Breaking news: Wed Nov 17, from CBS4 Miami
Skycaps accused of pocketing baggage fees
More than half a dozen airline employees are facing serious charges after a nine month investigation showed they allegedly pocketed baggage fees at Miami International Airport.
And then just in time for the holidays, new fees that airlines charge for your luggage have clocked consumers on the head like a giant nutcracker doll falling out of the overhead bin. If you’re not seeing stars yet, try making sense of each airline’s baggage-fees policy. You’ll need a complex decision tree, and perhaps a calculator. Do you have one, two or three bags? Do they weigh less than 50 pounds, 51 to 70 pounds or 71 to 100 pounds? Did you buy your ticket this month or last July? Will you pay your baggage fees online or at the airport? Are you traveling domestically or heading abroad for the holidays? Are you flying coach or business class, and are you an elite frequent flier? Are you a civilian or a member of the military? And, if that weren’t dizzying enough, consider this: Are you flying with a surfboard or traveling with a set of antlers? Answers to all of these questions will affect the amount of baggage fees you’ll pay. Keep in mind that luggage fees pertain to both your departure and return trips. So, if you’re a family of four flying round trip on United Airlines, for example, and each person has one bag that weighs less than 50 pounds, your baggage fees will total $160. If you bring multiple bags, heavy luggage, oversized luggage or sporting equipment, the tab will go up. Bing Travel’s holiday gift to travelers is this handy guide so you can see at a glance what the major airlines are charging for baggage. You’ll notice, for example, that your choice of airlines can minimize luggage fees or remove them altogether. Southwest Airlines still lets you bring two checked bags for free; JetBlue allows one checked bag for free. Continental, Delta, Northwest, Spirit, United and US Airways offer discounts if you check in your luggage online. Got lots of baggage? Virgin America offers a unique pricing structure for those who like to pack heavy, charging only $20 each for up to 10 bags. Most major airlines now offer a remote luggage service, in partnership with a company called Bags, Inc., that might just save your back. You can check in your luggage at some hotels, convention centers and cruise ship piers. An agent will secure and transport your luggage to the airport, where it undergoes screening by the Transportation Security Administration before being placed aboard the plane. You’ll still pay the applicable fees for checked-in baggage, but there is no additional surcharge to use the Bags service. Luggage-shipping services aren’t likely to save you money, but they might save you some grief (not to mention your back). Companies such as Luggage Forward, Luggage Club, Sports Express and Luggage Free will handle pickup and drop-off. FedEx and UPS are other options, too. Or, simply practice the fine art of packing so little that you need only bring a carry-on. Of course, we realize that for many people, it’s just not possible to avoid checking a bag during the holiday season (and frankly, some travelers prefer being unencumbered when they board the plane).
This article originally appeared on Bing Travel in November, 2009 By Robin Dalmas, Bing Travel
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