I hope lap dances are included in these new fees

avatar for vincemichaels
vincemichaels
Detroit
Spirit ups carry-on bag fee to $200 round-trip for someBy Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Spirit Airlines is back in the news for its extra "a la carte" fees.
This time, though, it's not for a new fee – but rather for how much it is raising an existing fee.
Beginning this fall, placing a carry-on bag in Spirit's overhead storage bins will now cost some customers $100 each way – or a whopping $200 round-trip.
That, as The Associated Press notes, is more than many Spirit customers "may have paid for their tickets."
The new carry-on fee is up significantly from the $45 each way – or $90 round trip – that Spirit currently charges for carry-on bags declared at the gate. The new fee will apply to both domestic and international flights beginning Nov. 6.
However, customers can save dramatically if they plan ahead.
The fee $100-each-way carry-on fee drops to $50 each way/$100 round-trip (as of Nov. 6) if paid for at Spirit's ticket counters or check-in kiosks. The fee drops even more -- to $35 each way/$70 round-trip -- if reserved online prior to check-in or to $40/$80 if reserved through the airline's call center.
Alternatively, a customer could check a single bag for $35 each way ($70 round trip) if it is declared before check-in. The fee for checking a bag once at the airport is $45 each way ($90 round trip). A second checked bag costs $45 each way ($90 round trip) before check-in and $55 each way ($110 round trip)at the airport. Those rates also become effective Nov. 6, and are now standardized for both domestic and international flights.
So far, Spirit and Allegiant are the only U.S. carriers to charge customers for placing carry-on bags in their overhead storage bins. Smaller items that can fit beneath the seat in front of a passenger remain free of charge.
AP says that "in the first quarter, Spirit's average revenue from fees per passenger on a round-trip flight topped $100 for the first time."
The Wall Street Journal writes Spirit claims that topping the $100-per-round-trip figure is an industry-first.
The Journal adds:
Spirit has been a leader in charging for so-called ancillary services, stripping down its fares to offer only a ticket and ignoring criticism from some politicians about a strategy that includes charging extra for carry-on bags and which helped make it among the most profitable in the global industry

14 comments

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avatar for Alucard
Alucard
13 years ago
It is because of this kind of Bullshit & the Airport security BS that I haven't flown since 1999. And this STUFF will continue to keep my OFF of planes! SCREW the airlines. LOL
avatar for vincemichaels
vincemichaels
13 years ago
If it wasn't for all the Frequent Flyer miles I had earned, I'd fly very little also. But with Spirit Airlines long time employment of dancers, I'd hope some would be flight attendants and could be talked into augmenting their income. :)
avatar for Alucard
Alucard
13 years ago
"If it wasn't for all the Frequent Flyer miles I had earned, I'd fly very little also. But with Spirit Airlines long time employment of dancers, I'd hope some would be flight attendants and could be talked into augmenting their income. :)"

The old "Coffee, Tea or Me" thing? LOL

I think there were some Porn films once upon a time with this theme. LOL
avatar for shadowcat
shadowcat
13 years ago
avatar for Alucard
Alucard
13 years ago
"FUCK Spirit Airlines"

Just Spirit?

You got to know the other Airlines will try to follow along.
avatar for deogol
deogol
13 years ago
I am going on a decade now with only one emergency flight. It just isn't worth the hassle and the food at restaurants on the way tastes better.
avatar for Ermita_Nights
Ermita_Nights
13 years ago
I suspect it's a trend. Soon the tickets will be free but you'll be charged $100 to go through security, $50 to get a seat, $50 if you want to sit in the pressurized part of the cabin, etc. This follows on all the mysterious taxes and fees that already double the price of a flight. I suspect it's a way of hiding the true cost of a ticket, to foil comparison shopping.
avatar for jester214
jester214
13 years ago
I remember 10 or 12 years ago when I thought flying was a fun thing to do, a hassle but a neat break from the norm.

Now it sucks... If I didn't like to travel I would only do it for business.
avatar for SuperDude
SuperDude
13 years ago
I heard a rumor, not confirmed, that "service fees" are not considered income for accounting and tax purposes. Revenues from ticket sales are income for accounting and tax purposes. That's why ticket prices on some airlines are so low, but all of the additional fees add up to the real price of the ticket. Only the ticket revenues are taxable, not the fees. Is this true? Who knows?
avatar for joesparty
joesparty
13 years ago
SuperDude, you are close, but not exactly right. All these service fees are indeed income for financial and income tax purposes; Spirit and others do pay income tax on these fees. (The definition of "income" in the Internal Revenue Code is "all income from whatever source derived.") There has been, however, a long-running dispute between the airlines and the government as to whether these fees are subject to various excise (different from income) taxes imposed on ticketed fares.

I think tax avoidance isn't the airlines' main goal, though. They want to be able to advertise the lowest fare but keep raising revenue. They can do this by imposing "fees" that aren't a part of the base fare. The Department of Transportation has tried to curb this too, but with limited success.
avatar for vincemichaels
vincemichaels
13 years ago
Go straight to Hell, Spirit Airlines. Do not pass Go !!
avatar for minnow
minnow
13 years ago
Shadowcat, resident vampire, etal: No, SCREW Ryanair. It is Ceo's with the mindset towards customers & employees vs the bottom line that make todays travel a pita.

My attempt at "linking" didn't work- go to youtube.com. In YT search, type in "Ryan Air Long-haul flights have blowjobs included!" Don't just stop there, read comments, and search other related vids on same page which includes airline wanting to charge customers to use the toilet.
avatar for Ermita_Nights
Ermita_Nights
13 years ago
I've been saying for years that the airlines should provide free drinks and charge to use the toilet.
avatar for sharkhunter
sharkhunter
13 years ago
I'm glad my company cut back on travel years ago. I haven't flown since then. I'm certainly not planning on flying for fun. Airlines should do away with all the fees unless it's for something that is really unusual. They just don't want customers to do fair comparison shopping comparing ticket prices in my opinion. Spirit is rip off airline in my opinion.
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