subject: Airline Baggage Revenue up 33 Percent [print this page] Airline Baggage Revenue up 33 Percent Airline Baggage Revenue up 33 Percent
Airlines also earned $554 million in fees to change reservations and another $534 million from other services, including sales of frequent flier miles and fees for flying pets.
Airlines total ancillary revenue remained relatively unchanged with the first quarter of last year. Experts interpret this to mean that passengers are paying for services that they view as essential, such as checking bags. However, they are staying away from many nice to have, but less valuable services, such as paying a fee to change a reservation to return home a few hours early. While the airlines decide what services they want to pull from the price of the ticket and add them in separately, it is the passenger that makes the decision if they are willing to pay for that service, skip having the service, or simply move to an airline that does not charge for that service. It will be the airline that has the fewest fees that will ultimately win out in this competition.
Spirit Airlines, which is a relatively small airline, has often been the first to charge its customers for additional services that used to be included in the ticket price. Spirit derived almost 22 percent of its operating revenue from fee income, which is the largest percentage among U.S. airlines.
The airlines appear to be determined to increasingly come up with additional ways to boost their ancillary revenue. Some airlines are now offering access to quicker security lines and/or early boarding for a fee. Rest assured, the airlines will continue to creatively come up with additional "optional" services for which they can charge fees.
