Airlines Only Allowing 1 checked bag

[sjsharks11 0]

Some of the airlines have stopped allowing you to check 2 bags. Since I have to fly home with all my things this kind of screws me over. Anyone know the reason for the switch or anything like that?

[dangle 0]

airlines save money that way. less weight = less fuel consumption = more money for the airlines

They're also decreasing their cruising speeds slightly and saving millions of dollars

[vision 0]

Fuel costs. Not aware of any that won't allow you to check more than one bag, just expect to pay for the privilege. Heck, in the coming month, AA is going to start charging you for the first bag you check.

::m

[wildebeest 0]

Do you own a television?

[dangle 0]

Fuel costs. Not aware of any that won't allow you to check more than one bag, just expect to pay for the privilege. Heck, in the coming month, AA is going to start charging you for the first bag you check.

::m

yeah, it's something like $15 or something? Tight asses

[NYR1982 0]

Some airlines are still allowing you to check more bags but for a fee of course. It's getting to the point where it may just be cheaper to use UPS or FedEx to get your stuff to where it needs to go.

[hockeyherb 1]

Fuel costs. Not aware of any that won't allow you to check more than one bag, just expect to pay for the privilege. Heck, in the coming month, AA is going to start charging you for the first bag you check.

::m

Unless you have status with AA...then there is no cost.

[Chadd 916]

Airline ticket prices are 50% of what they were 30 years ago, adjusted for inflation. As of last Friday jet fuel was $4.00 a gallon. Airlines have to try and stop their loses somehow and charging for the second bag is a good way to do that. It's also only $25 or so for most airlines, not enough to break the bank.

airlines save money that way. less weight = less fuel consumption = more money for the airlines

Weight has nothing to do with it. US Airways made $175k or so in the first couple days that policy was in place.

Fuel costs. Not aware of any that won't allow you to check more than one bag, just expect to pay for the privilege. Heck, in the coming month, AA is going to start charging you for the first bag you check.

::m

Unless you have status with AA...then there is no cost.

All airlines are waiving the second bag fee for upper level members as well.

[dangle 0]

Weight has nothing to do with it. US Airways made $175k or so in the first couple days that policy was in place.

How doesn't weight have anything to do with it?

If people don't check in 2 bags because of the fee for the second bag.... The airlines save money from shedding weight on that flight, which in turn uses less fuel. Just an example...

US Airways switched to a lighter (12 pounds lighter) meal carts and saved $1.7 million in annual fuel costs.

Now if the people decide to check in the second bag... they pay the fee and it covers the airline's cost for the "extra" weight. They make out either way

[sjsharks11 0]

Do you own a television?

I'm at prep school...so no

[Chadd 916]

Weight has nothing to do with it. US Airways made $175k or so in the first couple days that policy was in place.

How doesn't weight have anything to do with it?

If people don't check in 2 bags because of the fee for the second bag.... The airlines save money from shedding weight on that flight, which in turn uses less fuel. Just an example...

US Airways switched to a lighter (12 pounds lighter) meal carts and saved $1.7 million in annual fuel costs.

Now if the people decide to check in the second bag... they pay the fee and it covers the airline's cost for the "extra" weight. They make out either way

The whole point was to charge people who checked a second bag to make more money, not to cover the cost of carrying a bag. It's about ancillary income, pure and simple. The airlines are looking for more ways to make money with fuel prices that are roughly double what anyone expected them to be.

Think about it this way:

If you charge people for a second bag they're more likely to put some in the first checked bag and the rest in their carry-on. You don't save any weight with passengers taking a bigger (or second) carry-on bag as compared to a second checked bag. If it truely was just a weight consideration, they would have raised the cost on overweight bags as well as lowering the overall weight permitted on checked bags, but neither has happened.

[mack 44]

If they hadn't pointed out that it's a baggage fee, most wouldn't notice the change at all. I've done well for years with one bag (sometimes just even a large backpack carried on instead), though it's obviously tougher with a family. I agree with the FedEx method as long as you know someone with a discount because it's just easier that way.

[gxc999 7]

Theres serious talk of bankruptcy and mergers, including several very large airlines. These are rather lean days for them and yeah, fuel will be their inevitable downfall...

[mack 44]

It's a damn good thing I know wormholes.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Hook us up, I'm tired of paying $200 plus everytime I gotta go visit family.

[Chadd 916]

Hook us up, I'm tired of paying $200 plus everytime I gotta go visit family.

$200 isn't unreasonable to fly from NC to Pitt, especially since it's impossible to find a direct flight. Unreasonably low fares is what got the airlines into this problem in the first place. If it was a direct flight it would be about 4.5 cents per mile, add in the connection and it's even cheaper.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

I never fly direct. ILM in Wilmington doesnt fly direct, so I always have to go to Philly, Laguardia, Charlotte.

When I went home for Game 3 I had to drive to Raleigh, fly to Newark then to Pitt, on the way home Pitt to Cleaveland to Raleigh.

Its a big pain in the ass. Ive never made a trip home without a delay. If I'm over two hours behind I write a letter and get credit or refunds or money towards my next flight. I know the price isn't outrageous but cheaper is always nice :)

[Chadd 916]

I never fly direct. ILM in Wilmington doesnt fly direct, so I always have to go to Philly, Laguardia, Charlotte.

When I went home for Game 3 I had to drive to Raleigh, fly to Newark then to Pitt, on the way home Pitt to Cleaveland to Raleigh.

Its a big pain in the ass. Ive never made a trip home without a delay. If I'm over two hours behind I write a letter and get credit or refunds or money towards my next flight.

If you don't want to be late avoid Newark and LaGuardia.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

When I flew up Tuesday we had to sit in RDU runway for 45 minutes because Newark had too much traffic to be able to land us. Crazy..

[NYR1982 0]

If you don't want to be late avoid Newark and LaGuardia.

I sit for at least an extra hour at LaGuardia for a departure no matter the weather or airline but that's on-time compared to Newark. I've been pretty good at JFK but I avoid Newark at all costs.

[Chadd 916]

If you don't want to be late avoid Newark and LaGuardia.

I sit for at least an extra hour at LaGuardia for a departure no matter the weather or airline but that's on-time compared to Newark. I've been pretty good at JFK but I avoid Newark at all costs.

LGA to PHL is listed as up to an hour and a half long, because of those departure delays. The funny thing is that it's only 20-25 minutes in the air, depending on the first departure fix.