In yet another attempt to stick it to the customer Allegiant Air on Wednesday morning will begin implementing a $35 charge for carry-on bags.
The company will still allow customers to carry on one bag for free but that bag must be able to fit under the seat in front of customers.
Larger bags in the meantime can be stored in an overhead bin but those bags will come with the newly implemented $35 charge. Customers in the meantime who pay for their carry-on bag online will pay fees that range from $10 to $30.
Allegiant isn’t the first airline to implement a carry-on charge, in 2010 Spirit Airlines started angering customers by putting in place a $45 charge for carry-on luggage. In 2011 Spirit Airlines earned $50 million from its new carry-on charge policy, earnings that likely led low-fare provider Allegiant to implement the same type of charge.
While the new charge has increased in usage an industry expert tells MSNBC that the practice likely won’t catch on at bigger providers and will stay isolated to a small, low-cost outfit catering to vacationers. As the expert notes:
“No business-oriented airline would do this to customers with a laptop and valet bag. They would drive them right off the airplane.”
Given the cost of checking a bag it might be easier for customers traveling on Allegiant Air to simply check their extra bags and pay that fee, allowing them to walk around the airport without an extra bag.
Do you plan to ditch Allegiant Air based on this new $35 carry-on charge.
