really Virgin America => any checkin = $$$?

Feb 19, 2001
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Ugh. I thought airlines at least allowed you 1. Thought airlines went from 2 => 1.. not 1 => 0. Dang, this sucks.

Too much southwest for me that I forget this is what the world has become...

Edit: I meant for budget carriers... I know that United and AA announced too long ago that they were gonna slap on fees, and when I flew Virgin last time there was no fee... but dang... I guess I must stick to Southwest.
 
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FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
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ecp_49introfare_565x360.jpg

Southwest, bags are still free
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
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Fuck aviation.
Fuck it like they fuck me.
Up the pooper.

Complain all you want, flying is still relatively cheap (compared to its costs historically) and even with what they're charging they're not even covering their costs right now.

If you don't like how much it costs, don't use the service. Drive, take the train or a bus and see how much cheaper it turns out for you. Just because the cost for your flight isn't what YOU want it to be doesn't mean that it's not what it actually costs to provide the service.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
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Pretty much all of them charge a fee. This isn't anything new. Carry on FTW.

I got 2 carry ons and 1 checked bag for no extra cost on US Airways when i went on vacation 3 weeks ago

actually on the way back i had 3 carry ons, cause i got a nice sampling of duty free booze
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
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I got 2 carry ons and 1 checked bag for no extra cost on US Airways when i went on vacation 3 weeks ago

actually on the way back i had 3 carry ons, cause i got a nice sampling of duty free booze

Sure, and I bet you flew internationally. US air gives you two free bags for international flights but for domestic flights they charge $15 for your first bag and $25 for your second.
 

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
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This bag charge started back in '06 by the low cost carriers to boost there bottom line.
And as the major airlines realized that the few low cost carriers were getting away with it, they chose to impliment it. Then it became a race to see how much per bag and how many bags they could soak their passengers for.
 

Firsttime

Platinum Member
Mar 31, 2005
2,517
0
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US Airways charged me $25 for my first bag today. I flew from VA to Canada so I was kinda surprised, that had never happened before. I'll probably just carry on from now on.
 

kinev

Golden Member
Mar 28, 2005
1,647
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Wasn't it in response to the drastic increase in fuel prices? Well, oil prices have gone back down (for now), but......huh......I'll be danged........the fees are still there. Whodathunkit?!?!?!
 

shopbruin

Diamond Member
Jul 12, 2000
5,817
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The last time I flew Virgin, they gate checked my bag everytime. My planes were pretty full, and when I went SFO-LAX, they asked for volunteers, which I did. LAX-JFK, they just took my bag because I boarded pretty late and I didn't want to fight to carry on. JFK-SFO, the plane was moderately full but I volunteered to gate check again.

No fee, each time. Only works if you have a carry-on sized bag though.
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
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Wasn't it in response to the drastic increase in fuel prices? Well, oil prices have gone back down (for now), but......huh......I'll be danged........the fees are still there. Whodathunkit?!?!?!

Yes, so airline must be making huge profits right now, right?

US airways loses $80 million in 3Q

United loses $57 million in 3Q

Delta loses $161 million in 3Q

Southwest loses $16 million in 3Q, improved over last year when they lost $120 million

None of the major carriers are close to a profit. Almost all of the international carriers are in the same boat. This means that even with all the fees they charge they still aren't covering the cost of the service. At least with the baggage fees I can chose whether or not it's worth it to me to pay for my bag rather than have them just tack the cost of it onto my ticket without giving me a choice.
 

onlyCOpunk

Platinum Member
May 25, 2003
2,532
1
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All airlines except for Qantas here have always charged for bags. It's only like $8 per bag, but still people are cheap and you end up with one person having 3 carry ons.
 

Modular

Diamond Member
Jul 1, 2005
5,027
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United allows a few bags for free IIRC. Haven't flown since July so they may have changed the policy.