How airline fees have turned baggage into billions

With Air Canada and SouthWest, the latest airlines that receive a passenger bond to obtain a checkpoint, the cost of amplification for such additional or “unwanted messages” is to stir anger between politicians and consumer groups. At the same time, sales of small bags are enough for travelers to seize the plane because the luggage of the hand flourishes.

Lauren Alexander stands outside the Toronto airport in the center of Toronto from Boston to spend the weekend. It describes the additional drawings as “ridiculous”.

“It looks like a trick,” says 24 -year -old. “You buy the ticket, you think it will be less expensive, then you have to pay 200 dollars (148 pounds) [to bring a suitcase]”

To avoid drawings, Mrs. Alexander instead traveled with a small backpack as hand luggage.

Sage Riley, 27, agrees to tell the BBC, “can be the price.”

There was a time when checking bags, selecting seats, and all your meals were standard for commercial flights. But all this changed with the rise of budget airlines, says Jay Sorensen of the United States for Aviation Consulting.

It was in 2006 when Flybe became low -cost in the UK, what is believed to be the first airline in the world to start charging passengers To check the bags. I imposed 2 pounds sterling on the pre -preserved luggage component, and 4 pounds if the customer does not pay in advance.

Then other transport companies followed the example of the example, with the so -called transportation companies or airlines established, and then do so, at least on shorter flights.

In 2008, US Airways became the first American airline to receive fees, $ 15, for the first bag examined on its local roads.

Mr. Surinson says that such traditional airlines felt that it had no choice when “they started realizing that low -cost transport companies were providing very great competition.” “They felt they had to do something to meet that,” he added.

He rapidly advanced to this day, and US airlines alone achieved $ 7.27 billion of check -in luggage fee last year, According to federal numbers. This increases from $ 7 billion in 2023 and $ 5.76 billion in 2019.

No wonder that many of us try to resign. Kirsty Glenn, the UK Luggle Director, confirms that there is a continuous increase in demand for small bags that meet the limits of flying dimensions for portable luggage.

“We have seen huge mutations in online searches and on our website,” she says. “The recipe is a new issue for the small removal that her company launched in April,” a testimony of the direction of travel only with hand luggage, which is sold as crazy. “

At the same time, the social media content about filling in travel “breakfast” and luggage that meets acidity measurements on airlines, according to travel journalists Chelsea Dickenson. It makes this content for Tactok.

“Social media has really pushed the idea of ​​the need for a bag that fits the requirements of luggage allowance, says Ms. Dickenson. It has become an essential part of the content that I create and publish on social media,” says Ms. Dickenson.

Mrs. Dickenson, who has joined her social media, added to nearly a million followers, adds that her luggage videos have become a “essential part of the content” that creates it.

“It gives my mind,” she says. “I can spend weeks and weeks search on a big trip, and the videos resulting from them will not come close to them as well as go and buy a cheap bag, take them to the airport, test them in one of these luggage sizes and prepare reports.”

The overall global cost of all the additional fees for airlines, from luggage to seat selection, Wi -Fi, access to the hall, promotions, food and drink, are, It is expected to reach 145 billion dollars this year, 14 % of the total sector revenue. This is according to the International Air Transport Association, which represents the industry. This compares with $ 137 billion last year.

These figures acquired the attention of some politicians in Washington, and the heads of airlines last December were roasted in front of the Senate Committee. A democratic member of the Senate was using the term “Unwanted fees.”

He wants the federal government to review such costs and possibly beautiful airlines. We asked the US Department of Transport a comment, but you did not get a response.

But if the having to pay for a checkpoint was not enough, then the increasing number of airlines are now imposing the charging of manual luggage. For example, the Irish Airlines will allow you to only carry a small bag that fits the seat in front of you for free. If you want to take a larger bag or bag to go in the upper cabinet that will cost you from 6 pounds.

Other European airlines that now have similar fees for manual luggage are Easyjet, Norwegian Airlines, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling and Wizzair.

This disturbed the European Consumer Group (European Consumer Organization), which last month submitted a complaint to the European Commission.

BECU cited the rule of the 2014 European Union Court of Justice, who said, “The transfer of manual luggage cannot be subject to a price supplement, provided that it meets reasonable requirements in terms of weight and dimensions, and agree on the applicable safety requirements.”

However, what determines the “reasonable requirements” still a gray area needs an official judgment.

However, there can be a different way to do things, as shown by the indigo -Indian airline. Its president Pieter Eibers says he does not charge a check -in luggage.

He says: “The entire philosophy here is different.” “We don’t want long lines, and endless discussions in Gates about luggage weight. We have no. We run our planes in 35 minutes.”