Over a week ago, Chris Elliott pointed out a recent fee applied by ultra-low-class Spirit Airlines. Spirit had hidden a $10 Convenience Fee in their Contract of Carriage for booking anywhere but at a counter.
Now, booking online is certainly convenient, but this fee seemed somewhat dishonest. Spirit’s site is, to quote Elliott, “awash in new surcharges. Some disclosed, some not.” We agree that the Department of Transportation should put forth some clear regulations on how fees are to be disclosed or advertised. They have some now, but better oversight and clarity should be required.
Mark Ashley of Upgrade Travel has further thoughts on the subject. He also advises that Orbitz, without the convenience fee, ended up being less than Spirit, with the fee.
Either way, it is a moot point, as due to public outcry(we assume), Spirit reversed its convenience fee. But it does prove a valuable point in the greater scheme of things. If there is a demonstrable resulting loss, an airline will reverse itself.
Usually this comes from other airlines. Airline A does a fare hike. If Airlines B, C, and D don’t match, Airline A reverses the hike. For some fees, such things can come from the passengers. If an airline imposes a convenience fee, a movement to buy at the counter, or through third parties will convince them to reverse it.
It’s time to fight back for our rights. That isn’t the right to pay $99 for a transcontinental ticket complete with three checked bags, a luxury meal, movie, etc. Those days have gone. Our right is to purchase a ticket with a clear and consistent set of rules, with fees clearly disclosed before purchase, with optional add-ons being limited to a few options, and once purchased, to have a clean, hassle-free travel experience. As to that last part, hassles do happen. But the airline shouldn’t be contributing to them with labyrinthian rules, inconsistent enforcement, and blatant lies.
In China of all places, planes full of people are refusing to deplane until they are given the service they feel they deserve. What do we have to do in the United States before airlines are held to reasonable standards?