US based Spirit Airlines announced that starting August 1, 2010, they will charge up to $45 for carry-on luggage that would go in a overhead bin in the cabin.
Spirit says this is what the consumer wants to lower prices and prevent people from crowding the overhead bins to avoid the checked luggage charges. From their press release Spirit heralds this as the "Next Phase of Unbundling".
Unbundling. A la carte pricing. Where you have a low base price but have to pay extra for checked luggage, assigned seating, box lunches, even using a credit card for reservations. All things that used to be part of the cost of the ticket.
What is going on?
It’s our fault. YOU and ME.
It’s our fault for being so price sensitive. A $25 difference is enough to have people choose one airline over another. I can’t blame my fellow consumers. Airline travel is not the luxury activity it once was. The time when you needed to wear a coat and tie on a plane are over.
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