You have to love the American air carriers. Even though the cost of fuel has dropped significantly since the summer, those darned fuel surcharges are still in effect....and they're not going anywhere. Not only that, but those additional "revenue enhancing" charges designed to help pay for filling the tank, things like baggage fees and charging for "premium" coach seats, are here to stay. Now, airline executives will tell you that passengers are very excited about this trend toward unbundling. After all, why should the traveler who doesn't have a change of clothing pay for the one who does? Why should the passenger who prefers to dehydrate on the plane pay for the passenger who wants to buy a bottle of water on board (US Airways)? Why should the traveler who is properly bundled, in clothing, pay for a blanket for an underdressed passenger (Jet Blue)? And so forth.
Airline executives insist customers are benefiting from all of these charges, and that, in fact, the customers like them. Really. Their reasoning--passengers can pick and choose the services they want and not pay for those they don't. But considering that things like seat selection, beverages, and checked baggage were once free, do these executives honestly think passengers should be jumping for joy that they can now "choose" what they want to pay extra for? Honestly, do they think passengers are stupid? We may pay because we have no choice (which happens when every carrier is imposing the same fee), but we are certainly not lauding the airlines for their "consideration." And, as the recent outcry by United passengers over an announced fee for hot meals on overseas flights shows, people will take their business elsewhere if some other airline is not in the business of nickel and diming.
If the unbundling were done right, that's another matter. In Jane's HO, unbundling done right would lower the basic cost of the flight, and then the add-ons would bring in the extra revenue. It's the Ryanair model. Sell the seats super cheap and then charge for everything under the sun. But that's okay, because passengers know what they are getting. But with this new model being "offered" by the American carriers (with the exception of Southwest), customers are paying higher base prices than ever before (due to the diminishing number of planes in the sky), while being nickel and dimed every which way but loose.
In all fairness, Jane can cite one somewhat valid multi-pronged point that airline executives make regarding baggage fees. Said fees have resulted in fewer checked bags, leading to a reduction in the weight carried per flight. That means using less fuel, which is good (although passengers are still paying for extra fuel--go figure). The other result that airline executives proudly boast of is, ta da, fewer lost bags. Well, gee, what a surprise. They also say that fewer checked bags means cost savings in terms of airline staff. Jane supposes that's great news if you are an airline executive, but not so good if you are a baggage handler.
