This week, Spirit Airlines became the first U.S. airline to start charging for carry-on luggage. When the new baggage fee was announced, there was a surge of consternation and indignation. This surely was a fee too far. A final fee that would cause a passenger revolt. It doesn’t seem so.
In a video the CEO of Spirit claims that passengers, when they look for the total cost of travel, even with the carry-on baggage fees, will find that Spirit offers more flying for the money. He is betting that the final bottom line, not the fees will carry the day.
For some flights, Spirit Airlines has gone so far as to declare a penny airfare — all other charges are fees. Fees for luggage, fees for reservations, fees for fuel, etc.
Spirit’s new baggage charges went into effect on Sunday. There isn’t half as much media angst as there was when the carry-on charges were first instituted.
The budget airline is charging passengers who pay in advance during booking $30 for a carry-on bag. However, passengers who pay at the gate are charged a fee of $45. These charges are the same for domestic and international flights. Checking up to two bags only costs $25 apiece (cheaper than carry-on), so this carry-on bag charge is an attempt to reduce the number of carry-on bags.
Anyone checking in their baggage at the gate will be charged the same $45 as the carry-on baggage fee. All customers who purchased reservations prior to April 6, 2010, for travel August 1, 2010 and beyond, will be “Grandfathered” and no carry-on bag charges will apply. Plus, members of Spirit’s $9 Fare Club get varying discounts on these fees.
Additionally, Spirit claims that they have reduced airfares by around $40 to more than make up for any new carry-on baggage fees. What really counts from Spirit’s point of view is the bottom line and streamlining their service so that they can squeeze more production out of their fleet. If the airline can turn plane around faster because of less carry-on luggage then they may be able to add another leg to the day’s schedule of the aircraft. That makes them more money.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
