US Airways Follows UAL on 2nd Bag Fee

Here we go again.

US Airways, an airline that consistently rates LAST in customer satisfaction, has chosen to follow United Airlines recent decision to charge passengers $25.00 for carriage of a second piece of luggage. I recently wrote an article detailing how United was applying this fee and the several reasons why it was a BAD idea. This rule victimizes vacationing families most of all.

Rather than streamline their operations or incenting passengers to assist the airline in achieving operational efficiency, US Airways has chosen to charge the customer for their operational weaknesses.

Read my recent UAL article called "Here's Why I don't Fly United.". The same game is in play here with UAL. No wonder I don't fly either airline. (and I fly 150K miles a year.) When are airlines going to learn that the same behavior won't work in todays market? 

The big guys just don't get it.

clipped from www.statesmanjournal.com US Airways will permit only 1 free checked-in suitcase, plans to charge $25 for second By Chris Kahn The Associated Press February 26, 2008 TEMPE, Ariz. — US Airways Group Inc. said Tuesday it will start charging fliers $25 to check in a second bag, the latest effort by the company to raise revenue and deal with rising costs. The new charge will begin May 5 for tickets bought after Tuesday, the company said. The announcement follows a similar policy change disclosed early this month by United Airlines. US Airways spokesman Morgan Durant said the baggage charge is expected to generate $75 million in revenue and cost savings each year. The carrier decided to add the charge as it looked for new ways to make money while dealing “with the operating reality that we have with $100 a barrel in oil,” he said. About 8 percent of US Airways customers check more than one bag, Durant said.

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