Bag fees
Do you feel like we are being nickeled and dimed to death, or is it just me?
When I took my son to the airport for his holiday trip, I did not take a purse filled with cash or credit card. with me because his dad had purchased the ticket and my son had his confirmation code and his ID, so what more did we need, right? After all, he had stuffed everything into one duffle bag and I had a few dollars in the car to make sure I could successfully exit the airport parking garage.
Thankfully, I went into the airport with my son instead of dropping him off curbside for his departing 6 AM flight. When we arrived at the USAirways check-in counter, we were hit with the $25 bag fee for his one bag.
I admit that I had not flown with them recently and usually fly Southwest, so I did not realize that I needed cash to check my son in for his flight. Befuddled, when the automated check-in would not let me proceed without inserting a credit card, I asked for assistance. The gentleman at the counter was as confounded as I was and told me that if I did not have my credit or debit cards with me, I would need to pay cash.
As I explained to the manager that we did not have enough cash on us to meet the fee, I asked if UsAirways might just hold my son's bad for ransom at his Phoenix destination until either my son or his father paid the $25 to collect the bag. I was told, "No," that was not possible. Instead, I was told that I would need to phone someone to obtain a credit card number on which to charge the fee! At that point, I made a mental note to self to memorize at least one of my card numbers for future reference. The helpful folks at USAirways suggested that I call the person who would be meeting my son in Phoenix, but since it was not even 5 AM in Tampa at the time, I did not think that would be a good idea.
In the end, I did reach my night owl sister who is a night nurse at Arnold Palmer Urgent Care Center in Orlando, who kindly surrendered her credit card number to obtain a boarding pass for my son and he was able to board his flight on time. His dad woke up in a panic when he saw his missed calls and our text messages. As he looked over his e-ticket purchase record, he did not see mention of the bag fee, nor did he remember being asked for it while booking online. He was relieved that we were able to reach my sister at the critical hour.
My son had a safe, smooth flight from Tampa to Phoenix, but given a choice we would pass on the shakedown at the airport for the bag fee. Ironically, if the young man had been flying with no luggage, he probably would have been pulled aside for a security check. Who knows? Maybe we will eventually end up all flying nude. I have learned my lesson to not leave home without $$$. What do you think? What experiences have you had?
Posted by SustainUsRestoreUs.com at 1/6/2010 1:26 AM 
Categories: Economic
Tags: airline add on fees at airport
Categories: Economic
Tags: airline add on fees at airport
Oh, I have lots of experiences with things like that. When I used to commute from New York to Boston, I had to have a backup wallet and money in my carry-on bag to make sure I wouldn't arive in NYC with no money or credit cards. Traveling can be really discombobluating.
And having a spare car key tucked in my wallet have me a few times when I had locked the keys in the car.
Lol and once when young, I have to trade a pocket knife with a toll collector to let me over the Tappan Zee bridge - I had no cash and was 150 miles from home.
Maybe I'm extreme, but I carry not only a money clip with at least $100 cash, but also some cash tucked in my wallet for emergencies. And a bit squirreled away in the car, too.
Bag fees, all the other fees at airlines, and the ludicrous security system here are simply driving customers away.
Lol re having to fly nude - I saw on the BBC site recently a demonstration by some young Germans against the new search policies: they were demonstrating in bathing suits.
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