Spirit Airlines to charge up to $45 for carry-ons

[spinbaby]

I may start sending my stuff UPS.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100406/ap_on_bi_ge/us_carry_on_fee

[ProdigalJunkMail]

1. CEO statement :

<snip>
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.
</snip>

Having a bag is not something I WANT, you tool, it is something I NEED!

Good thing I do not, and now will not, fly Spirit.

sP

[marmar]

2. Airlines are known for shockingly bad decision-making, but this takes the proverbial cake....

[spinbaby]

4. They'll charge you to take that cake

:grr:

[Dappleganger]

9. Actually it's not surprising at all if you know how Spirit does business.

[CynicalObserver]

17. Agreed, my first experience with their cancellation policy

opened my eyes to the fact spirit makes predatory policies. $45 for a carry-on that by definition is much smallerthan checked baggage says a lot.

[kestrel91316]

12. +100000 - soon to be followed by news of their bankruptcy.

[TheMightyFavog]

15. Sounds like the kind of bullshit Ryan Air pulls over in Europe.

Makes the worst low cost carriers here in the States look like a pleasure cruise by means of comparision.

[rcrush]

3. Its like they are daring people not to fly.

[Lance_Boyle]

5. I wonder if they also charge for checked baggage?

On its face this seems like a boneheaded move, but if it gets people on and off the plane faster and/or raises revenue, maybe it will work out to Spirit's advantage. Reducing competition for scarce overhead space might make flying slightly less horrific.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

7. they charge for BOTH n/t

[uppityperson]

10. Yes, they charge for checked. Here's their link...

http://www.spiritair.com/Policiesbags.aspx#BaggageFees
Online: $19 1st, $25 2nd, $100 third
@ airport: $25/25/100
Changing it later this summer,

[devilgrrl]

6. Airline travel has been a total joke since Ronald Reagan came in a FUCKED things UP!

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[Dappleganger]

8. SPIRIT is a schiester airline anyway.

They completely ruined a church trip I was on one time and we had to wait nearly a year to get a refund on our tickets due to problems which were THEIR fault. Don't be taken in by their 'deals', they are the worst of the worst.

[sui generis]

11. and that includes laptops?

I'm going to invent and patent the laptop dinner jacket, just you wait and see. At least until they start charging us for wearing clothes.

[dembotoz]

13. guess you should just let your little kids run naked and crap without a diaper

perhpas a diaper bag would then be allowed.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

14. that's a hell of an idea

I am going without my 'incontinence' clothing if ever I fly them...that'll fucking teach 'em!

sP

[HuckleB]

16. They don't fly anywhere near my home, so it's not an issue for me yet.

Still, if they actually reduced airfare by $40, and still allow people to bring bags that fit under the seat in front of them for free, it doesn't seem that big of a deal. Then again, I'm weird. I wondered why the airlines didn't charge for big carry-on luggage instead of checked baggage in the first place.