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February 05, 2008
What Do YOU Think About United Charging $25 For a Second Bag?
Unless you fly at least 25,000 miles a year on United Airlines, you're only going to be permitted to check one piece of luggage for free beginning May 5th if you're flying on a non-refundable, domestic coach ticket. (Though tickets purchased for future travel before next Monday, Feb. 11th, are exempt from the new rule.) A second bag will cost $25.
While a fee for checking bags is routine at a few discount airlines around the world (Rynair being the most prominent), this is the first time a US airline has levied a charge on a second bag. Travelers flying overseas on United may still check two bags at no charge, but the new regulations do apply on flights to Canada, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas.
United says only a quarter of its passengers check more than one bag, but I predict overhead bins will begin to fill up even faster now as passengers try to beat the rule that could cost them $50 round trip if they check more than one piece of luggage. Premier members or higher of United's frequent flyer program may continue to check two bags at no cost.
Do you think the other airlines are watching this gambit closely to see if it, ahem, flies? You bet.
Posted by Rudy Maxa in Late-Breaking News | Permalink
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Comments
To address the question of whether this decision is good business, Zane Safrit said it all much better than I can:
"United Airlines announced that they planned to slap the faces of as many as 25% of their customers to achieve a possible increase in gross revenues of less than 1%.
That's maximizing the impact of bad profits in a way not many companies can achieve. Bad profits are what Fred Reichheld defined as profits that create customer disloyalty and alienate employees."
When I occasionally need to travel with two checked bags, I'm sure I would be pretty cranky to be hit with a fee applied so unevenly.
Safrit's full article is at http://zane.typepad.com/ccuceo/2008/02/united-airlin-1.html
Posted by: Becky McCray | Feb 6, 2008 8:34:00 PM
Consumers will weigh the extra cost when they decide which airline to fly. I wonder if total luggage is a way of seperating the high-maintenance flyer from those easier to deal with.
More luggage means more weight and more cost to the airline. It also means more chance for lost luggage and the associated liability and customer service hours. Environmentalists should encourage rewarding travellers who travel light.
Since I travel with only one carry-on bag. I would much rather have the Airline charge competitive ticket prices and add an additional charge for extra luggage.
The only time I pack extra bags is for business, in which case my company will choose the carrier and pay the additional cost.
Posted by: Brad | Feb 7, 2008 3:34:11 PM
