A semi-regular column of my thoughts/opinions/rants on the latest travel news, trends & experiences.
There has been much to-do the past year or so about airline fees: $50 for a checked bag here, $40 for a carry on bag there, $10 to use the bathroom (okay, not really. Although we all know RyanAir will get there one day). Some of these fees have just become part of traveling – the company I work for will now reimburse you for checked bag fees if your trip is longer than two days.
But what about new “optional” airline fees? Are the services they’re offering worth the extra money? How much do airlines make off of passengers who don’t know any better, or think they’re getting a good deal?An example: I recently bought a rather last minute (nine days out) plane ticket from Washington, D.C. to Miami. The fare with taxes was a very reasonable $197. I really can’t remember the last time I bought a plane ticket to fly anywhere that was under $200, so I was tickled pink with this fare. As I clicked through the screens to purchase my ticket, I was given this option:
An interesting bundle for $38. Group 1 boarding? Guaranteed overhead bin space. Standby on an earlier flight? Unless you’re one of the specific people on this list, you’re saving $12 on American’s non-refundable $50 stand-by fee. $75 credit toward changing your flight? Save $75 on American’s non-refundable $150 change fee.
But is it a good deal? As a frequent traveler, & a light packer, the Group 1 promise doesn’t really have much pull for me – I’ve actually been lucky & only had to have my carry on checked once because they ran out of bin space before I got on the plane. In addition, I rarely standby for earlier flights, although I can see how this may be an attractive option for business travelers. A discount on changing a flight? Again, I’m probably only going to change my flight in an unusual circumstance, so it’s not worth it to me. But what if I’m average Joe traveler, who flies maybe three times a year & has heard all the horror stories about the hellishness that air travel sometimes is. They are clearly the people who are targeted in this deal.
So is it a good deal? It’s a toss up in my mind. What do you think? I invite readers to weigh in below in the comments section.
Leave a Reply