Snyder said there were a couple of financial factors that played into the decision by airlines to begin charging for first and second checked bags in 2008. One, he said, is that the carriers were facing the Great Recession. Another was a spike in fuel prices.
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For decades, it was free on major airlines to check at least one bag (some discount airlines got a head start on charging). But in 2008, amid rising fuel prices and economic turmoil, that started to charge. Airlines such as American and United began tacking on a $15 charge to get your bag checked to your destination.
United's new Basic Economy fares will charge for carry-on bags. PUBLISHED: November 16, 2016 at 10:07 a.m. | UPDATED: April 8, 2018 at 2:24 p.m. The skies aren't so friendly if you're on a budget. United announced Tuesday that it's charging its lowest-fare passengers to use the overhead bins.
Furthermore, most aircraft do not have enough overhead bin space to accommodate all passengers' bags, leading many bags to be gate checked. Notably, the logistics of gate-checking so many bags often lead to delays, and as such, requiring payment for a carry-on bag can help improve on-time performance.
You can avoid United checked bag fees by paying more to travel in premium economy, business or first class. Passengers in these cabins receive two free checked bags on domestic flights. Those flying in business or first class have a 70-pound baggage allowance.
Avoiding Baggage Fees on U.S. Airlines. All of the major U.S. airlines — from the Big 3 to low-cost carriers — charge baggage fees of some sort. The only exception to this rule is Southwest Airlines which includes 2 checked bags and a free carry-on with all tickets booked, regardless of fare class.
A key driver in domestic checked baggage fees is tax arbitrage. Airlines want to get a portion of the transportation cost out from under the base airfare so that it is not subject to the government's 7.5% excise tax on tickets. At some level it doesn't matter what pricing mechanism is used, as long as there is one.
In fact, they're a fairly recent development as airlines have turned to ancillary fees as a way to generate more revenue from flyers. While checked baggage fees have largely been deemed a success for the airlines' bottom line, of course, they come at the expense of the passenger's wallet.
According to IATA, the price of jet fuel has increased nearly 150% in the last year. Airlines are also facing the reality of not having enough pilots and flight attendants to run their flights, as well as higher labor costs. All of these forces have combined to create rising ticket prices.
Southwest Checked Baggage AllowanceAll checked bags must adhere to a max weight of 50 pounds (23 kg) and must adhere to max linear dimensions of 62 inches (158 cm). Southwest is the only airline that provides 2 FREE CHECKED BAGS for all fares.
Although some web sites are more forthcoming about bag fees than others, these charges are set by the airline and do not change whether you buy your ticket over the phone or online, through the airline, or through a third party website. The bag charge will be the same.
Luggage feesThe sure-fire way to avoid this fee is to travel with a carry-on bag only. However, if you simply cannot do without your checked luggage, try to pay for the bag online, as it is typically much cheaper to purchase your bag on the airline's website rather than pay up front at the check-in counter.
Paying for checked bagsPay for first bag: Online or at airport kiosk during check in. Pay for second bag: Only available through the Manage Trips tool. Pay for third bag: At airport only. Please check in at ticket counter.
Southwest charges absolutely no bag fees. American, Alaska, Delta and Hawaiian charge $30 for a checked bag, while JetBlue and United charge $35 for the same. Low-cost airlines Spirit and Frontier separate from the pack here, as they charge customers for all overhead carry-on items.
Checked BagsInternational flights in the US and European Union set a maximum weight of 70 lbs for checked luggage, although you may have to pay fees if you exceed the 50 lb limit guideline.
Why Do Airlines Lose Luggage? As with anything, accidents do happen. The leading cause of lost luggage is the mishandling of the bags between flights or from the sorting office to your airplane. Depending on the airport you fly out of, the actual sorting of luggage is done by a robot or workers.