Article: Checked Bag Fees Cost US Airlines Millions

[dajop]

Not my experience on Vueling, zero issues putting my 30L backpack in the overhead bin, and purse under seat in front on a flight from BCN to SPU, I had picked a fare with 1 checked bag up to 23kgs included.

A 30 litre backpack is not huge and probably within the limits of the “personal Item” and they didn’t bother with the purse. One of the side effects of these conditions (aside from quick boarding and turnarounds) is IME if you have a small backpack that would fit under the seat, you don’t need to put it there as the overhead lockers aren’t rammed full of wheelaboards. So it can go in the lockers.

Also I’ve noticed these sorts of airlines don’t worry so much about backpacks but do pay more attention to wheelaboards.

 

[jpp42]

Americans were already travelling with the “kitchen sink” before fees due to the hub and spoke nature of the legacy carriers and the risk of bags not making your connection - well, that’s what I’ve always assumed…

I've always been impressed with the US airports, at least major ones I've been through like DFW, ATL, etc, that manage to connect your bag through on very short connecting itineraries (45 minutes or even less). They also have very efficient bag delivery systems if your bag does misconnect. In fact, I had to use the luggage delivery service once because my bag went to my destination but I didn't! My inbound to ATL was late and both bag and I misconnected, but my bag was forwarded to my destination on the next flight, which had no passenger seats available. I managed to get booked to a different, nearby airport, but my bag went to where it was tagged. The airline happily delivered it to my destination address and it got there about the same time I did (after getting a relative to pick me up from the other airport over an hour away).

Perhaps lower volume of connecting bags due to baggage fees helps them deliver a better service? Not sure, given how many bags get "gate checked" for free anyway (which includes connections if you're gate checked and have further segments on your itinerary).