Airlines are raising checked bag fees as they crack down on carry ons

University courses Economics, Finance, Business & Marketing
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Airlines are making it trickier to travel economically with lots of stuff. ⁠
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Delta announced this week it’s hiking its checked-bag fees for the first time since 2018, joining other major airlines in charging flyers more for luggage, while cracking down on smaller third carry-on items.⁠
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Carriers say they’re countering rising operating costs and declining airfare (there was a 6% drop in January from a year before, according to the latest inflation report). They collected $33.3 billion in luggage fees last year alone, and that was before the new, higher prices:⁠
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  • Delta is bumping its checked-bag fee by $5 to $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second ⁠
  • American Airlines also increased the cost of checking your first bag in person by $10 at the end of February⁠
  • United, JetBlue, and Alaska Airlines also issued $5 increases to existing bag fees⁠
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    That leaves Southwest, the biggest domestic US carrier by passengers, as the only major airline that still provides flyers with two free checked bags. Sadly though, it’s cracking down on extra carry-on items, making passengers condense their belongings—including common items like fannypacks and shopping bags—into strictly two carry-ons at the end of last month.

Do you think this is going to make flying more accessible with cheaper flight tickets for those forgoing baggage?

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while carriers argue these hikes are necessary to offset operating costs, the burden falls disproportionately on passengers, especially those traveling on a tight budget :melting_face: With the rising cost of checked bags and stricter carry-on policies, flying becomes less accessible for many. It’s a tough dilemma for travellers: do they pay extra for luggage convenience or sacrifice comfort to save on ticket prices? What are your thoughts on these changes?

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Another measure to make travelling less and less accessible :melting_face:

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It’s disappointing to hear about the recent increases in checked-bag fees and restrictions on carry-on items from major airlines like Delta, American Airlines, United, JetBlue, and Alaska Airlines. With the rising operating costs they mention, it’s understandable that they’re seeking ways to offset expenses, but it certainly makes traveling with lots of stuff more challenging for passengers.

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I think if theyre reducing costs for travel with lower baggage given, such as what ryanair does then I don’t have a problem with it because it opens the market up to new customers

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For sure, it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out

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