It’s about to get even harder to get your flying gear on an aeroplane! US airlines who, up until now, had been far more lenient with excess baggage charges than their European counterparts, are about to buckle up.
In Europe, companies like EasyJet and Ryan Air worked out long ago that the secret to running a budget airline was to charge your customers for anything and everything beyond basic transportation.
Free snacks and drinks were first to go, then came the ‘second hold bag charge’, leaving passengers with the impression that they were being bled dry as they passed through the air travel system. Recently one UK airport even began charging to ‘fast track’ passengers through security. Pay up or queue up was the message!
Now, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal reported that as of the 5 May most budget US airlines will follow suit. On one airline, booking on an extra 25 kg bag, the weight of your average flying kit, was expected to incur a $200 excess, plus a ‘second bag’ charge!
The rules between each airline can vary wildly and we advise all pilots to consult their individual carriers guidelines before they travel, and prepare for a battle, or an expensive time just for wanting to take your flying kit away with you.
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