It has been about about 2.5 years since I've last flown anywhere so recently while looking for a flight for next month to visit family in Dallas, I was surprised to see how it has all changed. I had heard about the check bag fee and actually paid it the last time I flew. However, despite the warning from the Southwest baggage guys on their commercials, I was surprised to see that airlines are also charging for a carry on bags.
While searching for flights, I was tickled pink that Spirit airlines was nearly half the price of Delta or American even though it had a stop in Chicago (which I actually kind of looked forward to). While going through the motions of getting a ticket, I realized that they charge for a seat. $10 per flight so for a flight to Dallas with a layover in Chicago, that is 4 seats I would need for an additional $40. A total of $80 for the full trip just for that one seat on 4 different flights. I then made the mistake of expanded their Taxes & Fees section. For everyone's enjoyment, I saved a screenshot:
The price for a non-stop flight on Delta or American is $451 without cost of a carry on or a checked bag (Sidenote: The aforementioned Southwest for all its talk about no baggage fees is $446 with a stop both ways in St. Louis). Even though it's still more than Spirit, I feel like paying that just for the mere fact that they aren't nickel and dimeing me for just a seat. I am planning on shipping my clothes out beforehand though. Take that, airline industry! As for how I will get my actual body there, I have yet to figure that one out.
4 comments:
If one airline would just go back to the price you see is what you pay no matter what the circumstances and no matter what your checked/carry-on bag situation was like, they would have me as a loyal customer. Anymore, I just don't put up with the crap and take a few extra days to drive out to where I'm going.
I've never had to pay that much for Southwest. I thought they have pretty cheap flights from Chicago to STL and then Dallas. Maybe booking in increments is better.
Cheers.
P.S. Wave south at me when you pass through STL.
if you don't pay for the seat, can you stand? I never heard that. I just flew to NC for a week and didn't check a single bag because I wasn't going to pay that racket. My roll on just barely makes the "carry-on" size and since I flew on small planes that "gate checked" it for me for free! Have a good trip.
Ed - Good luck driving to the Philippines. ;-)
R. - If you feel a strange force in the universe Wednesday 10/19 in the evening, it will just be me flying over.
Sage - That's what I was thinking. I love gate check! I am thinking about going with my larger carry on and doing that.
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