Originally Posted by
OffToOz
All that being said, I have to say I think the amount of the fee is grossly out of sync with what it should be. I think the thing I resent the most is that I actually paid $80 for the priveledge of not being allowed my personal item as the pet carrier had to fit under the seat in front of me. I wasn't actually taking any more space or requiring any additional in-flight services, but I had to pay almost a 1/3 (again, few years ago) of a price of the regular fare to fly with that same amount of space.
This is the part that irks me the most. I am not receiving any additional space for my fare or "pet fee." I am certainly not receiving any service, other than the transport of the pet where a carryon would otherwise be. That is wrong.
As regards to the msnbc article, I particularly like the quote from the JetBlue rep: "It's unavoidable." Huh? Yes, the fee is unavoidable for me if I want to fly with my pet. It is not unavoidable for JetBlue. It is just another fee. When I did fly with my 6 1/2 lb. dog, he certainly weighed less in his carrier than many people's personal item, i.e. laptop and case.
I have seen this fee go from $50 o/w to $80 (post-9/11--why was that an excuse?) to now $100. The fee is out of line, IMO.