Nonsense. either they want people to fly or they do not. They need to decide which is it. No wonder that the airlines are in trouble. Next thing we know, we will all be flying GCA . Government Controlled Airways.

Posted By Pete Scholls on June 22, 2009, 3:02 PM

any idea the best place to look to find luggage requirements/costs for international travel [on United]?... i'm also trying to figure out if media mail also applies internationally.

anne

Posted By Prêt à Voyager on June 22, 2009, 4:51 PM

Fees, fees, fees - it's taking the fun out of travel. I am so very glad that we are just about done with our international destination bucket lists. The hassle and abuse in flying is not worth the effort anymore.

Posted By Artist Kathy on June 22, 2009, 4:53 PM

How much is the fee to cancel a ticket at the airport because you don't want to support this kind of jackassery? :rolleyes:

Posted By Gonzobot on June 22, 2009, 4:56 PM

Hi Anne,
You must be excited about your upcoming trip plans.
I’m not sure I understood your question.
Are you looking for United’s baggage fees?
They’re here:
on United's website

For United's International checked bag policy, look
here.

Or are you looking for airline fees broadly?
They’re here: on Airfarewatchdog.
Happy travels,
Sean
Blog editor

Posted By Blog Editor on June 22, 2009, 4:57 PM

I guess United and US Airways are just dying to cross me off their list. Buh-bye, United and US Airways! Your arrogance repulses me beyond belief! Go to H*LL!

Posted By MJ on June 23, 2009, 11:53 AM

That's just crazy! I hate how the checked baggage fees encourage people to try to fit their overstuffed, oversize "carry-ons" into the plane cabin. Half the time there isn't room up in the bins for my small carry-on tote!

Posted By Jodi on June 23, 2009, 7:58 PM

We are all seeing the end of the US based airlines. Put United and USAir in the trash bin with GM and Chrysler. The same applies to NWA now that DELTA has them with a noose around their neck.
Some people will have to fly and pay the ransom for luggage, food, re booking, etc. How long will it take for totally incompetent airline management to kill the industry.

Posted By Franf on June 24, 2009, 12:16 PM

Another reason I fly Southwest whenever possible. With SW's success, you would think the other airlines would consider their business plan... But no.....

Posted By Kathy on June 25, 2009, 11:25 AM

i just flew non stop boston-san diego and could
not believe we actually had to buy serious food
for the plane; at least they could feed you on
non stop 6 hr flights! i also was stunned at the
$15 baggage fee; i understand that they are strapped, but it gets nuts, and the service is
not great; there was also a listing as we boarded
as to how much a blanket, pillow and ear phones
cost! also my head set was broken and i had to
hold the 2nd set's jack into the hole as the connection was bad; mine was broken so this was
my kind neighbor's jack i was using!

flying is truly an adventure..iputting the sucker
punched consumer into the bizzare 'friendly skies';

anns

Posted By ann sullivan on June 25, 2009, 11:25 AM

I returned from Egypt and Jordan just two weeks ago. On EgyptAir, we were fed real meals on the 70-minute flights from Cairo to Amman and back. We received 2 real meals on the flight from Cairo to NY. However, on the 5-hour Delta flight from NY to LAX - we could BUY overpriced snacks and sandwiches. EgyptAir gave us little travel packs with socks, an eyemask and tooth brush, plus free earphones. Delta allows you to buy the earphones. No checked baggage fees on EgyptAir either, and the service was pretty good overall.

Posted By Judi on June 25, 2009, 12:18 PM

When we went to London I looked for an airline that was still "friendly" ie: no crazy 1st bag fees,charges for everything on the plane & making a 9hr flight into 20+hrs. We went with British Air. As for domestic the best bet is still Southwest for price and everything else. I agree with Gonzobot the whole fee thing is jackassery! If the airlines want to make more $$ raise the price of the darn ticket BUT make it include everything--just like it use to!! People will still fly!!

Posted By Lisa D on June 25, 2009, 12:36 PM

Thank goodness we have seen most of the countries and will quit traveling abroad since all these fees are ridiculous. The airlines wonder why people would rather drive if it's in the states. I would never fly anywhere in the states anymore. We will drive even if gas goes back to $4.00 a gal.

Posted By Delores on June 25, 2009, 1:54 PM

It's only a matter of time before they start charging for the bathroom. Pack your quarters...

Posted By Nancy T. on June 25, 2009, 1:55 PM

The first post here somehow blames the government - "Government Controlled Airways". THE REASON WE'RE IN THIS FINANCIAL MESS IS A LACK OF GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL! Corporations have only one purpose for existance - to make a profit. No profit, they die. Profit is not a bad thing, but let's face facts - Business will do whatever is legal (and sometimes illegal) to turn a profit. That is where Government comes in to regulate and to protect the consumer.

Posted By Richard on June 25, 2009, 3:48 PM

The airlines are in financial trouble and most of us don't want to pay high ticket prices so the airlines have to tack on fees wherever possible. Savvy travelers develop coping methods. I've learned to carry compact food such as nuts and dried fruit, and sometimes a sandwich. Bring an empty bottle and fill it at the water fountain after going through security. Put my small carry-on under the seat in front so I can grab an extra layer when the cabin cools down. I avoid all pesky fees by traveling with just that carry-on, even for long trips overseas. It is possible to travel in style and comfort this way. See my dot com for how. -- Barbara DesChamps

Posted By Barbara DesChamps on June 25, 2009, 4:06 PM

I agree with the post by Richard. It's time for the government to step in and put some controls and what the airlines can do to the consumer.

The idea of a fee to pay a fee not only sounds absurd it is.

Posted By G on June 25, 2009, 4:48 PM

Luggage fees are like fuel surcharges. The airlines should just up the cost of a ticket so we know what we are going to pay without spending countless time trying to figure out baggage fees.

Posted By Gerrie on June 25, 2009, 8:34 PM

please, people, try working for the airlines and see how much $ they are making. Look at how much fares were before deregulation....they were so high and now you all gripe about $398 to fly across the country. No travel isn't fun anymore, but it sure gets me from A to B in less than 2 days. Then my fun starts. Not on a plane. Just get me there in one piece. I'm not asking for a flight attendant to kiss my tail because she is there to save it and not kiss it. 30 years ago it was more expensive to fly than now. Were cars more expensive than they are now? Of course not! prices go up!

Posted By skyprincess on June 25, 2009, 10:16 PM

So, if you don't have a computer (like my mother), and you can't check in on line, you automatically get rapped an extra $5.00. Amazing!!

Posted By Jill on June 26, 2009, 4:06 PM

This is your (Pa and Ma Kettle, travelers) own fault. You insist on finding the absolute lowest airfare. You use Expedia, Orbitz, Kayak, Yapta, etc., to save $5 on a $200 airfare. No wonder the legacy airlines are loosing money. We need to go back to the pre-Jimmy Carter days when airline fares were regulated by the now defunct CAB.

Posted By Rich on June 26, 2009, 4:31 PM

Good bye United. Not only do you charge an extra $5 but I just received a rate increase on your visa credit card thru Chase. I guess you REALLY don't care about your customers. Adios.

Posted By Jerry Onyskiw on June 26, 2009, 5:02 PM

If people were willing to PAY for air travel then the airlines might be able to afford to offer you full-service. Sure some of you (including myself) havd had to pay the full fare, but that's rare these days and sadly our few full-fares don't subsidize the cheap fares the others paid.

Everyone gripes that the fares are high, now they're low and people want to know why they don't get food or movies or foot-rubs. HELLO, everything costs money. You don't go to the Dollar Store and expect to find a Coach Bag... stop doing that with air travel. When the mentality of "flying cheap" changes, and the airlines can fill their planes on higher cost tickets that will cover the operation, THEN maybe you can see some amenities return. As long as the traveling public expects Four Seasons Service on a $100 ticket, they'll forever be disappointed.

Get real people... we have ourselves to blame as well as poor airline management, Don't just throw spit balls at the airlines... they're only trying to please what speaks loudest... CHEAP CUSTOMERS!

Posted By Justin on June 26, 2009, 8:36 PM

The airline fees ARE getting a bit out of control... but on the other hand, airlines keep lowering their fares to such rock bottom prices that they have no other way to try to make ends meet except these "fees". I bought a RT ticket from LAX-BOS a few weeks ago for $179 TOTAL on United! That price doesn't even cover the cost of my share of the fuel one way! The flying public now expects to pay these kinds of low fares so the airlines have really backed themselves into a corner... Sell a seat at less than it's worth, or don't sell it at all! So fine airlines... I'll pay your fees.. but there is no excuse for bad customer service! That's how you get and keep customers these days!

Posted By luvavion on June 26, 2009, 10:17 PM

Isn't this fee akin to double dipping? The people that would be most affected are the ones without a computer, internet access and a printer and those are mostly ALL! Will be flying this summer so I have no choice but to pay it and hopefully it will help the industry a little bit.

Posted By tom on June 27, 2009, 8:27 AM

I fly US Air quite a bit and have checked baggage that I didn't have to pay for even after they instituted the policy. When checking in for my most recent flight at the end of May, the US Air rep tried to collect the $15 fee. I gave him a $20 bill. Since he couldn't make change, he waived the fee. My guess is this happens quite often..thus the idea of adding the $5 fee to pay onsite.

Personally I think the airlines have got it backwards. Checked bags (up to two) should be free, and they should charge per piece for each carry on bag. That sure would speed up loading and unloading times for passengers!

Posted By Allison on June 27, 2009, 9:30 AM

It's funny the people on here blaming the customers for the fees. LOL. That's so much BS. The airlines started their own price war, what are consumers supposed to do, choose a higher priced ticket & ignore a lower fare ? The difference in service/quality isn't worth it.
If you had a choice between $3.00 a gallon gas, and a station right next to it charging $2.50, and all things otherwise being equal, which would you choose ? Most people go for lower price. The airlines knew people would buy lower fares so they have to compete. As a result they should sell more tickets. But if they dont make enough money to run their airline, aren't selling enough tickets, they should raise prices, or cut costs. That's just common sense business practice. Maybe they dont want to cut their CEO's & management salaries and that's why they can't make a profit. If Southwest or other low cost airlines can make a profit, then USAir or United can do the same -- but they have a huge resistance to change. These fees seem unfair becuase people think the airlines are going to be nickel & diming us. They should just qoute the price for the fare + fees in total and not play numbers games.
I also agree the lack of government deregulation (thanks Reagan) is another reason behind these fees and lack of quality service, and safety. Seems to me we hear about a lot more crashes & accidents, due to lack of maintenance.
I personally used to enjoy air travel, but with all the intrusive, rude TSA "security" procedures & screenings, the long lines, delays, surly & rude airline & airport employees, cramped & confined seats, lack of comfort on most planes, etc, it's not that fun anymore. I'd rather drive, take a train (which isn't easy), a cruise, or just stay home.

Posted By Mike on June 28, 2009, 9:42 AM

People should just refuse to fly these airlines. This is ridiculous.

Posted By kyle l on June 28, 2009, 9:53 AM

I have no problem paying fees as long as the airlines are up front with it. I usually travel light, usually just a carry-on, but never more than one checked bag. If they want to recalculate the fare structure and allow me to stop paying to carry someone else's bags, that's perfectly OK with me. I do think they should come back with decent customer service and friendliness. Neither of those things are going to bankrupt them.

Posted By P David Miller on June 28, 2009, 5:39 PM

Once again we fail to see that air travel is not a right it is a priviledge and the airlines are in business to make a profit. Rock bottom prices should mean you have the extra $15 to check your bag. The extra $5 is a deterrant to standing in line and forcing the airline to have more people available to check-in your luggage and collect you $s.

Posted By Lili on June 28, 2009, 7:14 PM

These new fees are unbelievable. I've started sending my clothes to my destination via UPS. Its a tad cheaper and they do get to your destination on time!!!!

Posted By Andrea Hill on June 29, 2009, 12:53 PM

Then just drive you punch of whiners!

Posted By jody on June 29, 2009, 2:33 PM

I have an orlando trip on US Airways coming up in august. I cannot wait to see how much this trip will cost me betw. baggage fees and other ridiculous stuff.

Posted By Charlene on June 29, 2009, 7:21 PM

I personally wish the airlines would just raise the price of the ticket and avoid these hidden fees. I can purchase a ticket to the west coast cheaper today than I could 20 years ago. Lets stop griping and appreciate the air travel we have.

Posted By Lana on July 1, 2009, 9:02 AM

Another solution would be to quit packing so much. Except for medicines and a few changes of clothing, most travelers could learn to live with a lot less of the baggage they insist on bringing. Check out some ways to cut down on what you travel with.

Posted By debbie on July 1, 2009, 1:37 PM

Continental also charges $5.00 for checking baggage
without paying when booking the flight. They also
charge $150.00 to change a flight.After making a change which only involved changing the date,theysent me a voucher instead of a credit for
$13.00 . I've been told they will not give credit
because it was a non-refundable ticket. FTC and FAA
where are you. Oversight NOW. Continental never again.

Posted By Joseph Frankel on July 3, 2009, 11:42 PM

Stop the madness. It's bad enough that frequent flyers aren't appreciated anymore, we have to pay for customer service assistance if we want to speak to a human to book a flight. And if this is additional fee is going to apply to Delta or Northwest, they had better change their web check-in process because they don't always allow you to pay for check-in luggage in advance online.

Posted By JusTracy on July 6, 2009, 3:20 AM

Fares are lower now than they have ever been and all is relative to cost. I just want to get to my destination on time and with reasonable comfort, which has not happened in a while. I don't need cabin service or attention, so cut out the carts up and down the aisle. I travel with a carry-on so I can avoid baggage claim and ease thru security. The trip is also more enjoyable with less bags. The target market has changed along with the low cost carriers making it competitive. My work also involves all airlines, so fees and profit help pay our salaries. I am for the airlines being profitable as they are my customers. You learn shortcuts to air travel as it is no longer part of the trip experience like it was 30 years ago. It is the part you try to get past so you can enjoy yourself or get to work when you arrive.

Posted By Love to travel on July 6, 2009, 4:04 PM

I think that the previous poster is correct about the 5 dollar extra fee being to charged so that they can make change easier. In flight food purchases used to be paid for in cash and the change was always a nightmare. Now, they no longer accept cash and only do credit / debit cards. Having to make change, involves time of someone to keep a bank and process it. Banks charge fees for this too. Airlines are looking for penny pinching ways to save incrementally . incremental savings multiped can really generate revenue. I'm sure that less checked backage means that they can sell more freight / cargo and make money. Less luggage means the plane can travel lighter / use less fuel / passengers wont be denied boarding when plane is overweight. It all is about money for them , in addition to charging us and making money. It's a good idea on their part. For the consumer, it's not such a good plan.

Posted By alla on July 7, 2009, 6:46 AM

If we have to pay all these fees, I'd rather be able to select the meal or specify the number of bags I'll be checking when I'm booking my reservation so all charges are added to the ticket price instead of paying multiple additional fees later. As a business traveler, I'd prefer only 1 receipt for my expense reporting. I'd also want to be sure that if my luggage didn't arrive at my destination with me, that I get a full refund of any fees I paid AND possibly an additional credit/reimbursement for aggravation.

Posted By Neverwill on July 7, 2009, 4:01 PM

I agree with Allison..Checked bags should be free, carry on should be a charge! I'm tired of people taking up all the space in the overhead bins!

Posted By 512theresa on July 7, 2009, 6:36 PM

It seems like it would make more sense for airlines to simply raise their ticket costs, than tack on a fee for baggage. It builds up a lot of negative publicity when people arrive at the check-in counter and are surprised they have to pay an additional fee. And the increase in a ticket's cost would be less than the fee, as the ticket price increase would be spread across the entire customer base, including those who don't check bags. I'm sure I'm missing something - what's wrong with this logic?

Posted By Dave on July 8, 2009, 11:35 AM

Is Southwest Airlines the only airline that knows customer service? This airline is great, with no extra fees, great reps and no change of schedule fee. It is a pleasure to fly with a carrier that seems to have a CEO that knows how to run a profitable airline with out adding extraneous fees.

Posted By Wanda on July 9, 2009, 12:11 PM

Please!- no more governmental controls than making certain of in-flight safety!

Posted By Frank on July 9, 2009, 12:56 PM

I just flew Airtran to visit my mother and paid my $15 baggage fee online for a suitcase I no longer wanted owned by my mother. Once I got to the airport the baggage checking person pulled out a measuring tape, measured my suitcase and said I need to pay another $39 because my suitcase is 2 inches oversize! The couple ahead of me had to pay $39 extra too for having a suitcase few pounds over 50 lbs! I paid the fee unhappily. No one is going to tell you about these new fees for extra inches and pounds. You just find out the hard way. With all the extra fees for extra pounds and inches, you are the biggest loser except you can't lose the pounds or the inches since you won't arrive at the airport with a backup suitcase nor will you weigh your suitcase at home if you are not aware of the rules. I agree checked bags should be free and carry ons should be charged. I travel with no carry on except a purse so going through security is easier. Besides all those who have carry ons create a massive traffic jam in the isle while boarding. Sometimes you can't get out of the airplane fast enough because of this to catch the next flight.

Posted By Naz on July 9, 2009, 1:17 PM

I just flew to Tokyo from Newark non-stop on Continental and had great customer service, 2 REAL meals (and a snack, including Haagan Dazs ice cream!) free headphones, a blanket and pillow, and my own TV, with over 300 movies to choose from. All this for $801 (when other airlines were charging up to $1200 for the same flights) with no checked bag fees (I checked 1 but you can check 2 for free.) So there is NO excuse for other US airlines to charge these ridiculous fees and downgrade their level of service. Although flying IS a privilege and not a right, the goal of the airline should not be finding new and innovative ways of fleecing the customer, but preserving the swiftly diminishing customers they have left.

Posted By nico on July 9, 2009, 1:46 PM

Richard:
Obviously you were NOT flying when the governmnt controlled the airways. Airfares were astronomical and the only people who flew were businessmen(this was a few decades ago)who had others paying the tab. Deregulation made lower airfares and low-cost competition possible. If you want something screwed up...involve the government! Government-owned and controlled airlines are going bankrupt around the world.
Southwest is my airline of choice - friendly people, explanations for any delays, no baggage fees and the most flexibility for ticket changes and pricing in the business. You may make an extra stop or two along the way but friendly service and camaraderie is worth it.

Posted By COinexile on July 10, 2009, 2:26 PM

Here's a way around the baggage fees, without leaving your clothing at home... A family member just returned from a Florida vacation and she SHIPPED her luggage directly to the resort via UPS 2 days before she was to depart. It got there, was held for her arrival (based upon prior contact with the resort), and she did the same for the return flight. Use a local UPS Store branch and compare the UPS fees to the baggage fees and you'll come out way ahead, especially for a family' luggage needs. The shipment can be insured to cover any potential loss. She used 1 carry-on to cover the possibility of arriving before her luggage did. It worked out perfectly.

Posted By Dick in upstate NY on July 12, 2009, 10:29 AM

As a frequent US Airways flyer, here's some advice - take only a rollaboard and computer/briefcase/handbag and take it to the gate area. If the plane is loaded and there is too much baggage for the overhead bins, then the stews take your bags, tag them and put them in storage and have them waiting for you when you land - you've save the bag fee and the line at the carousel...and we all know how US Airways baggage returns suck!!! Beat them at their own game - make them handle your bags for free!!

Posted By Karen on August 3, 2009, 12:16 PM

Dont blame the airlines for the fees. They have to make money to stay in business. Everyone wants the cheapest flight possible without having to give up on service. The customers are what drives the price. Competition is good. Without competition service would really be bad! Like if it was government controlled!

Posted By Marc on August 6, 2009, 1:35 PM