3 ms·

I'm no expert, but didn't the concept of packing everything into your carry on develop because of the fear (rational or not) that your bag would be lost if chec

I'm no expert, but didn't the concept of packing everything into your carry on develop because of the fear (rational or not) that your bag would be lost if checked? The exorbitant bag checks fees seem to have arisen in the last 5-10 years seemingly as a result of the 2008 economic crisis and overall crappy business model (cheap fares etc.)

bbgm 11y ago
I think it's a bit of both. I stopped checking bags in because of all the hassles - delays, lost bags, etc. This was well before airlines started charging for checked bags, and I know many others (mostly frequent travelers) in the same boat. It's not a lot of fun showing up in London without your luggage when you have a meeting in Cambridge the next morning. Less frequent travelers I know stopped checking luggage in after the airlines started charging.
brixon 11y ago
Business travelers have done this for years since their stays are so short and a checked bag that misses the flight is a big issue.
mapt 11y ago
Nuh-uh. This is your fault, Internet. Bag fees came along when booking websites cut fares to the bone, but neglected to factor in bag fees. Edit: This is also plausible - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9691867 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9691867
- eli 11y ago
  Not sure the messenger is to blame. Customers wants the cheapest possible base fare and booking websites gave them what they wanted.
  - dragonwriter 11y ago
    Customer wants the cheapest total price, not base fare; internet provider base fare comparisons, which are presented and perceived to represent cost comparisons, airlines game the system so that they can minimize what people are able to easily compare on while maximizing revenue.
zzalpha 11y ago
That's sure why I don't check. After they permanently lost thousands of dollars of clothes for me, I stopped checking. Add in the dangers of flight cancelations (sorry your bag is on this plane and we can't get it until tomorrow), the time spent waiting at the belt to pick up on the other side, the chance of damage, and the fees, and nope, I never check and never will when I can avoid it.
bradleyland 11y ago
Certainly a portion of carry-on travelers do so because of the reasons you listed, but the rise of checked baggage fees unquestionably made matters worse. I've been traveling for business since around 1999. Not a terribly long time, but long enough that I remember the days of simple metal detectors at security checkpoints and family greeting me at the gate when I landed. Overhead space was rarely a concern except for commuter-heavy routes. These days, I rarely get on a flight where some passengers have to gate check. The "overhead bin space is going to be tight" announcement has become a standard part of many flight attendant's duties.

bbgm 11y ago

I think it's a bit of both. I stopped checking bags in because of all the hassles - delays, lost bags, etc. This was well before airlines started charging for checked bags, and I know many others (mostly frequent travelers) in the same boat. It's not a lot of fun showing up in London without your luggage when you have a meeting in Cambridge the next morning. Less frequent travelers I know stopped checking luggage in after the airlines started charging.

brixon 11y ago

Business travelers have done this for years since their stays are so short and a checked bag that misses the flight is a big issue.

mapt 11y ago

Nuh-uh. This is your fault, Internet. Bag fees came along when booking websites cut fares to the bone, but neglected to factor in bag fees. Edit: This is also plausible - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9691867 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9691867

eli 11y ago
Not sure the messenger is to blame. Customers wants the cheapest possible base fare and booking websites gave them what they wanted.
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  Customer wants the cheapest total price, not base fare; internet provider base fare comparisons, which are presented and perceived to represent cost comparisons, airlines game the system so that they can minimize what people are able to easily compare on while maximizing revenue.

zzalpha 11y ago

That's sure why I don't check. After they permanently lost thousands of dollars of clothes for me, I stopped checking. Add in the dangers of flight cancelations (sorry your bag is on this plane and we can't get it until tomorrow), the time spent waiting at the belt to pick up on the other side, the chance of damage, and the fees, and nope, I never check and never will when I can avoid it.

bradleyland 11y ago

Certainly a portion of carry-on travelers do so because of the reasons you listed, but the rise of checked baggage fees unquestionably made matters worse. I've been traveling for business since around 1999. Not a terribly long time, but long enough that I remember the days of simple metal detectors at security checkpoints and family greeting me at the gate when I landed. Overhead space was rarely a concern except for commuter-heavy routes. These days, I rarely get on a flight where some passengers have to gate check. The "overhead bin space is going to be tight" announcement has become a standard part of many flight attendant's duties.