Recently, airlines such as Frontier and Spirit are offering fares remarkably lower than the competition. You are hard pressed to even book with a major carrier when you see the fares offered by a budget carrier.
But, what happens when you discover how they keep prices so low? The task of finding cheap air fare becomes difficult and frustrating.
In order to save a buck, Spirit airlines began charging for carry on bags. Yes, you read that right, carry on bags, usually free on most airlines are now costing you upwards of $100 one way.
Perhaps the incentive is to pack light, saving on fuel costs. But not everyone has the luxury of living out of a purse for a week. For a “budget” traveler, deciding you need to bring a carry on rather than a small personal item might break the bank.
Are airlines punishing us? Or is this a marketing ploy that pulls in a certain demographic only to reveal hidden fees and unfair charges after it’s too late? Either way, it’s no news that travel is a luxury, especially by air. But trying to mask a budget fare that has hidden fees associated with a basic need (a carryon) almost compels me to book with a carrier who charges a bit more in fare but includes a carry on and personal item.
What are your thoughts?
Brave New World Traveler 