Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

[theprez98]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

The next likely fee is paying more for specific seats.

[JonM]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

...and United and US Air have fallen in line:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm..._united13.html


United Airlines and US Airways will follow rival American Airlines in charging $15 each way for a first checked bag.

United says its fee affects customers who buy economy-class coach tickets beginning today for domestic flights starting Aug. 18. The new policy will not apply to premium members of the airline's frequent-flier program, business- or first-class or international travelers.

United is increasing the fee to check three or more bags, overweight bags or items that require special handling to $125 from $100, or to $250 from $200, depending on the item.

US Airways said its new fee will go into effect for tickets booked after July 9. It will also start charging coach passengers $2 for nonalcoholic drinks starting Aug. 1.

[theprez98]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

Despite the fact that other airlines claim they will not follow American with this fee, they inevitably will. Once one airline does it, it makes it all the easier for the others to follow.

[Wing]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

* Charge for all food, snacks, drinks and lunches,
Several airlines already do.

* Charge for use of the bathroom until some watchdog groups files a protest
Yes please.

* Charge you every time you press that call-button or call a stewardess
As long as they don't charge me every time they wake me up to offer me a drink.

* Charge more for the seats near the front,
They already do

near the aisle, next to the window
In other words, discount the seat in the middle. I might consider sitting there, in that case.

* Charge you for not wearing your seatbelt when they say you are supposed to.
Yes please.

* Charge you for standing up when you are not supposed to
Yes please.

* Charge you for the in-flight movies, even when the movies suck
Some airlines already do (but the movies are optional)

* Charge you a "landing fee"
* Charge you a "take-off" fee
* Charge you for "crash-free flights"
Isn't that what "airfare" means?

* Then apply several taxes to all new charges.
You mean administrative fees, not taxes.

[TheCotMan]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

Where is your imagination?
They could:
* Charge by bag weight, height, clothing, and possibly human-weight until discrimination issues arise
* Charge for all food, snacks, drinks and lunches,
* Charge for use of the bathroom until some watchdog groups files a protest
* Charge you every time you press that call-button or call a stewardess
* Charge more for the seats near the front, near the aisle, next to the window
* Charge you for not wearing your seatbelt when they say you are supposed to.
* Charge you for standing up when you are not supposed to
* Charge you for the in-flight movies, even when the movies suck
* Charge you a "landing fee"
* Charge you a "take-off" fee
* Charge you for "crash-free flights"
* Then apply several taxes to all new charges.

In short, they will do whatever we, the consumers let them do. Until the charges are so great that we choose not to fly, or not to fly with the charge-happy carrier(s), they will continue to find ways to make a profit; after all is said and done, profit is their job.

[Wing]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

In related news, if you plan to fly American, pack lightly - the first checked bag is now charged as well, unless you're flying first class or on a frequent flier voucher.

What's that leave? Charging for carryon?

[azpyroguy]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

Well.. I may not be making it to DC16 now, the company I work for just pulled the rug from under me, took away all our training time and funding, so no BH or DC.. unless I can talk them into giving me the time off to drive up on Thursday night...and come back Sunday sometime...

[0x58]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

I believe the company is EasyJet in Europe, not sure though. Anyway they give you a boarding pass, without a seat number on it what so ever. People board as they come, first come first serve.

Well I hear you say, what incentive is there to move to the back of the plane? Here is the cool thing, the further back you sit in the airplane, the more leg room you get. It is in your best interest to be there first and sit all the way in the back. This way the plane gets filled faster as well, since more people will want to sit in the back. No more parents with 5 kids blocking the entire walkway because they have to stow luggage and jackets. Instead they head back, and everyone else can get seated as well.

[DaKahuna]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

It seems that charging for extra bags isn't the only way the airlines plan to get more money!

United has been doing that for a while, or at least use to. You could select at the self service checking machine if you wanted to pay for extra leg room or upgrade your seat.

[theprez98]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

It seems that charging for extra bags isn't the only way the airlines plan to get more money!

The head of JetBlue Airways Corp. said Tuesday the low-cost carrier expects to boost its noncore revenue by 60 percent this year, in part by charging passengers extra for more legroom.

Article

[theprez98]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

US Airlines is following suit, they announced today they will now start charging $25 for a second checked bag. Not surprisingly, "preferred" status and First Class customers won't have to pay.

[enven]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

Last time I was flying Swiss over to Switzerland I was allowed two bags of 75 pounds each, and two carry on items.

Funny you mentioned that, I did the same when I flew swiss air; I had an incident on swiss air w/ my laptop being pegged as an improvised explosive...But they managed to figure out it was speculation...The Swiss are kind people.

[0x58]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

Last time I was flying Swiss over to Switzerland I was allowed two bags of 75 pounds each, and two carry on items.

[azpyroguy]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

I am driving this year as well, this will be my 4th con. Its only roughly a 5hr drive from Phoenix area if you drive the speed limit

As I will be up there for both BH and DC, and typically a flight and car runs me around $400-500, I can make the drive for well under that.

[enven]

Re: Flying United to DC16? Better pack lightly or have a padded wallet...

Its a complete rip off! United is a piece of shit airline anyway, if most know the hassle it is to get their bags in the first place from them, then the pricing of extra baggage will be even more outrageous...

What I want to know is how ticket sales been; it is of course a demand to fly, not always a luxury - but business. It seems that the new fee's will create more unrest for frequent flyer's and even more for those who rarely fly.

I for one will be flying out this year to Defcon from California because the gas prices are probably going to total out to a round trip plane ticket. Thankfully I like walking, so this won't be the issue...Just finding the hotel early is what I'll need initially...Perhaps Riviera, perhaps the Wynn, or even the Hilton. Packing light is key, so now its one pair of pants, two shirts, three pairs of undies, and a few pairs of socks. My laptop, and a little room for any purchasing; so a mid sized camera-skate bag will do me well, that is certain.