Another airline to avoid..

[LTranter]

For those of you worried about the cost of flying with your fencing equipment check this out

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080204/unite...surcharge.html

What I don't get is that in the first paragraph they say they will be charging $25 per additional bag and then later on it says $100. Am I not understanding this right or is this article just badly written? Either way, my gear and I or my suitcase and duffel for that matter, will not be flying United anytime soon. So much for the friendly skies.

L

[noodle]

i've almost always managed to pack all of my stuff inside my fencing bag, so i usually only check 1 bag. if it doesn't fit, it goes in a carryon.

[Peach]

In the last few years I've stopped taking the big wheelie bag on airlines. I stick my weapons, pajamas, and clothes in a soft bag and carry on my uniform, mask, shoes, lame, cords, and other hard-to-replace stuff. Haven't had a weapon broken yet. I don't usually take my weapons apart, except for international travel where I really need to know I'll have almost everything.

I'm thinking about shipping my stuff ahead for Summer Nationals.

[Timacheff]

Also, as of this month, Southwest Airlines is officially limiting the number of free checked bags to two per person -- until now, it's been three. It's $25 for an extra one.

[4qtrs]

Well, it looks like it isn't just us....

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/104361/United-to-Charge-$25-for-Second-Checked-Bag

[DJ Apostrophe]

For those of you worried about the cost of flying with your fencing equipment check this out

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080204/unite...surcharge.html

What I don't get is that in the first paragraph they say they will be charging $25 per additional bag and then later on it says $100. Am I not understanding this right or is this article just badly written? Either way, my gear and I or my suitcase and duffel for that matter, will not be flying United anytime soon. So much for the friendly skies.

L

The 2nd bag you check is $25, the next four are $100 apiece.

(That's how I read it anyway.)

-w

[davesaint]

If you are a United frequent flyer, you will escape the extra fee.



http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52481,00.html


Domestic baggage information
United is announcing a new checked bag policy for customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets. Customers purchasing nonrefundable domestic economy tickets who do not have status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee. Customers who have attained Premier status or higher in Mileage Plus or who have Silver status and above with a Star Alliance partner, are exempt from this policy change. The new policy applies to tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008. Please view the Domestic baggage questions for additional details on this policy.

All customers traveling on United may check at least one free bag. The number of free bags allowed per customer will vary according to your Mileage Plus status and/or the type of ticket purchased. The tables below highlight the number of bags that customers can check free of charge:

Tickets purchased before or after February 4, 2008 for travel before May 5, 2008:
Mileage Plus status / Type of ticket Free bag allowance Maximum weight
Non-members or General Members of Mileage Plus on non-refundable Economy fares 2 50 lbs/23kg
All First or Business class customers / All Economy class customers on refundable fares / All Premier and Premier Associate Mileage Plus members on any fare 2 50 lbs/23kg each
Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Gold members on any fare 3 70 lbs/32kg each

Tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008, for travel on or after May 5, 2008:
Mileage Plus status / Type of ticket Free bag allowance Maximum weight
Non-members or General Members of Mileage Plus on non-refundable Economy fares 1 50 lbs/23kg
All First or Business class customers / All Economy class customers on refundable fares / All Premier and Premier Associate Mileage Plus members on any fare 2 50 lbs/23kg each
Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Gold members on any fare 3 70 lbs/32kg each


The maximum size of each checked bag is 62 inches/158cm (length + width + height)
Each checked bag must have the name of the person traveling on the outside of the bag
United recommends that you arrive at the airport 90 minutes prior to departure to complete the check-in process
Baggage must be checked at the airport at least 30 minutes in advance of flight departure time except for the following airports which have a 45 minute cut-off time for baggage check-in:

Atlanta, Georgia (ATL)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL)
Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT) Phoenix, Arizona (PHX)

Chicago, Illinois O'Hare (ORD)
Portland, Oregon (PDX)
Denver, Colorado (DEN) Reno, NV (RNO)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (YEG)
Sacramento, California (SMF)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (YHZ) Santa Ana (Orange County), California (SNA)
Indianapolis, Indiana (IND)
Seattle, Washington (SEA)

Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS) San Francisco, California (SFO)
Los Angeles, California (LAX)
Tampa, Florida (TPA)

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, (YUL) Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
New York, New York John F. Kennedy (JFK)
Washington DC Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Orlando, Florida (MCO)





So just become a frequent flyer member, it's free after all.


Dave

[oiuyt]

So just become a frequent flyer member, it's free after all.

According to what you've posted that's not sufficient. It requires hitting the lowest level of preferred status (Premier in Mileage Plus or the Silver status on another Star Alliance carrier) or higher. That generally requires a minimum of 25,000 miles flown annually. That all count towards the same (Star Alliance) program.

-B

[teacup]

Air Canada gives money back at the time of purchase, if you don't check bags.

[teacup]

If the airlines are concerned with the cost of fuel and weight, why don't they charge for the total weight that passengers are bringing on board?

For instance, shouldn't a 100 pound person with only 25 lbs of carry on, total weight 125 lbs, pay less than a 300 pound person with two carry on bags at 35 lbs plus two 50 lb checked bags, total weight 450 lbs?

Whether it's fencing equipment, clothes or whatever.

[wahrman]

Speaking of Air Canada and a surprising good story about an airline.

I was flying from St. John's, NL to Windsor, ON on 23 December.

My luggage got lost. They found it on the 24th and drove it across the
border to my house in Michigan. Two hours from Windsor.

The poor guy had a two hour drive back home at 10pm on Christmas eve.

Air Canada gives money back at the time of purchase, if you don't check bags.

[Heavenguard]

If the airlines are concerned with the cost of fuel and weight, why don't they charge for the total weight that passengers are bringing on board?

I bet that someone would find a way to say they're part of a group being discriminated against and sue the airline. People just love suing companies over stupid things.

Or maybe that's the answer, suing the airlines for discriminating against fencers for their equipment ...

[downunder]

I think only being able to check in one bag is pretty standard across the world, why not pack your clothes and fencing gear in the one bag?

[KD5MDK]

It is not standard in the US, until now at least.

[oiuyt]

I think only being able to check in one bag is pretty standard across the world, why not pack your clothes and fencing gear in the one bag?

Because golfers don't like that idea.

-B

[fencing freakster]

I think only being able to check in one bag is pretty standard across the world, why not pack your clothes and fencing gear in the one bag?

we've gone on plenty of family trips departing from a competition including skiing and tennis jaunts that require gear. This new rule makes that a bit difficult ....part of the fun in fencing is being able to travel around and see places, not just another venue....

[oiuyt]

Had a conversation with some fencing parents (of a couple of Duke fencers) at O'Hare airport this past weekend about the large number of cities we've not-seen through fencing (having both just not-seen Chicago while at Northwestern for collegiate meets). And the large number of cities which we've not-seen multiple times.

-B

[tchwojko]

...the large number of cities we've not-seen through fencing. And the large number of cities which we've not-seen multiple times.

Ah, I remember the halcyon college days of not-seeing cities, like University Park, Madison, Columbus, Champaign-Urbana, Minneapolis...

My favorite place to not-see was, by far, Detroit.

[KD5MDK]

I don't think I want to see Detriot really.

[DJ Apostrophe]

I don't think I want to see Detriot really.

I think that was the point in the previous post...

-w