Aer Lingus to charge for hold baggage

Stephen

Like Ryanair, Aer Lingus are now planning to charge passengers on short haul flights a fee for checking in baggage. Considering how they lost my bag in Heathrow at the weekend when they canceled my flight, i'd like to tell them to shove it. They're charging more than Ryanair for this as well.

Also, how do they define short haul? I'm sure every destination in the UK is short haul, and all their US routes aren't, but what about continental destinations like Zurich, Madrid etc? What about Dubai?

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0801/aerlingus.html

jonny68

Pathetic i didn't think Aer Lingus would gop down the same route as Ryan"rip off" air :mad:

Lenny

Didn't think myself.. but aren't they cheaper than ryanair..? they're charging €7 and aer lingus is €4.5 ?

idontknowmyname

I can't believe it either, it's a disgrace! from what I took, if you declare that you are bringing a bag with you at the time of booking, you pay 4.50, it increases if you just turn up at check in with baggage

Ruu_Old

I was going to book with Aer Lingus to Dublin, luckily I went with American Airlines. Boo to this indeedly.

damnyanks

it will catch on I guess. Thing is people just bring the bags as carry on. Many a time I've put my laptop in the overhead compartment to be then followed by someones "carry on" that weighs about 15kg and has a lovely tough shell to smashy smashy the weaker bags.

Ruu_Old

damnyanks wrote:

it will catch on I guess. Thing is people just bring the bags as carry on. Many a time I've put my laptop in the overhead compartment to be then followed by someones "carry on" that weighs about 15kg and has a lovely tough shell to smashy smashy the weaker bags.

Too right I suppose, "carry-on" my arse, some people are way out of line.

secret_squirrel

Its a sneaky move.

Both Ryanairs and Aer Lingus' baggage charges are just Fuel surcharges in disguise, with the added advantage of reducing flying weight so having a double effect on fuel consumption.

It complements Air Fungus's fuel surcharge on long haul routes.

Be interesting to see if they increase their cabin baggage limit from 6kg to 10kg (Ryanairs). I suspect not.

:rolleyes:

BuffyBot

Also, how do they define short haul? I'm sure every destination in the UK is short haul, and all their US routes aren't, but what about continental destinations like Zurich, Madrid etc? What about Dubai?

Short-haul = Intra-Europe
Long haul = Outside Europe

I was going to book with Aer Lingus to Dublin, luckily I went with American Airlines. Boo to this indeedly.

It doesn't seem to apply to long-haul..yet

secret_squirrel

BuffyBot wrote:

It doesn't seem to apply to long-haul..yet

I would be surprised tbh. As I mentioned above its Fuel Surcharge on Long Haul and Baggage Charge on Short haul.

That effectively fits with what their major competitors are doing on the same routes.

mikedragon32

It always amuses me when I fly with AL the number of people who need assistance getting their "carry-on" luggage into the overhead bin because they can't actually carry it, let alone lift it.

Those wheely cases have a lot to answer for!

Does anyone know when these charges will be implimented? I booked flights yesterday but there was no mention of any baggage charge.

Manny7

mikedragon32 wrote:

Does anyone know when these charges will be implimented? I booked flights yesterday but there was no mention of any baggage charge.

I think they're starting in January

jjbrien

Ruu wrote:

I was going to book with Aer Lingus to Dublin, luckily I went with American Airlines. Boo to this indeedly.

This is only for short haul flights long haul will be 2 pices free as usual as per IATA regulations

Dellas

I think its a good idea if its like the RyanAir system, My family live abroad and when I go over im well over 20 kilos so on RyanAir you can pay €7 each way for 2 bags at 20 kilos each instead of paying excess baggage charges of €6 per kilo with Aer Lingus!! So if Aer Lingus follow Ryanair's policy then it would be great. If how ever they charge for one piece and dont let you have another one for the same charge then they are a ripp off!!!

By the way Im not a fan of RyanAir at all but their baggage policy is great.

dimerocks

excess baggage is 8 per kilo not 6. If you turn up without paying that 4.50 onlnie with bags you get charged 8 at the airport. The most annoying bit of that however is that you have to move from checkin and then over to the ticket desk to pay it.

Dellas

dimerocks wrote:

excess baggage is 8 per kilo not 6. If you turn up without paying that 4.50 onlnie with bags you get charged 8 at the airport. The most annoying bit of that however is that you have to move from checkin and then over to the ticket desk to pay it.

So can you also tell me if they will allow 2 or 3 bags if you pay for them ????

secret_squirrel

dimerocks wrote:

The most annoying bit of that however is that you have to move from checkin and then over to the ticket desk to pay it.

Actually they've not quite worked out how they are going to make you pay for it yet.

deisemum

I think Ryanair have reduced their cabin baggage allowance to it's original weight allowance.

Now that hand luggage is practically non existant for the moment anyway, since the security threat I wonder what the airlines will do about charging