<p>Re: reusable grocery bags. All of the grocery stores here in Ontario have sold them for a couple of years now, 99 cents each. It’s rare to see someone NOT using them. They’re not only environmentally friendly, they’re also easier to carry!</p>
<p>As I said the last time the issue of airlines charging for extra bags came up, I really wish they would instead charge for what some people bring on as carry-ons. It has become ridiculous what they allow. It would be interesting to know how many people on any given flight actually travel with more than one bag. In all our years of flying, and we travel often, no one in our family has ever taken a second bag.</p>
<p>Why don’t the airlines just go to a flat (bulk) rate - 150 lbs. per ticket holder? If you weight 110, you get to bring a 40 lb. bag. If you’re over 150 you pay for the excess. H has an even better idea - administer some kind of sedative and throw the bodies in the plane, timing the dose so people will ‘come to’ in time to walk themselves off the aircraft (no need to check overhead bins or make sure the seat tray is in it’s full, upright position - just remove all the seats and secure the ‘cargo’ with bungee cords.) Passengers won’t be conscious to complain of poor treatment.</p>
<p>Airlines have to operate at a profit if we are to have a competitive market. Right now the price of fuel is killing our airlines. The weight of bags increases airline costs and thus it make sense to charge different rates for people with bags and people without bags.</p>
<p>Why do all actors in a competitive market have to operate at a profit? I thought the principles of the free market dictate that the losers go belly up.</p>
<p>I was on a Southwest flight a couple of weeks ago that was full so the last passengers on had to end up checking their carry-ons (i.e. their large carryon bag - not what can go under the seat in front of them). It was no real problem but SW doesn’t charge for checking the first 2 bags (and they brag about this on their website).</p>
<p>Has anyone been on a flight on a carrier that charges for checked bags yet where passengers were forced to check their carry-ons due to lack of on-board space? Did those passengers who had to check their carry-ons have to pay as if it were a checked bag or was it allowed to be checked without the charge? If they had to end up paying I’d guess there could be some very upset passengers who say “that guy didn’t need to pay - why should I?”.</p>
<p>Yeah I am wondering about that too. I normally fly out of a small airport where even normal carryons are often checked right at the plane … the same bag you’d have no issues with carrying on on a larger plane won’t fit on the small planes.</p>
<p>^^ For the small planes they’ve always considered the bags you drop at the stairs to still be carryon so I assume (hope) they’ll stay that way. My D’s flying on one on American Eagle tomorrow so we’ll see what they do.</p>
<p>We have had to “gate check” carry ons since all this started and that is free. I think it is still considered a carry on, even if it doesn’t fit in the cabin of one of the really small planes. Northwest is the most picky about what they let on in the cabin with you. They have made me gate check a carry on with wheels that is a super small case. I know from other airlines that it fits in the tiniest overhead of the tiniest plane, but on Northwest they make me gate check it. I figured out that their simple-to-apply rule is that if it is on wheels you check it. They say it is a weight thing and not a size thing. They assume it’s heavy if it needs wheels and they don’t want heavy things falling out of the overhead bins onto people’s heads or whatever. A pain, yes, but at least still free.</p>
<p>Yes, the losers go belly up and if there are only two or three airlines left, they will charge consumers substantially higher prices than they otherwise would if there were many airlines making a competitive market. The objective is many carriers all making a profit. We don’t have even close to that now.</p>
<p>Just a note in favor of Delta - we recently flew Delta from JFK to Europe and back and had one of the best airplane experiences in recent history. We flew coach and really felt like Delta made the efforts of years past. I had been so sick of traveling and feeling like a burden to the crew. Delta did a lot of inexpensive extras - served several meals (with choices) and provided entertainment. We were pleasantly surprised. I agree with the PP, airlines have to stay competitive - so no surprise on the extra baggage charge. We forced ourselves to each pack a less than 50lb bag and it actually worked out fine. I am pleased that Delta has made an effort to still treat the passengers well despite trying economic times.</p>
<p>providing meals on a translantic flight is hardly an extra. Swissair gives out sandwichs on the 1 hour (or slightly shorter) flight from Zurich to Paris and Aeromexico gives food on short flights as well… it’s just the American airlines that are suffering, really. Arab and even Russian ones are finding plenty of money to expand their fleets etc.</p>
<p>When my D returned from her year in S. America, on Delta, she was shocked to learn that the charge for overweight bags had just increased to $80! Per bag! This is overweight in the 50 to 70 pounds catagory. She had two suitcases, as 2 are still allowed on overseas flights. Those checked items weren’t worth the extra charge, and I’m kicking myself for not checking the website before she flew. </p>
<p>Previously the charge was $50, as I’d assume it still is with some airlines.</p>
<p>“Yes, the losers go belly up and if there are only two or three airlines left, they will charge consumers substantially higher prices than they otherwise would if there were many airlines making a competitive market. The objective is many carriers all making a profit. We don’t have even close to that now.”</p>
<p>But that’s what is supposed to happen. The losers disappear, prices rise until someone with a new idea comes along and undercuts them in the market place.</p>
<p>Who’s “objective” is that? Who is this “we”? In a capitalist market, there is only one objective - to make money. Or are you suggesting there should be much more government regulation and support to ensure “we” have “many carriers all making a profit”?</p>
<p>Aren’t many of the non U.S. carriers nationalized? Might explain the endless Cup of Noodles, movies on demand and smiles from staff on our recent Cathay Pacific JFK-Hong Kong flights.</p>
<p>I agree that food is hardly an extra - but my last transatlantic flight (on a Scottish airline) did not include food and was so poor on service that Delta seemed like a dream come true. After flying US Air, Southwest and American domestically, even the domestic leg of my recent Delta trip was less stressful and included more service. Maybe it’s just that I’m used to poor service - which is what most American airlines seem to offer, but this recent flight was a welcome relief.</p>
<p>“Aren’t many of the non U.S. carriers nationalized? Might explain the endless Cup of Noodles, movies on demand and smiles from staff on our recent Cathay Pacific JFK-Hong Kong flights.”</p>
<p>some of them are, but e.g. Cathay is private and so are many more. I suppose that since really only the rich can afford to fly in places like russia, mexico, etc. their airlines just charge more (relatively) and don’t have to scrimp on service.</p>
<p>I think it is just the “efficiencies” of capitalism at work, weeding out the weaker competitors and improving profits for the strongest (which, in this case, might be oil companies rather than airlines). </p>
<p>So what if a flight to Podunk costs $1,200 (and they don’t supply peanuts)?</p>
<p>I try to fly Sngapore Airlines if I’m going to Asia. They still have proper meals, as many snacks as you want, and the flight attendants come by with drinks all the time.</p>