Apr 25th, 2008
Yikes: New fees at Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines finally caved and will institute the dreaded $25 fee for the second checked bag.
Plus, the airline plans a raft of new fees, starting May 21.
Here’s a preview:
a. $15 to book flights by phone or at the airport
b. $50 for overweight bags (each way)
c. $100 for taking pets aboard the plane
d. $75 unaccompanied minor fee (each way)
e. $25 for a second checked bag (intra-Alaska passengers are exempt, as are MVP/MVPG mileage plan members)
More details about these new charges will follow. The “Great Unbundling” continues unabated. Many of these fees already were in place–but Alaska should not charge the extra-bag fee. I feel for them as they report their latest losses: $36 million for the first quarter or 2008.
Guess what? I’m losing money because of high fuel costs, too (not quite that much). But the charge to check a second bag is a fee for which travelers receive nothing–not even an assurance their bag will arrive on the same flight.
Mad? Sad? Me, too.
I love a lot of things about Alaska Airlines, but the little things are stacking up, enough it’s killing me as a consumer.
It’s bad enough airlines are already cramming us into seats, there is very little inflight customer service worth commenting about (outside first class), and ticket prices are generally are higher… even with the occasional discounts.
So now everyone is jumping onto the - Let’s see how much we can squeeze out of our customers bandwagon!
Here’s my 2 cents!
a. $15 to book flights by phone or at the airport
> WHY? Did the price of long distance or ISP charges increase? What am I missing here?
b. $50 for overweight bags (each way)
> Okay…
c. $100 for taking pets aboard the plane
> GOOD! Unless the dog is serving persons with disabilities (guide dog etc..)
d. $75 unaccompanied minor fee (each way)
> Does that mean the minor has to come back?
e. $25 for a second checked bag (intra-Alaska passengers are exempt, as are MVP/MVPG mileage plan members)
> Oh yeah… Sticking it to the little man again Good God!! See how that goes over when we’re traveling with winter gear.
Come on Alaska Airlines… Is it really that bad out there for you?
$75 unaccompanined minor fee!!?? WTF???
Excuuuuse me! This is outrageous. The former fee of $30 was reasonable, but $75 is just “let’s stick it to people who have no choice”. Pah!