Comments on: Continental Adds the First Bag Fee; Is Delta Next? http://crankyflier.com/2008/09/08/continental-adds-the-first-bag-fee-is-delta-next/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:35:25 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Cranky Flier » Why Did Continental Reinstate the 500 Mile Minimum Earning for Elites? http://crankyflier.com/2008/09/08/continental-adds-the-first-bag-fee-is-delta-next/comment-page-1/#comment-64704 The Cranky Flier » Why Did Continental Reinstate the 500 Mile Minimum Earning for Elites? Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:04:27 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=1190#comment-64704 [...] for her, but a bummer for the blog. So, let’s talk about Continental instead. On September 5, Continental announced a handful of changes, including the elimination of the 500 minimum OnePass mil.... Yesterday, less than three weeks later, that was reversed for elite members in the OnePass [...] [...] for her, but a bummer for the blog. So, let’s talk about Continental instead. On September 5, Continental announced a handful of changes, including the elimination of the 500 minimum OnePass mil…. Yesterday, less than three weeks later, that was reversed for elite members in the OnePass [...]

]]> By: Benji http://crankyflier.com/2008/09/08/continental-adds-the-first-bag-fee-is-delta-next/comment-page-1/#comment-63799 Benji Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:54:39 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=1190#comment-63799 Noooooo! Damnit, Continental, you really disappointed me. Your ads used to be about how you didn't give up free coach domestic meals on long flights, but now you're going the way of United and charging for the first bag and severely limiting your frequent flier mile accrual for short-hop passengers. This move may cost you customer loyalty, which you seem to have disregarded by saying no-fees weren't "competitive." Noooooo! Damnit, Continental, you really disappointed me. Your ads used to be about how you didn’t give up free coach domestic meals on long flights, but now you’re going the way of United and charging for the first bag and severely limiting your frequent flier mile accrual for short-hop passengers. This move may cost you customer loyalty, which you seem to have disregarded by saying no-fees weren’t “competitive.”

]]> By: Beth Blair (DesertMama) http://crankyflier.com/2008/09/08/continental-adds-the-first-bag-fee-is-delta-next/comment-page-1/#comment-63788 Beth Blair (DesertMama) Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:32:30 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=1190#comment-63788 Nooo! Say it isn't so. I've been out of the loop traveling. I just got back from a trip on AA. I sucked up the bag fee the first flight then upgraded on the return flight (free bags). I was so happy to be flying CO next month, and I was looking forward to free bags and an upgrade. Doesn't look like either now. Nooo! Say it isn’t so. I’ve been out of the loop traveling.

I just got back from a trip on AA. I sucked up the bag fee the first flight then upgraded on the return flight (free bags).

I was so happy to be flying CO next month, and I was looking forward to free bags and an upgrade. Doesn’t look like either now.

]]> By: axel sarkissian http://crankyflier.com/2008/09/08/continental-adds-the-first-bag-fee-is-delta-next/comment-page-1/#comment-63712 axel sarkissian Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:35:15 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=1190#comment-63712 i just flew CO a few days a go, but i had to whatch the bags because the rule was 50 kilos in each bag, whith a limit of 2 bags each person. im glad i missed the fee. i just flew CO a few days a go, but i had to whatch the bags because the rule was 50 kilos in each bag, whith a limit of 2 bags each person. im glad i missed the fee.

]]> By: Ari http://crankyflier.com/2008/09/08/continental-adds-the-first-bag-fee-is-delta-next/comment-page-1/#comment-63697 Ari Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:11:41 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=1190#comment-63697 :) Sorry, still recovering. OHR should have been ORD and LGH should have been LHR. Much more palatable but 48 hours nevertheless. :) Sorry, still recovering. OHR should have been ORD and LGH should have been LHR. Much more palatable but 48 hours nevertheless.

]]> By: DC http://crankyflier.com/2008/09/08/continental-adds-the-first-bag-fee-is-delta-next/comment-page-1/#comment-63682 DC Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:34:59 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=1190#comment-63682 OHR = Wyk Auf Foehr, Germany LGH = Leigh Creek, South Australia PRN = Prishtina, Kosovo That's a heck of a trip. ;-) OHR = Wyk Auf Foehr, Germany
LGH = Leigh Creek, South Australia
PRN = Prishtina, Kosovo

That’s a heck of a trip. ;-)

]]> By: Ari http://crankyflier.com/2008/09/08/continental-adds-the-first-bag-fee-is-delta-next/comment-page-1/#comment-63651 Ari Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:09:13 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=1190#comment-63651 1) In flying any kind of weight and space is a product. Although so far we've been used to getting some weight complimentary it is definitely not free to the product providers, the airlines. I had a short connection with United in OHR on Thursday and then to LGH. Baggage did not arrive. I ended up flying to PRN the next day with another airline. United had to fly my luggage to PRN for me with another airline. I ended up not paying for my second luggage because United couldn't place it on my last flight segment. Imagine the expenses there just because of that short connection in OHR. Imagine the reduction in junk flying around when people actually have to pay for it. 2) Enough with trumpeting Southwest as the airline not charging fees. They can only afford that because: a.) they have minimal connecting passengers b.) they do short hops where not much luggage is loaded on the belly. Even if LUV wins some passengers with this policy, it is going to increase its costs and ruin its no-frill and quick turnaround model. $15 is a reasonable fee to prevent abuse and overloading of the system with not much extra utility. If it's integrated seamlessly in the ticketing system, I say go for it. This fee is a great inducer for the people to think about carrying that extra luggage. And if they don't want to be nickel and dimed, let them upgrade to the clubs and pay the good old prices and allow us poor people to do the flying in the cheapest way possible by paying only for the services we personally use. Anybody remember when banks used to charge money to cash a check? They don't anymore, but they get you in other more hidden fees. We're seeing the same process in the airline business. I'm not sure that there is anything wrong with it though because that's where the customers are heading. Full service is a good thing as long as anyone will buy it. Right now that seems to be the case with some airlines in Europe and Asia, but not in the land of Walmart and Costco. 1) In flying any kind of weight and space is a product. Although so far we’ve been used to getting some weight complimentary it is definitely not free to the product providers, the airlines.

I had a short connection with United in OHR on Thursday and then to LGH. Baggage did not arrive. I ended up flying to PRN the next day with another airline. United had to fly my luggage to PRN for me with another airline. I ended up not paying for my second luggage because United couldn’t place it on my last flight segment. Imagine the expenses there just because of that short connection in OHR. Imagine the reduction in junk flying around when people actually have to pay for it.

2) Enough with trumpeting Southwest as the airline not charging fees. They can only afford that because: a.) they have minimal connecting passengers b.) they do short hops where not much luggage is loaded on the belly. Even if LUV wins some passengers with this policy, it is going to increase its costs and ruin its no-frill and quick turnaround model.

$15 is a reasonable fee to prevent abuse and overloading of the system with not much extra utility. If it’s integrated seamlessly in the ticketing system, I say go for it. This fee is a great inducer for the people to think about carrying that extra luggage. And if they don’t want to be nickel and dimed, let them upgrade to the clubs and pay the good old prices and allow us poor people to do the flying in the cheapest way possible by paying only for the services we personally use.

Anybody remember when banks used to charge money to cash a check? They don’t anymore, but they get you in other more hidden fees. We’re seeing the same process in the airline business. I’m not sure that there is anything wrong with it though because that’s where the customers are heading. Full service is a good thing as long as anyone will buy it. Right now that seems to be the case with some airlines in Europe and Asia, but not in the land of Walmart and Costco.

]]> By: flightjunkie http://crankyflier.com/2008/09/08/continental-adds-the-first-bag-fee-is-delta-next/comment-page-1/#comment-63621 flightjunkie Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:56:26 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=1190#comment-63621 Also wanted to mention that WN saw a 5 LF point decline in August traffic - I don't know why, but I can only hope for WN that RASM hasn't seen a similar decline, which would mean that yield was the name of the gate for August. Certainly the folks that were in charge of the NO FEES marketing campaign are a little confused and find their campaign success hard to quantify! Also wanted to mention that WN saw a 5 LF point decline in August traffic – I don’t know why, but I can only hope for WN that RASM hasn’t seen a similar decline, which would mean that yield was the name of the gate for August.

Certainly the folks that were in charge of the NO FEES marketing campaign are a little confused and find their campaign success hard to quantify!

]]> By: flightjunkie http://crankyflier.com/2008/09/08/continental-adds-the-first-bag-fee-is-delta-next/comment-page-1/#comment-63620 flightjunkie Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:54:35 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=1190#comment-63620 Hard to walk away from the revenue that comes from charging $15 for a first bag, especially if there is no noticeable upside to stealing bookings away from your competitors who have been charging the fee. Hard to walk away from the revenue that comes from charging $15 for a first bag, especially if there is no noticeable upside to stealing bookings away from your competitors who have been charging the fee.

]]> By: Dan Webb http://crankyflier.com/2008/09/08/continental-adds-the-first-bag-fee-is-delta-next/comment-page-1/#comment-63618 Dan Webb Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:23:00 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=1190#comment-63618 Another comment I thought of - if CO is saying customers didn't really choose them because of the lack of a first bag fee, I wonder what SW is seeing with its strategy. Another comment I thought of – if CO is saying customers didn’t really choose them because of the lack of a first bag fee, I wonder what SW is seeing with its strategy.

]]>