7 Air Travel Perks That Used To Be Free

[Liberal_in_LA]

In recent years, struggling airlines have been squeezing revenue out of passengers wherever they can. Here we look at (and long for) airline perks that used to be free.

<summary from article, see article for details>
1. Luggage
2. Food
3. Comfort (pillows / blankets)
4. Headphones
5. Legroom
6. Booking
7. Changing your plans

How Far Will It Go?
The recent rash of new airline fees has left many pondering what could be next. In 2009, U.K. flyers were outraged at Irish budget carrier Ryanair's announcement that it was considering charging passengers to use the restroom. So far, this particular fee has not been put in place, but only time will tell how far airlines will go - or how much more nickel-and-diming passengers will tolerate.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/03/18/investopedia43024.DTL#ixzz0ia0wXuZF

[vadawg]

1. problem is air travle has become cheap and people wnat it cheap

if they brought back the good service and charged more then less people would fly but it would be a more enjoyable experience..

[Grand Taurean]

2. I only fly when I absolutely must.

[brooklynite]

3. None of these items were "free"

They were included in cost of airline tickets that were either higher (before the industry started undercutting each other for every last passenger) or subsidized by the lower cost of airline fuel. In a world of Walmart pricing, you may be able to shop for a $99 cross-country flight, but don't expect a lot more than transportation.

[sakabatou]

7. About leg room...

I remember someone complaining about me banging my feet up against the person's back of the chair. But I wasn't. My legs were just long.

[rcrush]

4. All that shit is still not worth the TSA hassle

I don't have to travel often maybe once or twice a year but a few years ago I started taking road trips. Lot nicer. No TSA digging in your underwear.

[SheilaT]

5. Not all tickets could be changed

for free back in the day. I know, because I was an airline ticket agent for ten years at DCA, leaving right before the start of Deregulation.

Anyway, even then, only full fare coach or first class tickets could be exchanged for no extra charge. Excursion fare tickets always had some sort of penalty for changing plans.

[neverforget]

6. I have a trip on Monday that I have to change the fly home date on

and it will cost at least $150. At least my company has to pay for it....

[BeFree]

8. Think about this

The CO2 released way up there in the higher atmosphere causes more global warming than any other CO2 emissions.

[kirby]

9. "perks"? Horrible choice of word...

These are minimum basic expectations.