Travellers grapple with more airline fees
Staff Reporter-SKNVibes.com
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS-AMERICAN Airlines announced last week that its customers, with some exceptions, would now be charged US $15 for their first and US $25 for their second checked bags starting on June 15, causing many travellers to begin reconsidering how they pack their suitcases.
“Persons flying to international destinations will not be charged extra for their checked bags,” said Hugh Mallilieu, General Manager of American Airlines in St. Kitts. He did note, however, that persons who travel on the airline’s domestic routes, which include flights between the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada, would be subject to the additional charges.
Jasmine Warner-Weeks, Manager of Kantours Travel, said that there are a few tips a traveller should be aware of when it comes time to pack his or her suitcase.
“One of the suggestions I most commonly pass on to my customers is for them to not pack unnecessarily,” said Weeks. “A person should try to take their shoes in their carry-on bags because they are heavy and bulky.
“Also, if a person is travelling on a shopping trip, and they can wear the clothes they are going to buy, then they should only travel with two days of clothes in their suitcase. It just makes sense to save that space for the trip home,” Weeks added.
The manager said that her customers have become increasingly distressed over charges they are being forced to pay for extra and overweight bags, as airlines around the world try to offset the rising cost of fuel. American has stated that fuel costs have raised their annual expenditures by nearly US$3 billion. ~~Adz:Right~~
“I try to tell people to pack as light as possible, but if it is a family travelling with children there is very little they can do,” she said.
Weeks did suggest, however, that travellers pay attention to their packing methods. “I always roll my clothes and neatly place them in the luggage to save space. It is also a good idea to get a bag that isn’t very heavy, so you have more weight for your possessions.”
One website devoted to answering traveller’s queries, TravelLite.org, encourages flyers to only pack clothes that match with all of their other clothes, thus allowing a person to mix and match outfits to make it seem like they brought a more extensive wardrobe on their trip than they really did.
“This means you'll probably have to stick with neutrals-tans, grays, blacks, with some white or accent colors thrown in,” suggests the site. They also recommend that women bring a variety of scarves and men a number of ties, as they are colorful items that do not take up much space in a suitcase.
Betsy Talton, a Delta Air Lines spokesperson, told the associated press following American’s announcement that Delta has no intention of instituting new baggage fees, though some experts have speculated that it would only be a matter of time before other carriers follow American.
