These Travelers Would Rather Eat Glass Than Pay an Airline Fee

[question everything]

(snip)

No-frills airlines like Frontier and Spirit Airlines Inc. bank on travelers paying more than those cheap fares they dangle. Many of us grin and bear the upsell in the name of travel must-haves like a change of clothes. But a surprising number of passengers fly budget airlines without running up fees that can double the price of a ticket. Allegiant Air and Sun Country Airlines say one in five passengers pay nothing more than airfare. Frontier and Spirit don’t divulge similar stats. Representatives for both say the ability for passengers to avoid fees shows their oft-criticized a la carte pricing model works.

(snip)

The first rule of fee dodging? Pack light. Really light. Budget airlines and major airlines with tight restrictions on basic-economy tickets—looking at you, United and JetBlue—only allow passengers to bring one personal item for free. Think purse or small backpack. The item must fit under the seat in front of you and likely will be sized up by agents at the gate. Bigger bags, including traditional-size carry-ons, are extra, and the penalties are stiff for bringing one to the gate. Frontier charges scofflaws as much as $100 last-minute if their personal item doesn’t fit in the bag sizer.

(snip)

Squeezing a vacation or work wardrobe into such a small bag requires finesse and discipline. Frontier won’t allow anything more than 14 inches tall, 18 inches wide and 8 inches long, and others have similar specs.

(snip)

Ms. Lane, a married mother of two, says the only thing she cares about when buying a plane ticket is getting there as cheaply as possible. When she lived closer to the Denver airport, she even drove there to buy tickets to avoid Frontier’s quirky charge for online bookings. For a weeklong trip to Cancún a year ago, Ms. Lane, her daughter and husband each carried on a small backpack like the JanSport one her daughter uses for school. They stuffed them with mix-and-match clothes (neutral tones plus a pop of color) for optimum outfit changes and wore the heaviest stuff on the plane. Ms. Lane stashed her baby’s clothes and a few diapers in the allowable diaper bag and bought more when they arrived.

They don’t pay for advance seat assignments and have never been separated as a family on Frontier or Spirit, Ms. Lane says. She estimates she saves as much as $175 per person per flight by not paying for seats or bags.

More..

https://www.wsj.com/articles/cheap-airfares-fees-baggage-carry-on-11669138040 (subscription)

[brooklynite]

1. "when buying a plane ticket is getting there as cheaply as possible."

There lies the problem. Since deregulation, customers have pretty much responded only to the lowest advertised fare; as a result, airlines have cut services and added luggage and supplementary fees to compensate.

[question everything]

2. And squeezed more and more seats while many travelers increased their girts.

[dpibel]

3. This is the customers' fault?

Did I read you correctly?

That's pretty wild.

[brooklynite]

5. Consider hotels...

You can find a room for a range of prices from Motel 6 to Comfort Inns to the Intercontinental to the Four Season.

Customers will spend incrementally more for incremental improvements in service. Airline customers WILL NOT spend incrementally more for travel.

Its not a question of "fault"; its one of economic reality.

[EX500rider]

6. When cheaper tickets are more popular with customers

Then certainly the airlines offering cheaper tickets would be the customer's fault.

It's not like you can't spend a lot and fly first class if you prefer.

I personally love it, I flown four times to South America from Florida for $300 bucks on Spirit.
(And once for under $200 on the Colombian airline Viva) meanwhile United/JetBlue was around $500+-.

Two and a half hours with no food service and smallish seats is doable in my opinion.
If not they offer bigger seats for more money.

[Renew Deal]

4. I know people that fly this way

Mostly they are snowbirds with two homes. They have what they need in both locations. Others are taking weekend leisure trips and need minimal clothing.

It’s tough for me to give up seat selection, but not impossible.

[Trailrider1951]

7. And people wonder why I prefer Amtrak for my travels whenever possible

Example: Tacoma to Los Angeles. It's an overnight trip with some of the most beautiful scenery this country has to offer. Cost is $99, coach class. You can check 2 bags (under 50 lbs.), have 2 carry on bags, and 2 personal bags (purse, laptop case, diaper bag, etc.) all for FREE. The coach seats are comfortable and roomy, and you can get up and walk through the train to the lounge car if you're tired of sitting and want to purchase a drink or snacks. Also, you can carry on your food and drink for the trip (except no alcohol. You must purchase that on board). If you have the time, why not choose the train instead of a plane. I've found travel by train far more comfortable and relaxing than flying.

[Hekate]

8. Thanks for the tip. When my mom was still alive but ailing, I had to fly Santa Barbara to Salt Lake

… quite a lot. This was over a decade ago, after 9-11, and TSA was a thing. They hate one-way tickets. One time they took my luggage apart practically to the seams while making me stand with my arms stretched out cruciform the whole time. It’s a very bitter memory.

When I got home and stopped crying, I called Amtrack. Well, damn — with them it was a two-day trip with an overnight dis-embarkation some place or other. Not suitable for an emergency.

My only trips on trains have been along pleasant California coastal routes — quite awhile ago, really. I would love to do as you have done — perhaps I will some day.