For a variety of reasons, mostly because it’s absurdly expensive with a family of seven, I fly a whole lot less than I used to. That the experience continues to get incrementally worse is no surprise. Crammed seats. More and more fees for things that used to be included in the fare.
Today, though, was the first time I encountered (via Expedia) airlines trying to charge for a carry-on bag. Considering how much the fight for overhead space adds to the frustration of boarding, I’d be fine with that, actually, if they allowed the checking of the bag for free. But, no, they charge for the privilege of having luggage, period. Unless you’re a business passenger coming back the same day, you probably need at least some sort of bag that’s too big to fit under the seat.
Now, on the one hand, I get it. Most of us view flying as a commodity good and go for the cheapest flight that meets our basic scheduling needs. Presumably, even those who can afford to fly Business or 1st Class still shop on price when paying their own way. On the other hand, advertising a price and then only revealing that there’s a considerable upcharge for something that’s ordinarily included borders on fraud. At the very least, it’s wildly inconvenient not to know what the price is one the first screen.
