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F9 Charging For First Checked Bag

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CaptJax

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 3, 2006
Posts
310
Monday, September 15, 2008 - 10:31 AM CDT | Modified: Monday, September 15, 2008 - 10:32 AM

Frontier starts charging for first checked bag

Wichita Business Journal - by the Denver Business Journal

Passengers flying Frontier Airlines will have to pay $15 for their first checked bag starting Nov. 1 to help the carrier offset skyrocketing fuel costs as it navigates Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the airline announced Friday.

A second bag will cost $25 — a charge that the airline implemented a couple of months ago, but Frontier’s frequent fliers are exempt from both the first and second checked bag fee.

The Denver-based airline, which has two daily flights out of Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport, has followed the ranks of other carriers that started charging for checked bags fees to weather the weakened economy.

U.S. carriers made $122.3 million in excess baggage fees from January through March of this year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Of the major airlines, United, US Airways, Northwest, American and now Frontier charge $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second. Frontier serves central New Mexico travelers through the Albuquerque International Sunport.

In addition to the new checked bag fee, Frontier also has raised its fee for changing flights to $150 from $100. And standby no longer is available for those who want to make changes to same-day travel schedules.

Last month, Frontier also announced it will tighten its frequent-flier program starting Sept. 15, charging $25 per award ticket, and $75 per award ticket for flights booked within 14 days of travel.
 
So what?
 
Frontier Airlines reported one of the worst operating losses in the commercial airline industry for the second quarter of 2008, and came in second for the highest fuel expenses than any other low-cost carrier, according to Bureau and Transportation Statistics data released Monday.

The Denver-based airline — operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — logged a 12.2 percent operating loss in the second quarter — or $44 million — down from a profit of 0.5 percent in the second quarter in 2007.

Frontier’s loss ranked the airline No. 5 among seven low-cost carriers.

Low-cost rival Southwest Airlines reported a 7.2 percent operating profit — or $205 million — in the second quarter, down from a 12 percent profit during the same time in 2007.

Denver’s largest carrier, United Airlines, reported a 4.2 percent loss — or $223 million — compared to a 10 percent profit in the second quarter of 2007.

To boost profits, most U.S. carriers have implemented fees for checking luggage. In the second quarter, excess baggage fees brought the industry $182.6 million, up from $122 million in the first quarter and $113 million in the second quarter of last year.

The airlines began charging for checked baggage earlier this year in the face of increased fuel costs.

Frontier reported 42 percent of its operating costs went to fuel expenses in the second quarter. Frontier’s code share partner, AirTran Airways, spent 49.1 percent of its operating costs on fuel.

Southwest Airlines, known for its strategic fuel hedging program, reported that 35.5 percent of its operating costs were spent on fuel.

United Airlines spent 33 percent of its operating budget on fuel — the highest of all major carriers. US Airways spent the least at 27.8 percent.
 
Frontier Airlines reported one of the worst operating losses in the commercial airline industry for the second quarter of 2008, and came in second for the highest fuel expenses than any other low-cost carrier, according to Bureau and Transportation Statistics data released Monday.

The Denver-based airline — operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — logged a 12.2 percent operating loss in the second quarter — or $44 million — down from a profit of 0.5 percent in the second quarter in 2007.

Frontier’s loss ranked the airline No. 5 among seven low-cost carriers.

Low-cost rival Southwest Airlines reported a 7.2 percent operating profit — or $205 million — in the second quarter, down from a 12 percent profit during the same time in 2007.

Denver’s largest carrier, United Airlines, reported a 4.2 percent loss — or $223 million — compared to a 10 percent profit in the second quarter of 2007.

To boost profits, most U.S. carriers have implemented fees for checking luggage. In the second quarter, excess baggage fees brought the industry $182.6 million, up from $122 million in the first quarter and $113 million in the second quarter of last year.

The airlines began charging for checked baggage earlier this year in the face of increased fuel costs.

Frontier reported 42 percent of its operating costs went to fuel expenses in the second quarter. Frontier’s code share partner, AirTran Airways, spent 49.1 percent of its operating costs on fuel.

Southwest Airlines, known for its strategic fuel hedging program, reported that 35.5 percent of its operating costs were spent on fuel.

United Airlines spent 33 percent of its operating budget on fuel — the highest of all major carriers. US Airways spent the least at 27.8 percent.
And yet they keep selling extremely cheap fares ($59), despite having this abysmal financial record and being bankrupt. They just caught on to the brilliant idea that they can charge extra for carrying passenger luggage--$15. Hoo hooo! (But...they have a great product)
 
Ultra

You got fired from F9 because you were an idiot, you keep proving it by posting here. Move on.....
 
While it pains me to agree with Ultra, I have to admit that this baggage charge and the fare sale make me sick...

Regarding our product:

News Release Issued: September 3, 2008 12:02 PM EDT
> >>
> >> Frontier Airlines Tops the Charts for July 2008
> >>
> >> Department of Transportation statistics show Frontier among industry leaders
> >> in key performance categories
> >>
> >> DENVER, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Frontier Airlines led the airline industry
> >> in two key areas for the busy travel month of July 2008, while finishing near
> >> the top in several others, according to the most recent statistics released by
> >> the Department of Transportation (DOT).
> >>
> >> According to the DOT's monthly Air Travel Consumer Report, Frontier finished
> >> July number one for fewest customer complaints during a month when it carried
> >> a record number of passengers. Frontier also finished first in flight
> >> completion factor. That means Frontier cancelled fewer flights than any
> >> other major airline for the month of July. This is the 14th consecutive month
> >> Frontier has led the industry in completion factor.
> >>
> >> Other highlights of the report include:
> >>
> >> -- Frontier ranked second in on-time performance, while experiencing near
> >> record load factors in July. It marked the second consecutive month the
> >> airline has ranked in the top five. Through the first seven months of 2008,
> >> Frontier ranks third among major carriers in on-time performance.
> >>
> >> -- Frontier reported no flights on the DOT's 'List of Shame,' which details
> >> flights that are chronically delayed or cancelled (over 70% of the time).
> >>
> >> -- Among the dominant carriers serving the Denver market, Frontier ranked
> >> first with 84.9% of all flights arriving in Denver on-time.
> >>
> >> -- Frontier ranked fifth among the 19 reporting carriers in baggage
> >> performance, for least number of mishandled bags.
> >>
> >> 'For any airline to perform like this under the best of circumstances would
> >> be impressive,' said Frontier Chief Operating Officer Chris Collins. 'But
> >> when you consider the challenges our employees have faced with our Chapter 11
> >> reorganization, this is truly something to be proud of. We have always
> >> believed that we have the best employees and product in the airline industry,
> >> and these statistics should be further confirmation of that.'

(sorry for the formatting)
 
I really like Frontier... They're my hometown airline, I think the employees do an AWESOME job, and I pay extra to fly them whenever I go back to Denver. But this $15 for the first checked bag stuff is annoying. Just charge a fair price for the ticket in the first place! I'd rather pay extra on the fare than feel like I'm getting nickel and dimed on crap like one checked bag. It plays right into Southwest's "no extra charges" ad campaign anyway, which doesn't seem very smart!
 
The employees are great and run a great airline. Management on the other hand are a bunch of slack jawed $#%&&*#$ that can't control a balance sheet and have no vision.
 

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