It began not long ago when they came up with Blue Basic fares. That fare was the same as a fare that included a seat selection prior to the fare restructuring. It also put you last in line to get onboard, thus risking not being able to get overhead bin space. It was a passive aggressive move to get you to pay more for the next level fare. Now they are putting more pressure on people to pony up more money by eliminating the carry on in the basic fare. In time they will devise more ways of getting more money for less service. Maybe the worst thing they did to me was switch from Coke to Pepsi products!
Looks like the Yellow cab riders who want limo benefits are being reminded they are only paying for a yellow cab! People want the world when they fly and some even act inhuman when they do it, yet they want, want, want. Hay, if you don’t like it take the bus.
Prior to getting on, there will probably be a bag size check to make sure it fits under the seat in front of you. No fit, not flight.
How does this affect me as a pilot and an aircraft owner?
The incentives for private flying are growing!
While employed in the industry some years ago, I remember seeing the bag measuring device located at the jetway entry. Many of the carry on bags didn’t fit and were boarded without complying. The result was oversize people trying to fit oversize bags into overhead containers. The struggle ensued and reminded me of a couple of summa wrestlers trying to get the other fellow into the corner.
After numerous decades of observing that pax want more for less, decided the best way to handle this would be to sell tickets based on your total weight boarded. Having a scale next to the ticket counter and the display in big letters might convince some folks to downsize a bit.
Another case of the bait and switch shell game played by the “bargain” airlines. Also, one more reason to fly myself and avoid the hassles.
I first read this as “Jet Blue Closes Overhead Bins on Low-Fare Pax”, which struck me as a good idea. Otherwise the low-fare passengers riding in overhead bins might fall out onto the regular-fare passengers …
Weight is fuel burn and money… want to haul your house around you got to pay.