Southwest's Profits Dive: Could Baggage Fees Be Coming?
Southwest Airlines' profits dipped 40 percent last quarter, leading some to speculate that the airline may jettison its "bags fly free" policy in a bid to lift revenues.
baggage fees
American Eyes New Perk to Get Us to Ditch the Big Carry-Ons
American Airlines is tired of passengers hauling bulky suitcases onto its planes, and it may be willing to entice them to quit with the promise of priority boarding.
Never Pay for These 6 Things Again
Some of life's little luxuries haven't gotten any more necessary -- but they have become cheaper. From learning a new language to finding a great read, these six things no longer require a line item in your personal budget. Go ahead, indulge for less.
Airlines Collect a Record Amount of Bag Fees
U.S. airlines collected more than $1.7 billion in baggage fees during the first half of the year, the largest amount ever collected in that six-month period.
Why Spirit Airlines Will Never Be Great Again
Looking at Spirit Airlines' financials, you might think the low-cost carrier is a smart buy. But don't be fooled by the balance sheets: The Spirit business model that generates profits carries the seeds of its own destruction by generating toxic ill will with its passengers.
3 More Travel Tips for Keeping the Cost of Your Flight in Check
Finding a good airfare can be tough, and if you've ever sacrificed convenience for a cheaper ticket, you may have been surprised at the hidden costs that jacked up your overall price. But those fees don't have to be a mystery -- and they're not unavoidable.
5 Surefire Tips for Saving on Summer Air Travel
If you're one of the many people taking to the not-so-friendly skies this summer, you'll pay extra for nearly everything but the security pat down. Hoping to glide past some of that nickel and diming? Here are five foolproof tips:
Why Fly? The Case Against Air Travel
It's bad enough that air fares and extra fees have been rising as fast as a plane taking off -- now, travelers must wonder if aircraft have been properly inspected. Are the costs, pains and risks of flying reaching the point where frequent fliers should reconsider their transportation choices?
While Airlines Are Profiting Again, Fliers Are Suffering
Of all the industries that have achieved record profits recently, none have posted more remarkable results than the airline industry. For the first time in a decade, the industry is on a glide path to profitability -- but it's getting there by squeezing its customers.
At Least These Extra Airline Fees Come With Little Luxuries
Those irritating fees aren't going away, but over the next few years, some of them will be attached to new a la carte services that travelers may be happier to pay for. Think personal concierge services, intercity rail ticket sales -- and even in-flight spa treatments.
At Last, New Protections for Air Travelers Will Land in 2011
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is raising the bar for the treatment of airline passengers this spring. You'll see more transparency in ticket pricing, better deals for bumped passengers, and reimbursement of luggage fees when checked bags are lost or delayed.
