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Tagged With "Baggage fees"

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Re: Fotografiska, New York's new photography museum

Professorabe ·
Looks interesting, but the entrance fee is rather steep!
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Re: Fotografiska, New York's new photography museum

Jonathan L ·
Yup, it is pricey. On the other hand, Museum prices have been going up in NYC.
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Re: Free Things to do in Phoenix, Arizona

DrFumblefinger ·
Never knew there was so much free stuff to do in Phoenix. Seems like you could spent the better part of a week seeing and doing things without paying one admission fee. Thanks for sharing these, Samantha.
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Re: Now an airline charge for NOT flying!

TravelingCanuck ·
Sadly it seems that the only thing limiting some airlines from charging another fee is their imagination. However, I have faith that they will think out of the box and try to suck more from their passengers.
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Re: Notes and Noticings from the road

Paul Heymont ·
Actually, I think the banks have a fairly minimal (as small as I can make it) impact on my currency transactions, in part because I never deal with exchanges; I use bank ATMs. That way, the exchange takes place not on my account, but as an interbank transaction at the base rate banks use with each other. I used to use my ATM card from Citibank, but eventually they began charging a 3% foreign exchange fee even on withdrawals. At that point, I opened an account with Charles Schwab, a brokerage...
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Re: Has the Revolution Started? Ryanair allows 2nd bag and reduces fee

Former Member ·
Are you saying that the primary goal is not to sell a mere flight ticket but to sell the whole tamale ? $$$
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Re: Has the Revolution Started? Ryanair allows 2nd bag and reduces fee

GarryRF ·
The intention is to increase the profitability of Ryanair. For the first half of 2013-14, it announced revenue up 5% to €3.25bn and profit after tax rising 1% to €602m.
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?

rbciao ·
Free wi-fi is a nice perk that should be a part of the standard room fee. Years ago the introduction of coffee pots and coffee packets in the rooms were a big step in the right direction. Some chains offer a free breakfast, so why not wi-fi. Free wi-fi is just another step in the right direction.
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Re: Should Wi-Fi be free in all hotels?

Paul Heymont ·
Technically, it would be possible to create very large WiFi zones, whether free or paid. But since someone gets paid (either on the meter, or a fee for the project) and there is a cost to constructing/installing the equipment to broadcast that signal...it won't happen unless someone is paying. In the case of the hotel, picking up on rbciao's point about breakfast--have you noticed that the free WiFi and the free breakfast tend to come with the budget chains, while the high-end places charge...
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Re: Budget Deal Asks Air Passengers to Pay More

DrFumblefinger ·
This is a massive tax increase hidden as a "small fee". There are millions of people flying every day and paying already steep prices for tickets. I can't see this helping air travel or the economy in any way.
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Re: Budget Deal Asks Air Passengers to Pay More

Travel Rob ·
I especially don't like it that they call it a fee- so members of Congress can keep their pledge not to raise taxes.The above Forbes link was good to compare it to the gas tax. This reminds me of a Simpson episode where Lisa( in Barts vision) is President. she is told to call a massive tax hike a refund adjustment.
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Re: Has the Revolution Started? Ryanair allows 2nd bag and reduces fee

GarryRF ·
Ryanair are now selling complete vacation deals - so they've had to move on.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,

Hank ·
Wow, this is turning into a real education!! I checked with my uncle and yes, I can fly Chicago to Manchester and return from either London or Paris to Chicago. The ticket is free to him and he said he would cover any fees as a "graduation gift to me" (he's a pretty cool dude!), but I don't want to burden him with a heavy departure fee, so maybe Paris would be the way to go. I'd like to leave about Friday, May 9th and return 4 weeks later, June 6th. A few days later and returning a few days...
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Re: Has the Revolution Started? Ryanair allows 2nd bag and reduces fee

DrFumblefinger ·
Ryanair just loves to get its name in the news, no matter what the context.
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Re: Has the Revolution Started? Ryanair allows 2nd bag and reduces fee

Former Member ·
The thought of a kinder, friendlier Michael O’Leary makes me all warm and fuzzy. Not. I smell a rat.
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Re: Up, Up and Away: Airline miles cards with big bonuses

rbciao ·
I have a Delta American Express Platinum card that has served us well. The fee is higher than the gold card, but we can check two bags free, priority boarding, and a free companion pass yearly. We fly two or three times a year and the value of the waived baggage fee and the companion pass far exceed the $150 annual fee. The card also accrues one mile for each dollar spent and lately has offered cash back incentives. For example: spend $15 at Panera's using the card and receive $5 credit on...
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Re: New 'airline' charges more for carry-on than check-in

DrFumblefinger ·
$92 for a carry-on bag is an excellent way to ensure you will never be more than a very small airline.
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Re: Southwest Airlines continues its No-Fee Baggage policy

Travel Rob ·
This really is good news! It makes a huge difference when an airline tries to make the customer happy.
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Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline

PortMoresby ·
Continuing my search for an economical way to use my miles and avoid absurd fees, I tried a combination of 2 one-way flights, one with miles, one on Norwegian. One way on Norwegian is as low as $286. If I avoid using BA with points, flights on AA to Paris are 20,000 miles (before May 15th) plus a $5 fee (excellent!) but with a stupid schedule, 3 flights and 2 days to get there. And 1 possibility available. All the rest are BA flights, $326 in fees + 20,000 miles. Next thought, why is AA...
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Re: Canadian airline adopts unpopular US fee

DrFumblefinger ·
Air Canada just announced that it too will have the $25 baggage fee. http://money.ca.msn.com/invest...for-economy-travel-1
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Re: JetBlue makes its fans blue: Less space, more fees

DrFumblefinger ·
This is very disappointing news. I was hoping JetBlue would stick to its "customers first" mode of business operation, but obviously management has sold us out. That leaves only Southwest in the USA that has a different business model, and hopefully they'll stick to their principles and not succumb to these pressures.
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Re: JetBlue makes its fans blue: Less space, more fees

DrFumblefinger ·
The very slight bit of good news is that JetBlue still plans on keeping its basic wifi free. More on that story at this link .
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Re: Memphis, Tennessee: 1) Graceland

GarryRF ·
You've put together an interesting tour DrF. I never knew you got that up close and personal on a tour . You mentioned the 2nd floor. Do the family still live there ? I'm surprised to see there's no mention of his manager. 50% - wow - that's some fee. Heard stories but never knew that was the figure. There have been other cases of artists - of that time - being mis-used too.
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Re: Marriott to offer free wi-fi to all its Rewards member

Paul Heymont ·
I think you're exactly right, PortMoresby. For quite some time, we've looked mostly at the inexpensive chains precisely because they offer clear and valuable perks: Free breakfast, free parking, free WiFi. Our occasional high-end hotels through Priceline have sometimes moved the per-room fee down to a lower tier, but after you've paid $20/day for parking, $11.99 a day for WiFi...not so lower! The two-tier WiFi issue is becoming a bug for me, too. I recently stayed at a DoubleTree by Hilton...
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Re: Marriott to offer free wi-fi to all its Rewards member

PortMoresby ·
And let us not forget the dreaded "resort fees". Defined as meaning anything the hotel wants it to mean. And charged whether we use the facilities it's said to cover, or not. Look in the dictionary for the definition of "chicken shit" and you'll find "resort fees". If everyone must pay it, it should rightly be included in the room rate. Even my favorite, AirBnB, makes options available for hosts - cleaning fee, security deposit, a charge for more than 1 person and even possibilities for...
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Re: Marriott to offer free wi-fi to all its Rewards member

Paul Heymont ·
I will say one thing for Airbnb, as compared to hotel resort fees: With Airbnb, before you click, you see the total of what's included, and what goes to whom. The resort fee and some of the others are often a surprise on arrival...
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Re: Virgin Hotels Promises No Nickel and Diming

DrFumblefinger ·
If they keep their room rates reasonable, they will be very successful. Especially important to fight that "resort fee" that's creeping up everywhere.
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Re: New trend: airport lounges for non-members

DrFumblefinger ·
A little pampering after a long flight, especially in steerage, is a good investment in my opinion. While I haven't used these lounges a lot, they make great sense if you have many hours of waiting between flights, even at a fee.
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Re: AirBnB vs New York. Update

PortMoresby ·
I'd love it if they collected the bed tax here. Since they don't, and it's my impression that few here pay it, including it as part of my fee creates an imbalance for me, making it appear as though I'm getting more than I do. I state the breakdown in my listing but hardly anyone actually reads the listings. If they collected it, it would give a fair comparison of the room rate with the taxes added on at the end, as the fees are now. I think, though, despite what seems a good idea from the...
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Re: Delta makes its 20-minute bag guarantee permanent

DrFumblefinger ·
Nice to hear of something positive for consumers. As you know Alaska Airlines sparked this, as they've done this for at least a decade. But less waiting for a bag is a positive thing for travelers and I applaud them for doing so.
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Re: Whoa! Not so fast on that shrinking baggage size!

DrFumblefinger ·
That's good news! But rather than saying airline consumers were a lion, I think I'd have used "the sheep have bleated -- loudly"
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Re: Is Visa everywhere you want to be?

Paul Heymont ·
Very good advice, Rob...and also check with the card-issuer what fees it charges for overseas use...some of them not only charge foreign-exchange fees, but also hefty ATM fees! One idea that may make sense for many travelers: Charles Schwab has a "high-yield investment" checking account that seems almost like a dream. No fees, no minimum balance, no foreign exchange fees, no ATM fees, and if anyone charges you an ATM fee, they refund it. It's linked to an investment account, but you don't...
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Re: Lufthansa: Book with us, or pay 16€ fee

DrFumblefinger ·
It seems a huge and unfair fee. I can't believe a company with Lufthansa's finances really needs to impose something so draconian. And if they do, I think their business will suffer. As we all know, consumers are very price sensitive.
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Re: And the squeeze goes on: are carry-ons next?

DrFumblefinger ·
I favor standardizing, but think the seven inches depth is too skimpy. Nothing is more frustrating than having a bag that is okay as a carry-on with one airline, but to large with a connecting airline. Still, overall it looks like we're getting screwed again!
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Re: And the squeeze goes on: are carry-ons next?

DrFumblefinger ·
Good news for people traveling on Canada's two major airlines, Westjet and Air Canada. They will not adapt these new standards to their markets. The old baggage rules still apply. More on this story in the Vancouver Sun .
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Re: And the squeeze goes on: are carry-ons next?

Paul Heymont ·
So far, it appears, all the North American majors are staying out of it. Perhaps if this could be rethought so the depth could stay at 9", and the other two change, it would get more love from us customers...
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Re: Airbnb Questions

PortMoresby ·
1. "...is payment for Airbnb places always processed in the US even for stays overseas?" Airbnb processes reservations for guests in their own currency, pays out in the currency of the host. So you, in the US, will always pay in US dollars, a UK resident will pay in £s, etc. The host posts prices in their home currency and when a guest in another country logs in and searches/books, the price is converted by the website at the current exchange rate and they always see the rate in their own...
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Re: Baggage Fees Paid For By Using Luggage with Ads

Travel Rob ·
If there's not a catch to this program, it seems like a great deal for the consumer. Some of the ad bags actually look like they have cool designs.
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Re: How do you buy your travel?

DrFumblefinger ·
Hi TravelGirlJenn, I've used Expedia to buy tickets a number of times, only once or twice with Priceline, never with Kayak. The big advantage is that you get to see often hundreds of competitive prices, not just the few the airline sites directly show you. And often they are cheaper than directly buying from the airline. Whether or not you can pick your seat in advance is completely up to the airline, not to the online travel site (eg. Expedia). Some airlines (eg. United, Alaska) do let you...
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Re: How do you buy your travel?

Travel Rob ·
For accommodation, I almost always use an online travel agency now. I've found that the prices are usually lower and i'm more likely to get an upgrade. There is also a recourse if the hotel tries to charge an undisclosed fee. Booking.com is my favorite, although I've been using Expedia, Priceline and Airbnb . Roger Wade had an interesting article about some of the reasons he thinks booking hotels online is the way to go now. http://www.priceoftravel.com/3...en-get-better-rooms/
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Re: Are ATM's at European airport going to cost you more?

PortMoresby ·
Bank ATMs in the UK are all, I believe "no fee", meaning no use fee charged by the owner bank for using their machines. Other machines and other places, I believe, tell us what the fee will be, if any, before we complete the transaction and allow us to abort if it's too much. And we know that the foreign transaction fee charged by our own cards' bank can vary, usually 1-3%, a given to convert currency using a card. Then there's the exchange rate which has always been the best available using...
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Re: Are ATM's at European airport going to cost you more?

Jonathan L ·
I would love to see this series. BTW, AAA is now offering a no fee refillable ATM card to use overseas and avoid the 1-3% charges from yiur home bank.
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Re: Are ATM's at European airport going to cost you more?

PortMoresby ·
I just opened a Capital One checking account, chip & pin debit card, 1% foreign currency conversion fee, rather than the 3% my local bank charges. The 1% is standard for MasterCard branded debit cards, seems no way to avoid it. But Capital One charges no additional. Will check out the AAA card. The series, 'Anatomy of a Trip', will start September 9th, if all goes as planned (does it ever?)
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Re: Are ATM's at European airport going to cost you more?

PortMoresby ·
Jonathan, do you have a link for the AAA card you mention. This is the one I found: http://www.aaa.com/AAA/Financi..._Travel_Card_FAQ.pdf It charges a 3% foreign transaction fee and it can't be used in some countries I plan to visit. Maybe there's a newer version?
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Re: Are ATM's at European airport going to cost you more?

Jonathan L ·
My computer is not going to the AAA site, but, in looking back at the email, it was a "no purchase fee" card, so that is what I get for not reading the fine print.
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Re: U.S. taxes on flying among world's highest

PortMoresby ·
Oh, darn. I thought this was about paying a fee to sit in a section with our fellow stoned passengers.
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Re: Have you a reservation, sir? Thailand considers selling tickets to country!

DrFumblefinger ·
I think this idea will backfire. A dollar or so a day fee will not discourage anyone from visiting as a sex tourist. A $16 fee might discourage some from even visiting the kingdom. So the sex tourists will likely still fly in for their weekend jaunts. Good serious tourists, say young backpackers on a budget, might be offended by the extra fee and bypass Thailand for one of its neighbors.
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Re: Have you a reservation, sir? Thailand considers selling tickets to country!

PortMoresby ·
I consider it infinitely better to pay a relatively small fee to enter the country than to go through hoops & bother for a visa as we must for a number of Asian countries. Thailand was the first, and I think the only country, where I was required to stop at a booth to pay a departure tax upon leaving the country by air so what possible difference if we pay coming or going (or both?). And I actually prefer the idea of an up front fee rather than having it buried as taxes that can increase...
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Re: Gate-to-Gate WiFi joins Gate-to-Gate devices

Former Member ·
Probably a smart move for Southwest, who has so many business people traveling with them. They are charging an $ 8 per day fee to use the WiFi. I know that they have costs but it does seem a little outside of the Southwest spirit to have a fee. Then again, fees have been creeping into Southwest http://www.southwest.com/html/...ice/travel-fees.html
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Re: Spirit's New Plan: Higher 'Rush Hour' Bag Fees!

PortMoresby ·
New Yorker cartoon, flight attendant announcing, "In case of a loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop down in front of you for two dollars".
 
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