For the air traveling consumer, if you base some of your ticket purchasing decisions on who charges for carry-ons, you can add Spirit Airlines to your list of air-carriers that charge for your carry-ons.
I had to do a double take when I read the following:
Sprint Airlines also has installed a fee structure where you are charged $30 for each piece of luggage you check in, but, if you wait to check in at the gate, the fee for that same bag is $45. Sprint contends that this fee structure will cut down flight delays and allow them to add more flights in a day. They also contend that despite these new fees, they’ve also dropped airfares to compensate for these new fees. So be it.
Me, I’m still a Southwest Airlines guy. Southwest is holding out against charging you for your carry-on bags and things seem to work pretty good for them.
Hidden Air Travel Costs
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What I mean by hidden air travel costs, if you haven’t pondered this, are the fees that get tacked on when you arrive at the airport! These costs can jack up the overall price of your airline ticket and then the savings you thought you were netting, are gone!
What I mean by that is if you book online with the best priced airline, and the best price is only better by a few dollars, does this airline you’ve chosen charge you for checked-in luggage and carry-ons? If they do, then you aren’t saving one red cent.
That’s one of the reasons why I stick with Southwest Airlines. The other reason I became hooked on Southwest was their air safety record. It’s pretty good compared to others.
Here are some pitches from Southwest Airlines, regarding their own accolades:
- “Ranked #1 Most Reliable Airline for dependability” Forbes Magazine, 2008
- “Readers’ Choice Award for Best Airfare Prices” SmarterTravel, 2009
- “Ranked #1 Friendliest Airline” TIME.com, 2008
- Best Value, Best Consumer Ontime Estimates, and Best Luggage Policy of all domestic airlines – Zagat, 2009
- Leader in Corporate Social Responsibility – Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship & Reputation and Institute, 2009
- Most Admired Airline – FORTUNE Magazine, 2009
- More daily domestic departures than any other commercial U.S. airline.
Keep in mind that Southwest Airlines does not charge you for your first or second checked bag, & carry-ons are still free, when you compare against other airlines that charge $25-35 per one-way trip. Plus, no matter how they work it, they have had a pretty good track record with being on-time, despite other air-carrier pitches. I’m just sayin’. Plus, sometimes, their aircrew can be pretty entertaining, and at times, having a bit of original, spirited humor from the flight crew, is a great change of pace from the cold, stagnate but polite service you might get from other airlines.
About Bruce Simmons
I've been writing newsletters since 1999. Of late, I've been focusing on the entertainment consumer angle on mostly the sci-fi, fantasy and action genres of TV, movies and books.
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I thought I got a great deal through Spirit by getting two round trip tickets to Fort. Lauderdale and a Hertz care for one week. Total was $538.15, but then I had to purchase my seats and book baggage fees. The total came out to 781.68. This airlilne is being very sneaky. They really know how to manipulate people. I will never fly with them again after my trip is done.