| The Colbert Report | Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Ryanair Charges for Toilets | ||||
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This clip from The Colbert Report I came across on one of my favorite travel blogs, Upgrade: Travel Better, brings up an interesting point besides being pretty funny. It seems that many of the airlines are in the midst of a feeding frenzy, charging for things like carry-on luggage and going to the toilet. I think most of us would rather see fares go up a bit and include some basic amenities (is carry on luggage a luxury now?)
I’d like to hear your opinion on airline fees – are they justified additions in a tough economy or simply an underhanded opportunity to increase profits from travelers?
Leave your thoughts in the comments below in addition to whether or not any of these fees will actually change your travel habits.
Do you think that airlines are really over-priced, or are our expectations out of line with reality? The extreme costs of Hotels is what gets me (especially as a single traveller) – What do you mean $100 per night? Sometimes its more than the flight?
The airline industry puts out statistics that across the world, in aggregate airlines make net losses* and passengers are not the only people “suffering”. Recently Heather Poole – from Gadling – tweeted about the average earnings of a flight attendant and how they’d stayed the same for around 5 years – another fact to look at. Asian airlines pay the best, but then you’re only good for around 10 years. After that you can only work in Europe or N America.
I don’t know what the answer is – but people are extremely price sensitive when it comes to air travel. Not so much when it comes to hotels. Would a “proper full fare carrier” survive? (There is no real distinction between budget airlines and full fare these days – especially in the US.) ie decent level of service and reasonable inclusions, but then what is reasonable? 1 piece, 2 pieces? For me it depends whether it is a day trip for business, a holiday or moving country. Why not charge according to usage. One airline decided to have 2 menu’s – standard and paid with the paid supposedly being better quality. I like that idea. I get what I pay for, not a one size fits all.
* I take the comment about net loss industry with a bucket of salt. It is an industry body and a number of airlines have managed to survive the ultimate efficient market – the stock market (although others haven’t!)
Interesting point. I think it’s the way the airlines go about it. I guess what really gets people to buy a ticket is the final price they see upon searching online so it’s important to keep that low. By adding fees on at check-in or after a few clicks online I figure they are able to hook more people. Personally I’d prefer the airlines to just raise prices and include certain things. Carry-on luggage, toilets, and perhaps drinks (i.e. water, soda) would make my list.
I don’t stay in hotels most of the time due to the prices, which are certainly high compared to most hostels. Hotels also tend to charge for things that hostels don’t like wi-fi and that’s usually a deal breaker for me.
I have no problem with pricey tickets- I just don’t like all the ‘added’ prices. I know the budget airlines were charging for various extras- but then when the other airlines followed suit, it just didn’t make sense- because they aren’t ‘budget’- so those extras shouldn’t be charged for, they should be part of the price.
As for the video- so cute!
I too would just prefer a bit higher ticket prices on non-budget airlines but with certain basics included.
Airlines are one of the few industries Warren Buffett does not invest in – because over any medium to long term holding period, the airline industry has lost money.
I believe ALL airlines should be regulated/priced to provide a basic level of service, which would include carry-on (but not checked) luggage and going to the bathroom. Passengers should then realize, and not bitch about, that there may be additional fees for checked luggage, meals, headsets, etc.
Interesting approach I was thinking about as well. I think the pricing structure could really be more efficient but still include some basics like carry on luggage and bathrooms.
Perhaps an all-inclusive (meals, etc.) ticket price should be offered booking and then you can deduct what you don’t want. Seems a good medium as people would feel they get to save on some stuff like checked luggage but might opt for a snack or meal which would help the airlines make some added money without alienating people.
I think it affects a lot of travelers, simply put my last trip I made sure I could place everything in my carry on. Even then I still paid upward of $75 on various fees that I’m not all to sure what exactly I was being taxed on. Its getting to the point that a monkey can’t even fling without pay some fee for it.
So many of the fees are when you’re close to booking that it’s easier just to click yes,yes,yes…now if they start charging for flinging the airlines will make a lot of money off of you 🙂
I assume that by adding fees and keeping the base fares lower, the airlines are able to entice more people to purchase tickets whereas if the base fare was simply increased instead of charging fees, more people might be turned away by the price.
Either way, the addition of ‘fees’ for things that have never had fees before, no matter what the true motive, simply sounds wrong and unwarranted. However, there must be a reason that almost every airline is using this method instead of just increasing the base fare. I’m sure they’re not just guessing at what works better!
Perhaps a system of pre-paid ‘fee tickets’ might work, where you can purchase airline ‘fee’ credit to be redeemed for luggage fees, meals, pillow fees, etc. The more you purchase in advance, the cheaper the fees.
I prefer the opt-in method. Add all the fees upfront and let people choose what they’re not willing to pay for. I suppose it does work but think large businesses often don’t think creatively enough, I’m sure there’s a better way.
The problem for me is that during the economy bust, many airlines lowered their prices, however, they really didn’t lower them, because they just started to stiff everyone with the prices. This is something I think we saw much more of in the airline industry than in any other industry in the travel industry. If it wasn’t, then there wouldn’t be as much of a stink from travelers.
I think some of the airlines should go back to making flying an experience. Pay a bit more and get some amenities or wi-fi. For an international flight that’s something I’d gladly pay for. My guess is that people would be willing to pay for stuff so long as they got a return. Maybe not for short or most domestic flights but internationally perhaps.
This is a tough one. In a way, I would rather the price just be higher up-front, so I know exactly what I’m getting rather than feeling like I’m being nickled-and-dimed to death. But at the same time, I wouldn’t want to pay for fees that aren’t necessary. For example, I tend to use a carry-on, while many other people check bags — if there is going to be a fee to check bags, then I would prefer to keep those fees separate so I don’t have to pay for a service I’m not using. It didn’t used to be much of an issue when checking baggage was free…:( All I know is that if Ryanair really does start charging for toilet use, I will not use them. That crosses the line for me.
I wouldn’t pay to pee either…unless I really had to go! That’s a bit much if you ask me but so long as people keep buying tickets guess they won’t have the incentive to *not* do it.
We all appreciate cheap fares and have come to expect them – but I think there’s a point at which if airlines pare back beyond the basics they score a massive own goal. I don’t mind having a basic service – for me that means hand luggage only, bring my own snacks and no seat reservation – but charging for the toilets or no luggage at all is like charging for basic human rights – I only checkout the Ryanair website these days as a last resort, and then grit my teeth and expect the worst.
Ryanair is one of the worst. You get a cheap upfront fare and then pay fees and add-ons until you finally end up booking a flight that costs much more.