REVENUE CATCHING IDEAS

[sharktooth]

The reality is that a large percentage of the flying public is made up of people who truly cannot afford to fly at fare levels which would allow the airlines to sustain themselves.

I don't know what you mean by "large percentage" but if above 50%, I'd say you are wrong. I would think that a slight fare increase would put airlines in the black.

If there is less demand due to higher fares, less people will fly, the skies will be less crowded, and the remaining flights will operate more efficiently

I feel that is a stretch. One of the reason skies are so crowded is the use of the RJ, taking up mainline runways and limiting each "slot" to less than 100 passengers.

 

[SolidCactus]

Ok guys, I got one more...

Take out 2 rows of seats and give more legroom. Then remove the overhead bins completely, or make them way smaller, like the size of a canadair RJ. Then change the carryon policy. If it won't fit under the seat, it does not get brought on, period. It needs to be checked, and the per bag fee applies.

This way, we kill a few birds with one stone. We reduce onboard weight, increase revenue for additional bags, AND give the passengers a little more legroom in the process.

About the pillow/blanket comment about it taking time... I know that for sure. It really does take a lot of time to work stuff like that out.

A short term money maker could be to just copy airtran - charge extra for assigned seats... I dont have a problem giving them the $10 or whatever it is to pick my seat...

 

[orioleman]

solid ,
say it isn't so . My back is killing me with all the gate checks NOW . NO MORE please NO MORE.

 

[SolidCactus]

solid ,
say it isn't so . My back is killing me with all the gate checks NOW . NO MORE please NO MORE.

lol, you're right. anything that adds a lot of labor is probably not realistic. darn.

when you do gate checks, do the customers get charged? if not, FIX that! right? anytime a customer can find a loophole, they will use it.

 

[orioleman]

lol, you're right. anything that adds a lot of labor is probably not realistic. darn.

when you do gate checks, do the customers get charged? if not, FIX that! right? anytime a customer can find a loophole, they will use it.

couldn't agree with you more .

Please send your Resume to USairways Marketing

 

[SolidCactus]

couldn't agree with you more .

Please send your Resume to USairways Marketing

I've thought about it actually. 🙂

My suggestion would be if a bag is checked at the gate, the gate agent goes back, looks up the customer record and just wacks the card $25. Put it in the contract of carriage, and be done with it. Visa/MC would side for the airline, not the pax. People are abusive and will ABUSE any policy they can get away with.

 

[Travelpro72]

Here is a real idea. How about actually USING some sort of sizing box to make sure luggage fits in it before going on the plane. I'm not saying wait until the last minute as the boarding pass is being scanned to check it. Make passengers aware from the point of check in to boarding that the bag MUST fit these guidelines or its a no go. It would make boarding MUCH easier. For those passengers that currently try to get around the bag fee by checking it on the jetway should be charged. If they can't pay they don't go. BS! ! ! Not to mention I see peoples steamer trunks they roll through the airports. It IS people lifting that crap under the wing. I don't know how you guys/gals do it.

 

[700UW]

They use to have the sizing box, but the overheads are not standard on each fleet and not on every plane with in the fleet, so it wont work.

 

[Travelpro72]

Does it have to be the size of the inside of an overhead compartment or can it be a size that the company chooses?

 

[Art at ISP]

Here's a novel approach.

Instead of nickel and diming, just rationalize fares to a level where natural selection will take its course. Instead of charging $15 for the first bag, raise fares across the board by $10. This will bring in even MORE revenue, and it would eliminate the need for the logistical nightmare and extra costs associated with charging for everything.

There is a cost associated with ala carte pricing which is not being addressed--in fact its being ignored.

If the product were priced according to cost in the first place none of these discussions would have been necessary.

Then again, airline management is an oxymoron unto itself now isn't it?

 

[SS255]

If nickel-and-dime fees are wave of the present and future, how about at least issuing re-loadable cards, like a Starbucks card? Customers can purchase a card in whatever denomination they choose, and then swipe it to make nickel-and-dime purchases (including BOB, alcoholic beverages in Y, and IFE). In fact, give a 5% discount to customers who pay via US Airways Card, or issue incentives at certain spend threshholds, like for each $500 in purchases on the card, the customer gets to choose a freebie, like a free 2nd checked bag, 5 free drink coupons, or a $25 travel voucher.

While it will not solve the annoyance of the nickel-and-dime fees, it will at least make the process easier on customers and collectors alike, and make the customer feel like they are being rewarded for their loyalty. Plus, miles are so impossible to use these days that most potential customers would prefer an instant discount over earning miles they will never be able to use. If you offer both, you are one step ahead of the competition for those who book solely on price.

 

[N965VJ]

<SNIP> diapers, tampons, candy,

Classy. Just like a vending machine in a turnpike rest area.

They use to have the sizing box, but the overheads are not standard on each fleet and not on every plane with in the fleet, so it wont work.

Wolfe had them eliminated ten years ago because he thought they were tacky. The official word was they had all become damaged, which was a line of BS from some drone in Inflight.

<SNIP> There is a cost associated with ala carte pricing which is not being addressed--in fact its being ignored.

Exactly. Also, it's fun to kick around ideas to see what can be sold on the aircraft, and I believe Tempe is looking into this, but one can only imagine how they will screw this up logistically.

 

[Chicken or Beef??]

dupe... oops.

 

[Chicken or Beef??]

Here is a real idea. How about actually USING some sort of sizing box to make sure luggage fits in it before going on the plane. I'm not saying wait until the last minute as the boarding pass is being scanned to check it. Make passengers aware from the point of check in to boarding that the bag MUST fit these guidelines or its a no go. It would make boarding MUCH easier. For those passengers that currently try to get around the bag fee by checking it on the jetway should be charged. If they can't pay they don't go. BS! ! ! Not to mention I see peoples steamer trunks they roll through the airports. It IS people lifting that crap under the wing. I don't know how you guys/gals do it.

There used to be sizer boxes attached to the X-ray devices in some airports. (I remember LAX and I think SFO.) If the bag wouldn't fit through the sizer box it didn't get through security. Blame it on TSA ... yell, scream and shake your fists, but the bottom line was you better get back to the ticket counter cuz you weren't getting it anywhere near the gates!

 

[Travelpro72]

Oh yeah your so right. I remember it was a template. In LAX they would lift it for the crew bags to get through. Wow I forgot about that. I'm curious though if an airline can implement their OWN size requirement regardless of bin size.