United Airlines (UAL) has increased baggage fees for passengers with heavy bags. In fact, it doubled the baggage fee from $25 to $50. The fee went into effect today for flights departing in November.
The only positive note in the baggage increase that I saw was that active duty military personnel with travel orders would not be accessed the baggage fee. That’s good news, and something I would have appreciated having a waiver for if these sky-high baggage fees were in place when I was in uniform.
Everyone is dealing with additional fuel costs, but UAL ought look at itself carefully to see where cost savings could be made, but does United – an airline already struggling financially – expect to keep passengers by jacking up ticket prices and baggage costs?
I know the airlines have costs, but when those airlines are struggling, wavering on bankruptcy in many cases, and whining about the declining number of passengers flying their not-so-friendly skies, is it wise to commit sky-high robbery. The question should be: Is it wise to continue committing sky-high robbery? The airlines have been robbing passengers for years, and ever since 9/11, the excuse of “extra security precautions” has given them a sort of blank slate to rob passengers at will, adding on or increasing fees seemingly every few months.
The key to running a profitable business is to provide a quality service at a competitive price. That concept seems lost on the surviving airlines in 2008.
You must log in to post a comment.