I'm kind of impressed by Spirit Airlines' new carry-on baggage fee.

[randomness]

And it looks like Congress is too: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-13/spirit-s-carry-on-bag-fees-draws-senate-bill-to-ban-practice.html

Carrying a bag onto a Spirit flight will cost passengers $45 at the gate, or $30 if paid in advance, starting in August

Even AirAsia and Ryanair haven't thought of that one...but I'm guessing they'll try now.

Comments

[donnad.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good idea as long as they keep the checked baggage fees to a minimum or none. I personally hate that some people carry-on these huge bags that they can barely lift and try to stuff them into the overheads. Besides taking up more space so other people don't have any, It takes much longer to get boarded and to disembark. All because people don't want to wait at the other end for their bags to appear.

Also makes me angry to see a person put their bag in an overhead many rows ahead of their own row, instead of over their own seats. Seems wrong to take someone elses overhead space.

When I fly, the only carry-on I have is usually my wheely backpack with my camera in it (I absolutely will not check my camera equipment.) and it fits neatly under the seat. If I have a jacket I will sometime toss it in an overhead, but it usually fits in the backpack as well. (I have been known to open the suitcase in the airport to stuff my jacket in it before I check it.) Everything else is checked.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my current carryon is sitting in front of me next to the computer as I speak. It's too small to fit my netbook. The things that go in it are my meds, my money, my passport, a flashlight, and my phone. Even the charger goes elsewhere. The bag fits under the seat in front with acres to spare.

It's been pretty sweet. None of the airlines I've taken recently--JetStar, AirAsia, Tiger Airways--do a damn thing for free, but as they're based in Asia all their extras cost much less than in the States. I've checked a bag on every leg so far, and it's never cost more than $10. Although I'll admit that remembering how many ringgits, baht, patacas, or Singapore dollars the checked bag fee actually is in US dollars is sometimes challenging.