LA Times
The announcements this week that three of the country's largest airlines are again increasing baggage fees came as bad news for airline passengers, who must already pay for such extras as blankets, pillows and snacks.
But the higher fees are good news to Zeke Adkins, co-founder of Luggage Forward, a Boston business that ships luggage door-to-door for travelers who want to avoid the hassles of checking bags at the airport.
"Every time the airlines increase their fees, it translates into increased bookings for us," he said.
He is not alone in seeing the higher airline fees as an opportunity.
United Parcel Service Inc., FedEx Corp. and the U.S. Postal Service have all encouraged airline passengers to ship their luggage instead of hauling it through a crowded airport.
And if the airlines continue to raise fees, the shipping companies see a chance for more business in the future.
"We certainly welcome any additional service that may come as a result" of the higher fees, Postal Service spokesman David Lewin said.
Continental, Delta and United announced new rates this week for checking the first and second pieces of luggage on domestic flights.
Continental and Delta both raised fees by $8 for the first bag and $7 for the second suitcase. The increase went into effect for Continental passengers for flights on or after today. For Delta, the new prices took effect for flights after Tuesday.
The increase at both airlines brings the fee to $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second bag if passengers pay at the airport. The airlines offer a discount on the baggage fee if passengers pay online.
United increased the fees by $5 a bag for passengers who bought tickets on or after Thursday for travel on or after Jan. 21. The fees are $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second, with discounts for paying online.
Since the airlines began increasing baggage fees in 2008, the charges have become a big source of revenue.
In the third quarter of 2009, the 10 largest U.S. carriers collected about $740 million in baggage fees, more than double the $350 million in fees they collected in the third quarter of 2008, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
UPS, FedEx and the Postal Service couldn't say how many more people were shipping luggage as a result of the higher airline fees.
But in the last year, UPS has noticed that more customers are shipping oversize packages, such as skis and golf clubs -- the kind of packages that would result in hefty airline baggage fees.
"We know anecdotally that we've seen an increase in business since the late summer of 2008," UPS spokeswoman Susan Rosenberg said.
In most cases, it's still cheaper to transport your luggage via the airlines than to ship it. For example, it would cost about $240 to ship a standard suitcase weighing about 50 pounds for a trip from Pasadena to San Jose by overnight delivery with Luggage Forward. That's for a round trip, with pickup at your house before the trip begins and delivery back home afterward.
To ship the same package overnight via FedEx costs less -- about $210 -- but you may have to ship the package from a FedEx office.
In contrast, Continental, Delta and United will charge you $50 for the first bag on a round trip.
But you can reduce the shipping cost if you send your package several days before your trip and give the shipping company a few extra days to deliver the package after you return. You can also save money by shipping only your clothes and toiletries without a suitcase, thus reducing the weight of the package.
And by shipping your luggage, you also skip the baggage-check lines at the airport. Airline passengers who travel without luggage save an average of two hours a trip compared with passengers who check luggage, Adkins said.
However, he couldn't calculate how much aggravation you save by going through an airport sans baggage.
DOT steps up aid to frustrated fliers
The Department of Transportation has made it clear recently that the federal agency is increasingly allied with frustrated passengers against big airlines.
For example:
* On Friday, the department issued a $30,000 fine against United Airlines for failing to disclose the full price for airfares, as required by department rules. For several days, United failed to include a 7.5% federal excise tax in the advertised price that passengers must pay for airline tickets, according to the agency.
* Earlier in the week, the agency unveiled a website (airconsumer.dot.gov) that makes it easier for passengers to file complaints about airline service and shipping software and keep track of the rates for on-time arrivals and lost baggage.
* Last month, the department announced it would fine airlines that leave passengers stranded on a plane on the tarmac for more than three hours without allowing the passengers to return to the gate. The new restrictions also require the airlines to offer food, water and access to bathrooms within two hours of a delay. Airlines that fail to comply can be fined up to $27,500 per passenger. The new regulations take effect in April.
* In November, the department issued fines totaling $175,000 against Continental, ExpressJet and Mesaba airlines for their involvement in an incident that left 47 passengers stranded in a plane in Rochester, Minn., for nearly six hours.
The new Transportation Department website simplifies information, online forms and links that help passengers file complaints or keep track of the airlines with the worst on-time rates, among other information.
"This makes it more user friendly so people can get to things more quickly," said Bill Mosley, a department spokesman.
The website offers a link to an online complaint form that is routed to the Transportation Department's Aviation Consumer Protection Division, which keeps track of the complaints and compiles a monthly report. The department also reviews the complaints and investigates those that allege violation of aviation safety rules, deceptive advertising or discrimination against passengers based on religion, race or disabilities, Mosley said.
Asked about the new Transportation Department website, David Castelveter, a spokesman for the Air Transport Assn., a trade group that represents the nation's airlines, responded that carriers "constantly strive to better serve their customers and they welcome customer opinions."
The website won praise from the National Business Travel Assn., an organization that represents more than 5,000 corporate and government travel managers.
Said association President Michael W. McCormick: "We are hopeful this new website will help travelers report airline service problems, allowing the Department of Transportation to address and resolve them quickly and effectively."
But the higher fees are good news to Zeke Adkins, co-founder of Luggage Forward, a Boston business that ships luggage door-to-door for travelers who want to avoid the hassles of checking bags at the airport.
"Every time the airlines increase their fees, it translates into increased bookings for us," he said.
He is not alone in seeing the higher airline fees as an opportunity.
United Parcel Service Inc., FedEx Corp. and the U.S. Postal Service have all encouraged airline passengers to ship their luggage instead of hauling it through a crowded airport.
And if the airlines continue to raise fees, the shipping companies see a chance for more business in the future.
"We certainly welcome any additional service that may come as a result" of the higher fees, Postal Service spokesman David Lewin said.
Continental, Delta and United announced new rates this week for checking the first and second pieces of luggage on domestic flights.
Continental and Delta both raised fees by $8 for the first bag and $7 for the second suitcase. The increase went into effect for Continental passengers for flights on or after today. For Delta, the new prices took effect for flights after Tuesday.
The increase at both airlines brings the fee to $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second bag if passengers pay at the airport. The airlines offer a discount on the baggage fee if passengers pay online.
United increased the fees by $5 a bag for passengers who bought tickets on or after Thursday for travel on or after Jan. 21. The fees are $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second, with discounts for paying online.
Since the airlines began increasing baggage fees in 2008, the charges have become a big source of revenue.
In the third quarter of 2009, the 10 largest U.S. carriers collected about $740 million in baggage fees, more than double the $350 million in fees they collected in the third quarter of 2008, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
UPS, FedEx and the Postal Service couldn't say how many more people were shipping luggage as a result of the higher airline fees.
But in the last year, UPS has noticed that more customers are shipping oversize packages, such as skis and golf clubs -- the kind of packages that would result in hefty airline baggage fees.
"We know anecdotally that we've seen an increase in business since the late summer of 2008," UPS spokeswoman Susan Rosenberg said.
In most cases, it's still cheaper to transport your luggage via the airlines than to ship it. For example, it would cost about $240 to ship a standard suitcase weighing about 50 pounds for a trip from Pasadena to San Jose by overnight delivery with Luggage Forward. That's for a round trip, with pickup at your house before the trip begins and delivery back home afterward.
To ship the same package overnight via FedEx costs less -- about $210 -- but you may have to ship the package from a FedEx office.
In contrast, Continental, Delta and United will charge you $50 for the first bag on a round trip.
But you can reduce the shipping cost if you send your package several days before your trip and give the shipping company a few extra days to deliver the package after you return. You can also save money by shipping only your clothes and toiletries without a suitcase, thus reducing the weight of the package.
And by shipping your luggage, you also skip the baggage-check lines at the airport. Airline passengers who travel without luggage save an average of two hours a trip compared with passengers who check luggage, Adkins said.
However, he couldn't calculate how much aggravation you save by going through an airport sans baggage.
DOT steps up aid to frustrated fliers
The Department of Transportation has made it clear recently that the federal agency is increasingly allied with frustrated passengers against big airlines.
For example:
* On Friday, the department issued a $30,000 fine against United Airlines for failing to disclose the full price for airfares, as required by department rules. For several days, United failed to include a 7.5% federal excise tax in the advertised price that passengers must pay for airline tickets, according to the agency.
* Earlier in the week, the agency unveiled a website (airconsumer.dot.gov) that makes it easier for passengers to file complaints about airline service and shipping software and keep track of the rates for on-time arrivals and lost baggage.
* Last month, the department announced it would fine airlines that leave passengers stranded on a plane on the tarmac for more than three hours without allowing the passengers to return to the gate. The new restrictions also require the airlines to offer food, water and access to bathrooms within two hours of a delay. Airlines that fail to comply can be fined up to $27,500 per passenger. The new regulations take effect in April.
* In November, the department issued fines totaling $175,000 against Continental, ExpressJet and Mesaba airlines for their involvement in an incident that left 47 passengers stranded in a plane in Rochester, Minn., for nearly six hours.
The new Transportation Department website simplifies information, online forms and links that help passengers file complaints or keep track of the airlines with the worst on-time rates, among other information.
"This makes it more user friendly so people can get to things more quickly," said Bill Mosley, a department spokesman.
The website offers a link to an online complaint form that is routed to the Transportation Department's Aviation Consumer Protection Division, which keeps track of the complaints and compiles a monthly report. The department also reviews the complaints and investigates those that allege violation of aviation safety rules, deceptive advertising or discrimination against passengers based on religion, race or disabilities, Mosley said.
Asked about the new Transportation Department website, David Castelveter, a spokesman for the Air Transport Assn., a trade group that represents the nation's airlines, responded that carriers "constantly strive to better serve their customers and they welcome customer opinions."
The website won praise from the National Business Travel Assn., an organization that represents more than 5,000 corporate and government travel managers.
Said association President Michael W. McCormick: "We are hopeful this new website will help travelers report airline service problems, allowing the Department of Transportation to address and resolve them quickly and effectively."
