Originally Posted by
PLeblond
I have no problem with your suggestions, however, I do not think that will happen:
a) Since airlines are already addicted to the revenue they won't give it up without another relevant source. Also, your argument about the equipment may be paid for. It will need to be replaced, modernized, etc., so airports should be stocking cash against depreciation for this... yes I'm aware they probably aren't.
b) Simply reversing a cause will not always solve a problem, as people's habits have changed. Hence, my reference to Pandora's box. I am afraid we are stuck with this forever. New aircraft are promoting bigger bins. Society is apparently ME and NOW more than it has every been. The essence of the zone boarding thread is I want to get on the plane early so I can have space for MY carry-on which basically amounts to screw everyone else. I highly doubt there is any going back to the way it was.
1. Regardless of how addicted airlines are, they've incentivized avoidance by charging too much relative to the value provided.
2. Airports pay for infrastructure using pax funds. Airlines are freeloading of it. The maintenance etc is covered by AIFs. If airlines are going to charge pax for using infrastructure pax have already paid for, maybe it's time for the airport to charge airlines on a per bag basis. That way, airports will eat into the ancillary revenue (assuming that current prices are based on what the market can bear), and use it to fund more carry on baggage screening facilities. That ought to cut your delays. A win-win.
3. If people - forced to carry cabin baggage due to the fees - are unwilling to check it in even after checked in baggage becomes free, what does that tell you about the baggage handling services offered by the airline?
For people to avoid a convenient service even when it's free...one can only assume that people's perception of that service is so atrocious, they willingly pass up on it. Is this a problem that afflicts all airlines, or only the ones that charge, I wonder.