I only fly Southwest. THAT is how one fights fees-by choosing carriers that don't have them. Why is free-market such anathema to people nowadays?

Why? Because we've got a generation or two of people who were raised with the idea that it's always someone else's responsibility to take care of them.

Always instructive to see a government official decrying "getting nickeled and dimed" by a private business. Funny how they never complain about the myriad ways in which government nickels and dimes us with hundreds of taxes, fees, and fines, and thousands of obscure, impossible-to-understand laws and requirements.

This double standard always exists with big-government lovers. The ultimate aim is to see private enterprise restricted as much as possible, creating supposed consumer dissatisfaction, so the government can then ride in as the white knight, take over everything in sight, and run everything into the ground. Like what's happening with "health" "care" "reform", for instance. It'll happen some day with airlines, too, if we survive long enough.

M4 is absolutely right -- it's not like airlines haven't been competing on fees. Southwest is wearing out the tape on their "bags fly free" commercial with the shirtless guys. In this environment, airlines with stupid management aren't going to survive very long.

As long as everything is disclosed in advance, I don't have a problem with it. I've never heard of Spirit before this, much less flown on them.

Someday, some bright airline exec is going to have an epiphany and decide that consumers would like being treated as adults, have a fare that includes everything, including a snack, beverage, or meal; and baggage. I'd patronize them, even if it cost me a little more. Some hassles are worth avoiding.

Add-on purchases. It's one of the most misleading and successful ways companies make money. Jiffy Lube hawks its low low prices, then they hit you for the air filter and the pcp valve and the protection plan and before you know what's hit you you've paid $100.

The airlines have lowered their prices to the bone and made everything else an add-on.

I've said it before, the first company that RAISES its prices but actively advertises "no luggage fees" will see their sales go up.

But no, this isn't something the government needs to stick its nose into. Let the airlines actually fail before they take it over and improve it by getting rid of the evil elitist first class.

WTF happened to capitalism, anyway? Don't like it, don't fly that airline. That's my plan. If it ever gets to the point where they all start charging ridiculous fees, I'll just quit flying.

Vote with your wallet, people.

Hey, Amy! Nothing to do with the topic really, but a friend of mine has this really cool quote as his signature line. I thought you and the blog-clingers here would like it. I know I do.

"It’s always the end of the world as we know it...Apocalyptic scenarios are a diversion from real problems...needing intelligent attention."
--Denis Dutton

Along with "The customer is always right", there's another old rule: Buyer, Beware!

Politics should stay out of it. An establishment should be allowed to make any rules it wants, as long as they're legal.

The customers will let them know, by how much money they are willing to spend, which rules work and which ones don't.

If customers decide for themselves & leave government out of the loop, what will politicians do all day? Dealing with legitimate problems on citizens' behalf is hard, dull work. Not nearly as satisfying as dressing up like a superhero, defending the innocent from evil greed.

Add-on purchases. It's one of the most misleading and successful ways companies make money. Jiffy Lube hawks its low low prices, then they hit you for the air filter and the pcp valve and the protection plan and before you know what's hit you you've paid $100.

I had that happen to me once. I was very nice about it when I told them I never authorized them to do anything other than change my oil. When they said that if I didnt pay they'd call the cops and hold onto my keys until they arrived I told them to go right ahead and I'd tell the cops how my car had been stolen.

There is not enough competition for market forces to work. I try to fly SWA as much as I can when I need to fly because usually they are the cheapest but that rarely works out well for me. It has been years since it has.

So basically, I cannot show my dislike because if I have to fly, I pretty much have to fly with a carrier that charges for check bags. The airlines for the most part are acting as one entity.

I wouldn't mind it so much if the total price was clear when I was comparing prices at like expedia, etc. Maybe an option to specify # begs. something like
1 adult w/ 1 carry-on, 1 checked from A -> B

SWA $300 (+ 0) $300
United $275 (+ 50) $325
Spirit $200 (+75 +50) $325

It reminds me of an investigaton of gas stations in the area a few years ago. One would raise his price a little, then the place across the street would match. Then the first would raise his a bit more, and everyone would match. The investigation found nothing illegal about what they were doing since they weren't talking about it - but they weren't not really competing with each other...only with making people annoyed enough to drive to the next town.

Good to see the government wasn't satisfied with defining what the minimum health insurance would be...now they'll set minimums in everything, because everyone should be free to make the choice that the majority mob wants them to make.

Spirit airlines has a mission: to be the cheapest airline out there. Everything is a la carte. I was working on a startup with no money that required travel to get contracts negotiated and signed -- we flew Spirit. You got charged to pick a seat before getting to the gate. $7 for a middle seat, $12 for an aisle seat.

You know what they offered? The cheapest flights where I needed to go. It was the right economic decision for me at the time. They were always unpleasant flights. It was motivation never to have to go with the cheapest airline.

You know what I did when the business was more successful? Flew US Air first class...which cost 3x the Spirit charge on a discount, but threw in my bags, a nice cushy pillow, and an unending string of drinks in flight.

There's a reason that Spirit airlines has a reputation as being the single young male's airline of choice, and some of their most popular routes are to and from Las Vegas. Of course, there's a reason no health insurance or very cheap health insurance covering only major medical appeals to single, young males. It's a shame to cater to a hated demographic.

I just bought 7 plane tickets to orlando for this fall on southwest, for a hair under $1500. AND I don't have to pay for bags. Which is one of the many reasons I use them.

"Add-on purchases. It's one of the most misleading and successful ways companies make money. Jiffy Lube hawks its low low prices, then they hit you for the air filter and the pcp valve and the protection plan and before you know what's hit you you've paid $100."

Jiffy sells pcp valves....awesome. Wonder what they charge for other paraphanelia?? (I've had the experience of being upsold by them before...)

Capitalism doesn't function as intended when there is collusion in the marketplace. And there's collusion in the airline industry. Also in the gas business and the telecomms racket and the banking sector and...

It's easy to thump the table and yell "CAPITALISM!!! My god won't SOMEONE think of CAPITALISM!!?" every time somebody suggests government intervention. And sometimes you might even be right. But is overly simplistic in many instances.

I don't want to argue economic theory but I find there's a degree of nuance much of the discussion about government intervention.

Quick now, someone get angry and yell at me...