Thursday, April 8, 2010

UPDATED!! Carry-on Douchebaggery is Afoot

tips and tricks about travel and the crazy business of travel
orig. from Blognonymous, which then switched to Ragebot - check them all out!



We rode Southwest Airlines to LAX on our recent trip to Disneyland. The fare was the cheapest and they don't charge for checked bags. I booked another trip elsewhere coming up and chose American because their fare was the same as Southwest's; I plan to only use carry-ons because they charge for checked bags.

But now my heart is filled with fear. I just read this story about an airline charging for carry-ons.

Bastards.

This part really kills me:

Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza said having fewer carry-on bags will help empty the plane faster. He said the idea is to get customers to pay for individual things they want, while keeping the base fare low.

"The beauty of it is they will do what they think is best for them and will now have the choice," he said.


The choice? How about the choice to not fly your feckin' airline, buddy? That's one choice this traveler will be exercising.

When we lived in Europe, Ryan Air was reknowned for super cheap fares. We flew them from Eire to the UK, and were amused at the attendants' antics hawking water for a euro, even selling lottery tickets and perfume to passengers. But this proposed policy goes beyond the pale. It's enough to make me say "Piss off!"


UPDATE! My second husband has a lot to say about this issue. Check him out at Colbert Nation.

8 comments:

Maureen said...

What a dumb idea. And they were among the first to start charging for checked baggage as well.

Bill Lisleman said...

I also posted about this.

Hey dumb customer relationship manager, do some blog searching about the reaction to this dumb idea.

Thank God management does fly the planes!

You flew Ryanair? They are in the news for planning to install pay toilets. no joke.

Bill Lisleman said...

I need to proof read comments
I meant to write
"does NOT fly"

Fantastic Forrest said...

Maureen - they are evil.

lisleman - I know about the pay toilet plan - that was the link I provided, and that's why I wrote "Piss off." :-) One of my daughter's friends said she would just pee on her seat to show them. Nice, huh?

Stu said...

If they charged me for the bathroom, I would just leave a steamer on the floor, with the money stuck in the top of it.

-Stu

JCK said...

Me thinks almost all the airlines will follow. Maybe not S.W. Love them!

We may have to strart traveling by magic carpet in our own minds...

It was lovely to meet you and come here and read your pithy blog. :)

Miss Healthypants said...

Oh my LORD, I'm really starting to hate the airlines! I'm glad, in a way, that I don't fly too often.

Rachel said...

Hey I just wanted to give you the insider's tip that if the bins are full the airline will check your bag for free at the gate. I'm surprised that more people haven't figured this one out yet.