Alaska announced some fee changes today for tickets purchased on or after October 30, 2013, and I actually think they’re not giving themselves enough credit.
The bad news is that they’re increasing the cost of checked bags.
The old checked bag fees were as follows:
While the checked bag fees for tickets purchased on or after October 30, 2013, are as follows:
So basically they’re increasing the cost of the first and second checked bag by $5, the cost of the third checked bag by $55, and the cost of each additional checked bag by $25. No one likes that.
However, they’re also adjusting the change fees for tickets purchased on or after October 30, 2013. Currently the fee is $75 if made online or $100 if made by phone. Under the new system the fee is $125, regardless of whether it’s made online or by phone. However, they’re now waiving the change and cancellation fees for changes made at least 60 days prior to departure.
While I don’t like the fees going up, Alaska is still charging much less for changes than the legacies, which now all charge $200 for changing a domestic ticket. And their change makes sense, which I appreciate. I think one of the major frustrations people have with huge change fees is that if you book a ticket 11 months out and cancel it 10 months out, the airline isn’t actually incurring any costs and they’ll be able to sell that seat again, so what are you really paying $200 for?
However, as the departure date approaches the cost of a canceled seat goes up, as the airlines may not be able to resell it, at least not anywhere close to the price it originally sold at. So there potentially is a cost to cancellations close to departure. I actually think Alaska isn’t doing themselves justice here, as the headline for the changes is “Change/Cancellation Fee Increase.” Frankly I think the adjustment in change fees is neutral at worst, and they’re being unnecessarily hard on themselves. They should learn a trick or two from the Delta playbook. 😉
Changes and cancellations continue to be free for MVP Gold passengers, which remains one of my favorite MVP Gold perks.
Again, I don’t like increased fees, but at the same time I can appreciate if they’re structured in a way I can follow.
(Tip of the hat to Allison)
@ Wandering Aramean -- I'm giving them kudos for the way they adjusted the change fees. While they're a wash as such (I think), the system makes more sense.
So what are you giving them "kudos" for?? If it is overall a negative change, which you seem to acknowledge, why encourage them?
fees are fees, and I dont like em one bit. Especially raising the fees for baggage to $25.00, which Southwest doesn't even have.
I agree with Lucky on this one. They have a fair cancellation policy which I think most people can logically understand even if they disagree with it. As for the baggage fee, airlines have every incentive to raise them since this revenue is not taxed. Can't fault the airline for trying to shift revenue to untaxed auxillary services.
@ Wandering Aramean -- Apparently I wasn't clear:
-- The increase in bag fees sucks
-- Looking only at the adjustment in change fees, I think they're a wash
On the whole this is a negative change because of the increase in bag fees. But I'm looking at the two changes individually, since either could occur without the other.
I flew AS in first ANC-SEA last week. Champagne was available, the lunch was good, and the hand-held digiplayers had good material. No complaints!
So you think higher bag fees, which affect far more customers, are OK because a few will get away with lower change fees in some scenarios and much higher change fees in others?
Something about that math doesn't add up to me.
Baggage fees make sense until government taxes them. I applaud baggage fees.
@ Wandering Aramean -- I said the increase in baggage fees sucks. I don't like that change at all. But purely in terms of the adjustments to change fees, I think that's a wash.
Strange how you see raising the fees which affect most travelers as a good thing.
The waived change fee 60 days out is nice, but the number of people who can take advantage of that is very, very, very small. The number of people who will be affected by the higher baggage fees is much higher. The company expects this change to pad their books by ~50mm annually. How is that good for passengers??
And don't forget that once you've booked your ticket on Alaska, and the airfare drops, they'll give you a travel voucher for the difference!
@ T3pleShot -- Hah, maybe I'm not expressing myself properly, because my thoughts on them haven't changed on bit.
I still find them bizarre, I still think I'm getting on a bus every time I step on an Alaska plane, and I still think their first class product makes that of the legacies look good.
But they're also extremely reliable and consistent, and have a good mileage program. So it's not that I love the...
@ T3pleShot -- Hah, maybe I'm not expressing myself properly, because my thoughts on them haven't changed on bit.
I still find them bizarre, I still think I'm getting on a bus every time I step on an Alaska plane, and I still think their first class product makes that of the legacies look good.
But they're also extremely reliable and consistent, and have a good mileage program. So it's not that I love the airline as such, I just think they're really strong with their core competencies.
@ Andrew yvR -- Nope, award fees stay the same they are now.
lucky, you seemed to have grown quite a liking to Alaska lately. last year, they couldn't no anything right (they were the most weird airline, companion pass devaluation, etc).
does EK redemptions have anything to do with it :)
Do the fees apply to awards as well?