Yesterday, US Airways announced that they would be cutting the movies out of domestic flights. This new order plans to save the airline approximately $10 million dollars a year in fuel and other costs. For every airplane, the in-flight entertainment system adds about 500 pounds to the aircraft’s weight, which is 500 pounds flying for free. The entertainment will stop November 1st, 2008 and then removed from all A320 aircraft soon after. The carrier also cited the number of people purchasing headsets is declining (Many bring their own, or their iPod).
As well with the entertainment system, US Airways is adding fees to reserve more economy seats on the aircraft. To reserve these seats, it will cost passengers $30 dollars. Now, I know the airline advertises that they are a low-cost carrier, but to me they are an ex-legacy carrier that makes passengers pay the legacy fare (add up the ticket, all the fees… etc).
Starting this week, US Airways has implemented their new baggage fees. This summer, I’ll fly to Palm Beach. The flight that I thought would only be a few hundred dollars has turned into the flight that will cost my family an extra $45, which is approximately the same price as a ‘Ding!’ fare on Southwest Airlines. Some journalists and bloggers suggest that you ship your baggage on FedEx. When it gets to the point where it’s cheaper to have baggage flown by FedEx for less cash than airlines, it shows that Airlines have made their baggage fees too much for passengers.
Final thoughts. US Airways has decent service and affordable fares. Yet, the extra fees aren’t making it worth it.
2 Comments
July 12, 2008 at 8:57 AM
Just try shipping your bags via FedEx or UPS.
You will find that the airlines are going to have to triple their baggage fees to come close to what a freight forwarder charges.
July 12, 2008 at 12:14 PM
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