Flying High is High Now

There are many low fare airlines also known as discount, budget or no-frills airlines such as Spirit, JetBlue, Southwest and AirTran that offer lower airfares and fewer amenities.  Many charge higher fees for add-on services such as baggage fees, food, priority boarding, etc.

On November 6, 2012, low fare airline Spirit began charging customers $100 from its previous fee of $45 for large carry-on bags brought to the boarding gate no matter what the size.  If your bag is more than 81 inches tall you will be charged $150.  However, checking the first two bags online ranges from $20 to $35 for Fare Club members and $35 - $45 for regular customers.  Checking the first two bags at the airport kiosk ranges from $45 - $55.

Spirit management states the fee is set to encourage customers to check their bags in advance.  In the U.S.  20% of airline revenue is generated from baggage fees.  Adding seats to an aircraft also increases revenue.  Some travelers resent add-on fees charged by airlines.  Many travelers and small business owners are strapped for cash and can’t afford to pay a higher add-on fee.

Travelers fly less during the fall and winter months and some airlines make up the difference by charging more for add-ons during these periods.  However, these fees can be avoided by carefully reading the airlines website before booking a flight and finding the purchasing only the basic services you need.

1.      Carry hand sanitizer and use just before you flight takes off and as soon as your plane lands and use each time you touch a common area.

2.      The less crowded a plane and the more cutbacks in airline services, the less frequently blankets and pillows will be cleaned so bring your own blanket and pillow.

3.      Get a good night's sleep the night before. Take advantage of flights that are more than 2 hours and take a nap during flights. 

4.      Drink plenty of water and eat properly when traveling.

5.      Travelers used to get meals on planes but meals are now replaced with a mini-bag of peanuts that don’t curb a growling stomach to its destination.  Bring your own snacks when traveling.

6. Many airlines have specials that are not advertised on their website. Call the airline directly and ask about current specials or sign up for their free newsletter or airfare alert service.
7. Shop around to find the best deal. Visit websites like www.travelocity.com, www.kayak.com, www.hotwire.com, www.priceline.com, www.orbitz.com or www.cheaptickets.com.
8. Try booking your flight at least 2 weeks in advance to save money.
9. Try booking your flight during the week and avoid flights near holidays. You can also search for flights with one or two connections instead of non-stop flights to save money.
10. Book flights that fly out of larger airports to save money.
11. Ask about discounts, some airlines offer discounts to students, senior citizens, government employees, AAA members, and other organizations.
12. When you see or hear about sales or discounts move quickly to capitalize on the deal because they usually don't last long.  
13. Talk to friends and neighbors to find out how what deals they got in the past.
14. Ask for discounts for membership to Diner's Clubs, AAA, AARP, etc. Also check social media sites for discounts.

Promising Help for Airline Travelers

The cost to fly increases every year. What airlines fail to realize is that with every price increase, the number of passengers decreases. Everyone recognizes the high cost of gas but what is the justification for charging $100 for an oversized bag, $9 for a bag of peanuts or charging up to $150 for a child traveling alone. It would help me and possibly other travelers if the airlines explained why they charge the additional fees and how they determine the various prices.

Airlines began charging for baggage when rising fuel prices started to rise in 2005 and reached an all-time high in 2008 when the recession occurred. Airlines complained that they were not making enough money which is why they had to start charging customers additional fees. I wonder if their executives took a reduced salary to help minimize the profit loss. Not!

Some airlines allow you to travel with your first bag for free but few and far in between. Here is a breakdown of the top airline baggage fees: AirTran 1st bag $20, Southwest 1st bag free, American 1st bag $25, Delta 1st bag $25, JetBlue 1st bag free, United 1st bag $25 and US Airways 1st bag $25. Airlines charge for meals, oversized bags, baggage, traveling with a pet and an unaccompanied minor fee just to name a few. Traveling fees can range from $3- $584 in addition to airfare.

Senator Mary Landrieu has introduced a bill that would allow all passengers no matter what seating to check one bag for free. Senator Landrieu stated, “Many airlines consider checking a bag not to be a right, but a privilege — and one with a hefty fee attached,” and stated her legislation would “guarantee passengers one checked bag without the financial burden of paying a fee, or the headache of trying to fit everything into a carry-on.”

The bill would allow airline passengers to check one bag for free and prohibit fees for regular sized carry-on baggage. The bill would require that airlines tell passengers about restrictions on weight, size and number of bags prior to arriving at the airport. It would also mandate that airlines make public their fees for all types of baggage and for preferred seating.

As travel fees continue to increase, passengers will continue to find ways to carry on as much baggage as possible to save money. Eventually the fees charged by the airlines will backfire on them and they will be forced to lower their prices or go out of business. During the Thanksgiving holiday more passengers rode Amtrak and Greyhound or drove instead of flying. Here are 10 tips for saving money when flying:

1. Dates. Fly before a holiday and return after a holiday. Consider flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday during non-holiday periods. Traveling during Christmas and New Year’s is more expensive than traveling during Thanksgiving.
2. Read. Sign up for frequent flyer programs and credit card or checking rewards program that offer airline points. Read the terms and look for partners that offer miles.
3. Delay. Consider purchasing a flight with a layover to earn more miles and get a cheaper fare.
4. Earn Miles. If you don’t fly enough to use your miles some programs allow you to cash in your miles for subscriptions, gift cards or donations.
5. Trade. Ask about trading your frequent flyer miles for another airline’s frequent flyer miles using sites like points.com.
6. Buy. You can buy frequent flyer miles to boost your account balance.
7. Borrow. If you know a friend or family member that is not using their frequent flyer miles they can share their frequent flyer miles with you through the airline or through points.com.
8. Sell. You can sell your frequent flyer miles at sites like flyer-miles.com/sell-your-miles.
9. Weekend. Consider staying over on a Saturday night. This will save you money on airfare on hotel costs.
10. Early. Book your flight months in advance and sign up for flight alerts. Comparison shop to find the best deal.