How long before the airlines add an oxygen surcharge? Or how about a coat check fee?

[marmar]

from the Los Angeles Times:



Airlines' extra fees may soon be taking off
Desperate for revenue, the industry looks at a la carte pricing for a variety of services.

By Hugo Martín
October 31, 2009


Airline passengers who are fed up with all those extra fees now charged by carriers are in for some bad news: More of the same is yet to come.

That was the message from the Ancillary Revenue Airline Conference in Huntington Beach last week, a gathering of airline executives and businesses that serve the industry.

Throughout the three-day conference, the executives got tips on how to collect more "ancillary fees" without drawing the wrath of passengers.

The terms "ancillary fees" and "a la carte pricing" are business-speak for charges for products and services that passengers used to be given free, such as checking a second bag, or that airlines have recently added, such as wireless Internet.

Ancillary fees are not new. In 2008, airlines worldwide collected $10.25 billion in such fees -- a 346% increase from 2006. Low-fare carrier Allegiant Air, the world leader in cashing in on ancillary fees, gets nearly 23% of its revenue from such charges, according to a survey on the subject. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-briefcase31-2009oct31,0,7664245.story?track=rss

[Skittles]

1. pay toilets

:o

[L0oniX]

11. +1 ...and pay for it per gram.

[L0oniX]

12. Charge for removing screaming kids.

[virgogal]

2. OKay with me as long as they take care of the equipment. I remember

when it was very expensive to fly.

[rpannier]

10. I'd be with you

But their service sucks and their attitude is f*ck you and the horse you rode in on.

I fly internationally and I never fly a US carrier.
For some reason, there are many carriers that are able to provide service at a decent cost w/o the attitude and the little hiden costs.

Maybe they need to rethink their screw you policy

[Towlie]

3. "If you'd like to tilt your seat back, an attendant will unlock it for a small fee."

[SheilaT]

4. There was a skit some years back

on some comedy show, either SNL or In Living Color in which the coffee was free but you had to pay for the cup to put it in. When the passenger objected to the charge for the cup, the flight attendant shrugged and poured the coffee directly into his lap. Loved it.

[davidpdx]

18. Maybe they were just a little bit ahead of their time on that one

(mis)fortune tellers if you will.

[Cyrano]

5. How long before they charge us if we want to sit down during a flight?

Will there be a surcharge for a seatbelt?

And just how much are they planning to charge us to see the emergency procedures film before takeoff?

As a kid, I spent a lot of time on Greyhound buses. I guess it's time to go back to the past.

[marmar]

9. Actually, for short trips, I've abandoned flying altogether.....

The Amtrak trip between Detroit and Chicago is about 2 hours longer than it needs to be, but so much more pleasant. And even the Megabus is a nice ride.

[davidpdx]

20. I actually heard some airlines are looking into providing

standing room where you be able to stand up and they would have some kind of belt to secure you. It doesn't surprise me at all. Next thing you know they turn the cargo hold into standing room only. Or better yet, you can sit on your luggage.

[Wapsie B]

6. Have they even thought about cutting senior management positions?

But I would ask that with any industry nowadays.

[rpannier]

7. This is why I don't fly US carriers

Whenever I fly back to the US from overseas, I fly straight into Chicago on a non-US carrier and then pay the 150 bucks for a car service to pick meup and drive me 2 1/2 to my parents house and then another 150 to take me back to Chicago.
I can have 1, 2, 3+ bags that I don't have to pay extra for and I don't have to deal with the idiots out there.

[flyarm]

17. Air France now charging for 2nd bag! just got a notice yesterday! eom

[RKP5637]

8. I already quit flying, fortunately I can do that. Wonder if I'll be billed for the no-fly option.

[flyarm]

13. I am going out of country next week and flying Air France..just got a notice today 2nd bag $50 bucks

50 euro coming back.

and only 50 lbs per bag..

well now you must put all yout toiletries in your bag..instead of carry on..and for women that is makeup and hair supplies and they weigh alot! And should I even mention the weight of winter shoes? and boots? and sneakers?? and the bag itself..heck I have 2 bags packed 1/2 full and they are over 50 lbs..each..

I guess i could go naked..but..some might find it objectionable......

I keep taking stuff out of the bags and re-aligning stuff..

I have traveled my entire life..i have never found packing so difficult!

Heck summer time is easy..sandles and light clothing..but winter clothing is so much heavier..and as for winter shoes, sweaters, and dress up clothes, coats and jackets.......ahhh to be a man and need only 1 pair of shoes and not giving a crap about fashion and no hair stuff!

Hubby is packed in one bag.....

I am trying..but frustrated..

[TexasProgresive]

14. They've already cut back on refreshing cabin air.

This increases the chance of getting sick.

[imdjh]

15. This is why "I just work here." is unacceptable. I know people think they are being nice, but...

.... the front line employees are the only ones you have access to. Scream at them. Tell them to shove the fee up their ass. Demand to have the fee removed.

That's how it works in the credit card business, and the employees know that they are supposed to be on the receiving end of abuse. Hell, some of the fee reversals and retention items only kick in if you yell and threaten to close the account.

Be demanding.

[muntrv]

16. At this rate, I'm wondering how long before trains become the preferred way

to travel.

[lib2DaBone]

19. I don't mind Airline gouging... I hate the TSA Stasi Abuse......

[nightrain]

21. seat fee? bathroom fee? water fee?

maybe people could just stand from LA to Wash DC? like on a subway.