Yet Again, Airlines Find New Ways to Impose Fees

This was not a planned post today, but I got so worked up this morning while reading two separate news articles, that I had to do a quick write-up. It seems every time I turn around, the airlines are increasing fees for ridiculous purposes. We no longer get food on our flights, we have to pay for snacks and drinks, pay for our checked bags, some make you pay for seat assignments, the list goes on and on. It really ticks me off. I have done all I can to avoid the superfluous fees – bring only carry-on baggage, pack my own snacks and food, and choose airlines where I can still select a seat without the charge. But today I am really upset, fuming to be exact.

So, who makes my shit list you ask? Welcome Spirit Airlines and Ryanair. Congratulations. You suck.

Let’s start with Spirit Airlines as they are one of our domestic carriers in the US. Today they announced a new, confusing fee structure where they will become the FIRST airline to impose fees for carry-on bags. YES, carry-on bags. From the USA Today article: How much will checking a bag in Spirit’s overhead bins cost you? Fliers that do not belong to the $9 Fare Club will have to pay up to $45 each way to put a bag in the airline’s overhead storage bins if they don’t declare their bags until they get to the gate. The fee drops to $30 for customers who “reserve” a spot before getting to the gate – either online or at a ticket counter. Members of the Fare Club pay $20. The carrier also charges for checked bags. This $9 Fare Club idea is just another way for them to make you pay money to try to avoid other fees. Whatever. I am not flying your airline any longer. So, I don’t really care about your stupid “Fare Club”. They say this will help them lower their base fees for the flight. Sure, I really don’t believe this at all.

Next on the list of horrible airlines is Ryanair. *Round of applause* Congratulations, you suck too! Ryanair has announced that they are going to charge passengers to use the restrooms on their flights. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? From Gadling here is a snippet of the article – The “pay to pee” facilities will cost one pound or one euro – so international passengers on Ryanair better make sure they carry correct change.

According to Ryanair, they are working with Boeing to redesign the cabin, and develop the coin operated doors. The whole idea behind paid bathrooms is designed to force passengers to use the bathroom before or after the flight – and the final objective is to remove one or two bathrooms from all Ryanair planes, creating more space for seats. And more seats means (even) lower prices. You can’t really argue with their logic.

Actually, I can and will argue with their logic. Do you really believe people are going to remember to bring money on the flight to use the restroom. And what are you going to do if someone is sick or has some horrible bathroom emergency in which they need to go NOW but don’t have a dime to their name? Are you trying to tell me they will be refused? Genius. Come on now, this has got to be a joke. For their sake, I hope it is, as I will never fly this airline based on their lack of common sense alone.

Well, I know this was a bit of a rant, but at this point they both deserve it. I have one more thing I want to say. I love you Southwest Airlines. Please don’t let me down, ever. Aside from allowing the first AND second checked bags to still fly free, their fares are ridiculously cheap, and their customer service is a force to be reckoned with. Check out their recent recognitions as well:

• Best Value, Best Consumer Ontime Estimates, and Best Luggage Policy of all domestic airlines – Zagat, 2009

• Leader in Corporate Social Responsibility – Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship & Reputation and Institute, 2009

• Most Admired Airline – FORTUNE Magazine, 2009

• And they’ve got more daily domestic departures than any other commercial U.S. airline.

Way to be Southwest. If only you flew internationally. Sigh.

Love, K.

Tagged as: airlines, fees, rants, travel