Midwest Airlines Midwest Miles - YX changes in baggage fees

Just posted on YX site:

http://www.midwestairlines.com/TravelTools/Baggage.aspx?utm_source=txt_home&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=baggagefeechange083109

Fees for first and second checked bags raised; third checked bag lowered to $50.00. No mention is made if there will still be exemption of fees for first and second bags for MMEs and military.

New fees are effective for travel purchased commencing 09/01/09, for travel beginning 10/01/09.

Interesting how this was originally sold as a response to higher fuel costs. Now that fuel is down, the surcharge, supposedly temporary, was increased.

The rectal-cranial-inversion miscreants responsible for this are beyond belief.

They are joining several airlines who have raised bag fees in the past six weeks. Also charging $20 for the first piece:

American
Delta
United
Virgin America
Northwest
Continental
USAirways

Spirit is $19 online and $25 at the airport

I'm not sure that bag fees were ever sold as a "temporary" response to higher fuel costs, although last year it seemed every single thing any airline did was framed in the arguement of high fuel prices. But in fact these fees have become a de facto way for airlines to increase their revenue while customers still salivate over low prices. As I've mentioned before, the large chunk of AirTran's 2nd quarter income (usually their best quarter) came from "other" revenue, not passenger revenue. Other revenue is largely bag fees, seat assignment fees, ticket change fees, and similar.

I wonder how long holdouts on domestic bag fees will last.

So much for hoping that Midwest would go the other direction with their checked bag fees.

They are joining several airlines who have raised bag fees in the past six weeks. Also charging $20 for the first piece:

American
Delta
United
Virgin America
Northwest
Continental
USAirways

Spirit is $19 online and $25 at the airport
I wonder how long holdouts on domestic bag fees will last.

Is AirTran next?

So much for hoping that Midwest would go the other direction with their checked bag fees.

I know, go figure. I just thought it would be a way to attract more travelers if you had lower fees than the competition. Southwest actively promotes no fees.

Southwest actively promotes no fees.

If Southwest doesn't find a way to return to sustained profitability, I wouldn't fall over in shock if they started charging for things like checked baggage.

If Southwest doesn't find a way to return to sustained profitability, I wouldn't fall over in shock if they started charging for things like checked baggage.

We heard about 900 million in unrestricted cash during the bid for Frontier.

In newsletter:

Fee for Checked Bags Increasing

If you purchase a ticket September 1 or later for a flight October 1 or later, the fee for your first checked bag will be $20 and the fee for your second checked bag will be $30. Active military members and Midwest Miles Executive members are exempt, and the fee does not apply to wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, child car seats and other mobility-assistive devices.

We heard about 900 million in unrestricted cash during the bid for Frontier.

Profitability and cash on-hand are two very different things.

Southwest has hit some turbulence in recent years. Given their recent financial performance and how low fares contine to be, Southwest may decide that they could substantially boost their bottom line through the addition of fees for things like checked baggage, Wi-Fi, etc.

For better or worse, all of these extra fees seem to be the way of the future.

I'm surprised almost no one has mentioned this, but I think part of the reason airlines have been raising the first bag fee to $20 is to reduce the hassles with customers who pay cash.

We on FT are a much more credit-card friendly group than your average passenger. I've witnessed many, many people at ticket counters on various airlines recently who, naturally, pay the $15 bag charge with a $20 bill. And airlines aren't set up to handle cash very easily (no registers, just perhaps one change bag or drawer at the counter) so I imagine they run out of $5s and $1s very frequently.

Considering the $20 bill is the second most common bill in circulation, the extra fee should virtually eliminate all the problems agents and/or passengers have with finding change.

Profitability and cash on-hand are two very different things.


I realize that Blue, realistically, 900 million will go a long way, I'd agree SWA can't be far away from charging bag fees. Gary Kelly wasn't born yesterday, and he sees the revenue the others are generating from the fees.

How much longer can Jetblue hold out?

Just this morning Southwest added what is roughly a $10 seat assignment fee. They still dont' assign seats, but for $10 one way you can get to to a 2nd boarding group, right after the business select members and the FF elite members, but ahead of anybody else who doesn't pay $10.

I think Southwest is trying to figure out ways to bring in the same sorts of incremental revenue everybody else does, but in mildly different ways either (a) to try to keep their perceived differentiation or (b) to work with their existing quirks. But they are jumping on the bandwagon in their own way.

Just this morning Southwest added what is roughly a $10 seat assignment fee. They still dont' assign seats, but for $10 one way you can get to to a 2nd boarding group, right after the business select members and the FF elite members, but ahead of anybody else who doesn't pay $10.

I think Southwest is trying to figure out ways to bring in the same sorts of incremental revenue everybody else does, but in mildly different ways either (a) to try to keep their perceived differentiation or (b) to work with their existing quirks. But they are jumping on the bandwagon in their own way.

Nickel and dime the passengers to death.

I'm surprised almost no one has mentioned this, but I think part of the reason airlines have been raising the first bag fee to $20 is to reduce the hassles with customers who pay cash.

We on FT are a much more credit-card friendly group than your average passenger. I've witnessed many, many people at ticket counters on various airlines recently who, naturally, pay the $15 bag charge with a $20 bill. And airlines aren't set up to handle cash very easily (no registers, just perhaps one change bag or drawer at the counter) so I imagine they run out of $5s and $1s very frequently.

Considering the $20 bill is the second most common bill in circulation, the extra fee should virtually eliminate all the problems agents and/or passengers have with finding change.

I think this one of the reasons why they are increasing the fee but $10 would have worked as well. I don't mind paying $10/$15 but $20 is not worth the money.

I really hope they start monitoring passengers and they carry-on luggage. My flight home on Sunday, a lady, non-rev none the less, had a larger duffel bag, a large purse and a almost exploding back pack. This was on the 717 and may not have been able to fit in the 170/190 but it was still annoying trying to find space for my small bag.

Just this morning Southwest added what is roughly a $10 seat assignment fee. They still dont' assign seats, but for $10 one way you can get to to a 2nd boarding group, right after the business select members and the FF elite members, but ahead of anybody else who doesn't pay $10.

I think Southwest is trying to figure out ways to bring in the same sorts of incremental revenue everybody else does, but in mildly different ways either (a) to try to keep their perceived differentiation or (b) to work with their existing quirks. But they are jumping on the bandwagon in their own way.

As much as they hate to charge for bags they will have to at some point in the future. The other airlines are earning a lot from these fees and Southwest's shareholders may start to become antsy seeing others earning revenue from charging fees.

Frontier still charges 15.00 for the first and 25.00 for the second bag, unless you buy a Classic or Classic Plus ticket which is slightly more expensive than the cheapest tickets. If you buy a ticket which includes bags, you also get free TV, reduced change fees, advance seat asssignment, etc. And Frontier does NOT charge any fees for military personnel with an active duty military ID card.

Frontier still charges 15.00 for the first and 25.00 for the second bag, unless you buy a Classic or Classic Plus ticket which is slightly more expensive than the cheapest tickets. If you buy a ticket which includes bags, you also get free TV, reduced change fees, advance seat asssignment, etc. And Frontier does NOT charge any fees for military personnel with an active duty military ID card.

Midwest does not charge either active military nor MMEs fees for checked bags, even with the recent changes in fees.

Frontier still charges 15.00 for the first and 25.00 for the second bag

Don't count on that to be the case for much longer. As F9 and YX align their policies, you can count on the change won't be to the policy of the lower of the 2 fees.

I wouldn't be surprized to see F9 up the fee on Economy pax bag fees... Sooner rather than later.