checking in on my phone. I usually only have a carry-on even needed.

Instead of thinking of it is paying extra. Think of it as you get the discount rate only using what you need. I look at it like this.. my $230 Air fare could be $300, but they unbundled the $40 checked bag and $30 if I take a randomly assigned seat. It’s actually discounted.

I would rather get a discount for not carrying anything on board, but my purse. I’d rather get a discount, we’re not checking a bag, and I only have a carry-on. I’d rather get a discount, because I want to use my phone or I am not talking to an agent and I’m checking in online. I’d like to get a discount when I don’t care which seat I have. I’d like to get a discount when I have no bags and I’m traveling on a day trip.

I hate it that checked bags were included in my international fare, when I only have a carry-on for the week. I’d rather the discount.

I'm the same way

[Anonymous]

Separating charges for add-ons ensures transparency in pricing, allowing us to clearly see what we are paying for and avoid hidden costs. When airlines bundle all services into the base fare, it becomes challenging to differentiate between the cost of essential transportation and optional extras. By itemizing these charges, we can see the breakdown of costs and make informed decisions and choose the services that align with our preferences and budget.

[Anonymous]

Completely agree with the previous posters that the pricing now is much more transparent. You want assigned seats with your kids in the middle of the plane? Great, pay for it and dont stress about boarding. You want a checked bag? Great, pay 35 bucks. You want to fly carefree? Great, this is your base price. Too many families flying think that they are entitled to aisle seats, at the front of the plane, in economy plus, just because they are traveling together. It doesnt work that way.

[Anonymous]

Cry me a river that the flights don’t pay for themselves…somehow Scott Kirbey the CEO for United still was paid close to 10 million dollars in 2022 alone. https://www1.salary.com/Scott-Kirby-Salary-Bonus-Stock-Options-for-UNITED-AIRLINES-HOLDINGS-INC.html#:~:text=Of%20this%20total%20%241%2C000%2C000%20was,for%20the%202022%20fiscal%20year.

Airlines can “afford” to seat families together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no airline status and have no trouble getting free seats for my family. You must be booking at the last minute.

You are wrong (or your kids are very young).

Many airlines now charge for seat selection in advance.

Not if you buy regular economy fare and not “basic” economy. And I have to do that anyway to get the carryon bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no airline status and have no trouble getting free seats for my family. You must be booking at the last minute.

You are wrong (or your kids are very young).

Many airlines now charge for seat selection in advance.

Not if you buy regular economy fare and not “basic” economy. And I have to do that anyway to get the carryon bag.

You could buy basic and just choose the bag and not the seat as extra.

[Anonymous]

British Airways required extra to reserve seats in advance or to check in luggage. Never had this happened before. I don't care what others are saying about being more transparent. It's not being transparent, it is making more money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no airline status and have no trouble getting free seats for my family. You must be booking at the last minute.

You are wrong (or your kids are very young).

Many airlines now charge for seat selection in advance.

Not if you buy regular economy fare and not “basic” economy. And I have to do that anyway to get the carryon bag.

Which costs more. So…they are now charging for things that used to be free

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cry me a river that the flights don’t pay for themselves…somehow Scott Kirbey the CEO for United still was paid close to 10 million dollars in 2022 alone. https://www1.salary.com/Scott-Kirby-Salary-Bonus-Stock-Options-for-UNITED-AIRLINES-HOLDINGS-INC.html#:~:text=Of%20this%20total%20%241%2C000%2C000%20was,for%20the%202022%20fiscal%20year.

Airlines can “afford” to seat families together.

Are you bad at math , that has nothing to do with the cost of flying. Would your rather have all tickets be more expensive and complain about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no airline status and have no trouble getting free seats for my family. You must be booking at the last minute.

You are wrong (or your kids are very young).

Many airlines now charge for seat selection in advance.

Not if you buy regular economy fare and not “basic” economy. And I have to do that anyway to get the carryon bag.

Which costs more. So…they are now charging for things that used to be free

Try again. Basic economy didn’t exist until a few years ago. They created a new class of fare for the cheapskates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no airline status and have no trouble getting free seats for my family. You must be booking at the last minute.

You are wrong (or your kids are very young).

Many airlines now charge for seat selection in advance.

Not if you buy regular economy fare and not “basic” economy. And I have to do that anyway to get the carryon bag.

Which costs more. So…they are now charging for things that used to be free

Try again. Basic economy didn’t exist until a few years ago. They created a new class of fare for the cheapskates.

But prices have NOT gone down dumbo. So they have not created some BUDGET option, they have just convinced people like you that you are getting a discount.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/travel-price-tracker

[Anonymous]

Agree OP. So annoying. It is like hotels charging " resort fees" when there is no resort.