As airlines travel checked bag fees, charges for carry-on luggage could be next

Buckle up: Now that Air Canada and WestJet have hiked their checked bag fees for economy fares, some airline experts envision charges for carry-on luggage could be next.

“It’s usually a matter of time,” pronounced airline analyst, Fred Lazar. He believes aloft checked bag fees will enthuse even some-more people to things all their luggage into carry-on bags, call a dual airlines to deliver carry-on charges to assistance branch a tide.

“The initial motorist will be a problems as people change some-more and some-more to carry-on,” pronounced Lazar, a highbrow of economics during York University in Toronto.

Airlines are already grappling with a vast liquid of carry-on luggage that can lead to delays as passengers jockey for beyond bin space. Some carriers have already instituted carry-on bag fees to assistance fight a problem — and boost profits. 

Lazar believes Air Canada and WestJet will follow fit as early as a winter when Canadians also squeeze large coats into beyond bins.

“That usually occupies some-more space and creates some-more problems.”

‘Riding out a carry-on wave’

Both Air Canada and WestJet have increasing their checked bag price for many economy fares from $25 to $30 for a initial bag, and from $35 to $50 for a second one.

The new price adds adult to $60 for one checked bag on a turn trip.

The two airlines contend a price hikes will assistance equivalent rising operational costs so fares can sojourn competitive.

Donaldo Canales in St. John, N.B. says he usually flies with a carry-on bag to avoide a checked bag fee. (submitted by Donaldo Canales)

Passenger Donaldo Canales recently started drifting with usually a carry-on bag, dynamic to equivocate a checked luggage fee.

“I usually kind of sucked it adult and paid it. But afterwards we was like, ‘What am we doing?'” pronounced Canales who lives in Saint John, N.B.

“Now we usually things as many as we can into my carry-on. I’m roving out a carry-on call as prolonged as we can.”

He believes a checked bag price travel will usually inspire some-more people to do a same.

“Flying is expensive.”

But logistical problems are approaching if some-more passengers start stuffing as many as probable into their carry-on bags.

“It’s perplexing to find that space to things a bag and it usually takes longer for people removing on a plane,” said Barry Prentice, an airline researcher and highbrow during a University of Manitoba.

“One of a consequences of this arrange of routine is a detriment of function and delays.”

‘Everybody wins’

WestJet pronounced it has “no skeleton during this time to assign for carry-on.” Air Canada didn’t respond to a question. But other airlines have incited to charging for carry-on luggage to urge a boarding process.

Staring in November, low cost European airline, Ryanair will revoke a checked bag price for smaller luggage and assign 8 GBP ($13.32 Cdn) for carry-on for passengers who haven’t upgraded to “priority” status.

“This new routine will speed adult a boarding and cut moody delays,” pronounced Ryanair in a statement.

In 2010, bonus U.S. carrier, Spirit Airlines, introduced carry-on fees with a same rationale. Then CEO, Ben Baldanza, pledged a charge, that is pricier than checking a bag, would lead to a speedier boarding routine and some-more room in beyond bins.

“Everybody wins,” he pronounced in a association video where he indeed lies in an beyond bin. 

Canadian ultra low cost carriers, Flair Airlines and WestJet’s Swoop also assign for carry-on luggage, a routine they adopted from a outset. The fee, that starts during $36.75, is aloft than their checked bag charges.

Prentice believes Air Canada and WestJet could shortly start charging for carry-on bags in sequence to ramp adult a boarding routine and boost profits, as a fee-based indication becomes a normal for economy fares. 

“It might be easier to lift fees than to lift fares,” he said. “They see this as being something that people are some-more practiced to.”

Both Air Canada and WestJet have increasing a checked bag price for many economy flights from $25 to $30 for a initial bag. (The Associated Press)

But not everybody is on board. Toronto-based airline consultant Robert Kokonis argues a $5 boost for a checked bag per moody won’t hint a mass rush for a beyond bins.

“I’m not disturbed about a panic in a cabin since you’ve already had these bag charges for [four] years.”

He also believes Air Canada and WestJet won’t assign for carry-on luggage, since that’s not their business model.

However, airline researcher Lazar argues when Air Canada started charging for things such as pillows and meals, no one during a time suspicion it would turn a norm.

“Everybody pronounced this is stupid, people won’t mount for it,” Lazar said. “And afterwards each other airline adopted it.”

If WestJet and Air Canada do start charging for carry-on luggage, newcomer Canales says he’s still dynamic to equivocate a price — by holding advantage of a one thing that will still be giveaway — a personal bag that fits underneath a seat.

“I’ll substantially have to start shoving all in my backpack, or putting on 10 layers of clothing.”

Article source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-airlines-baggage-fees-charges-1.4803361?cmp=rss