Spirit now charging for carry-on bags

[surfnh]

yes, short light weight people with less luggage should pay less.

I just got off a US Air flight to Philly on an embrear 170. The first 2 rows usually have very little overhead storage. I was in row 3, very big fellow in row 2. He puts a huge carry on overhead, ok, I can live with that. Then he has a mask system for his sleepapnia (sp??)in another big bag...he puts that in overhead too. This is very rude, it should go under the seat, but of course the bum doesn't want to trouble himself with stuff at his feet. I mention this to him, that this is rude, of course he ignores me....I'm just a quack surfer dude who likes STJ.

oh well...such is life.....they couldn't change the system fast enough for me, I'm sick of rude people.

[dejavu]

I agree that rudeness is a growing problem in America in general not just aboard aircraft. The problem with your rationale is where do you draw the line? Short light folks pay less than taller, heavier folks ok how much more? Where is the scale? People who have bigger feet pay more than people with small feet. Who does the measuring? Where do you draw the line? More or less hair,teeth,clothing? It seems to me that in your posts you seem to think that fat (or obese as you call them) folks are the root of all evil. There are plenty on thin people shoving their superszed carry ons in the bins too and thin people also have sleep apnea (!)The fact that the guy in front of you over-used the overhead bin space has nothing to do with his size it is RUDE period. I personally think that folks who recline their seat in my face should have to pay more after all they are taking up more room, and in doing so I am using less than "my fair share" right?

[c3p1]

Well, I would not mind paying more since I am taller, but only if they give me a seat that was made for someone my height. Where I can actually use the head rest and not have 2 bruised knees anytime someone wants to recline. Oh wait, if you recline you are using more space--is that more money as well?

I think the point here is airlines will get away with almost anything when it comes to charges and we as consumers will have to decide on whether to pay for it or not. That is what ultimately will decide what they can charge and what get they away with.

[surfnh]

I agree that rudeness is a growing problem in America in general not just aboard aircraft. The problem with your rationale is where do you draw the line? Short light folks pay less than taller, heavier folks ok how much more? Where is the scale? People who have bigger feet pay more than people with small feet. Who does the measuring? Where do you draw the line? More or less hair,teeth,clothing? It seems to me that in your posts you seem to think that fat (or obese as you call them) folks are the root of all evil. There are plenty on thin people shoving their superszed carry ons in the bins too and thin people also have sleep apnea (!)The fact that the guy in front of you over-used the overhead bin space has nothing to do with his size it is RUDE period. I personally think that folks who recline their seat in my face should have to pay more after all they are taking up more room, and in doing so I am using less than "my fair share" right?

Please don't misconstrue my comments to infer that obese people are evil, I don't believe I ever said that nor did I use the word obese. Rude people come in all shapes and sizes, agreed.

But, FedEx and UPS charge you more when you air freight a heavier package, that's why they are all weighed. I just don't think that we have a civil right to pay the same amount for seats on a plane when we weigh different amounts. Kids should be cheap, right? Gas is expensive.

Its not easy, I totally agree with you. But we can't compare the airline industry to trains and buses. Passenger trains are government supported in the U.S., as are most commuter buses in major cities. In that case, they have to be careful to give equal access to all income levels, shapes, and sizes, and can't be disciminatory at all.

But, airlines are private, they can be radical. I fly every week, and it makes me very nervous that they lose so much money and are required to maintain an aging fleet of planes because they can't afford new ones. The U.S. airlines have the oldest fleets in the western world, we've gotten ourselves into a bad situation. We've been very lucky to have few accidents over the past 7 years. I'm all for the airlines doing things to make more money.

By the way, I couldn't agree more with another point you made. I never recline my seat unless there's no one behind me, especially in economy class. It is rude in my opinion, because the seats are closer now than they were many years ago. I agree with you....but I think that one goes right over many heads....

[Greenskeeper]

Well, I would not mind paying more since I am taller, but only if they give me a seat that was made for someone my height. Where I can actually use the head rest and not have 2 bruised knees anytime someone wants to recline. Oh wait, if you recline you are using more space--is that more money as well?

I think the point here is airlines will get away with almost anything when it comes to charges and we as consumers will have to decide on whether to pay for it or not. That is what ultimately will decide what they can charge and what get they away with.

Heck, the seats aren't made for a person of average size. I am not a large woman but even I am told "keep you elbows in as we come by with the beverage cart".

You are correct, the airlines are not subject to the same rules and regulations and expectations of any other service industry in the country.

[TrvlJohn]

Found this today:

Spirit Air CEO, Ben Baldanza: “The basis for this new fee was founded in improved customer service”

from: http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/s ... r-service/

-john

[surfnh]

Found this today:

Spirit Air CEO, Ben Baldanza: “The basis for this new fee was founded in improved customer service”

from: http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/s ... r-service/

-john

LOL! Great spin doctor, we need to hire that guy!

[loria]

so based on some of the logic i have seen here I should get seriously reduced rates for my 2 shrimpy kids. i could deal with that.