Which Was The First Major Airline To Start Charging For Carry-On Bags?

Summary Extra fees for carry-on baggage are common, even among legacy carriers like British Airways and United Airlines. Airlines charge for carry-on bags to offset low fare costs and improve operational efficiency. Major North American carriers have varying fees for personal items, carry-ons, and checked bags.

When booking travel, we are always lured in by the sale fares to exotic destinations. While those cheap tickets may have convinced you to book your next vacation, we usually get stung regarding add-ons, including cabin and checked baggage, meals, entertainment, and more. Extra charges for carry-on baggage Florida-based, ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines made headlines in 2010, becoming the first US carrier to introduce fees for full-sized carry-on bags.

This disappointed many of the airline's loyal followers, who claimed the new costs were unjustified. However, many other airlines have followed suit, and now most ULCCs will charge a fee if you want to take anything more than your handbag. The reasoning behind limiting carry-on baggage is simple: low-cost carriers offer tickets at rock-bottom prices and look for extra revenue in the way of additional fees.

ULCCs also operate tight schedules with limited turnaround times, so it is all about efficiency for the airline. If a passenger is traveling with multiple carry-on bags, this can make the boarding and disembarkation process slower, which can cause delays for the carrier. Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air are an.