Spirit Airlines, which services LaGuardia Airport, announced yesterday that they will begin charging for carry-on bags in August. The new policy will allow passengers to bring one item on the plane (such as a backpack or purse) for free, and will charge passengers $30 for another carry on item if they check in online, and $45 if they check in at the gate. That's right folks, for almost half the price of a one way trip to Cancun, you can bring all of your stuff with you!
The discount airline has definitely been feeling some backlash. One passenger told the Daily News, "I'm not going to pay it. I'll drive just out of spite," while another said the policies are sexist. "Girls will have a hard time with it because we have a purse and typically another bag." Chief Operating Officer Ken McKenzie, however, said it shouldn't be that hard to comply with the new rules, which will keep ticket prices low. "Bring less; pay less. It's simple." And the rules are helping airlines' bottom lines, because they "have not been losing as many bags... baggage handlers appear to be suffering fewer injuries" and can ship more cargo.
Could the number crunching get any worse? Actually, it could. Dublin based Ryanair, popular among students in Europe for their cheap flights, is considering charging passengers to use the bathroom! According to CNN, they're working with Boeing to develop coin-operated bathrooms, supposedly to encourage passengers to use the facilities before they board the flight. How much do you think they'll charge for a carry-on chamber pot?
