Allegiant Airlines to Charge for Carry-Ons
Move over Spirit Airlines - there's another low-cost carrier about to make serious money off passengers' carry-on baggage.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air confirmed to ABCNews.com it will begin charging as much as $35 for carry-on bags for reservations made starting April 4. Reservations made prior to this date will not be affected.
Allegiant Air will be the second domestic airline to charge for carry-on baggage. The move mimics that of Spirit Airlines 2010 fee charging passengers up to $45 for carry-on bags.
Passengers who pay online and in advance for carry on bags on Allegiant will pay $10 to $30 for their carry ons. The prices are route-specific. This too, is similar to the Spirit Airlines carry-on bag fee; for example, a person could pay as little as $20 for the carry-on bag if they're a member of the airline's $9 fare club and payment is made at time of booking. (For a look at Spirit's long list of fees, click here).
Passengers on Allegiant will be allowed one personal item such as a purse or laptop bag free of charge. Anything larger, however, will incur the fee.
When Spirit Airlines made its carry-on fee announcement, it was met with outrage from the traveling public. But today, it seems the airline's low fares have trumped the anger first felt. Spirit tells ABCNews.com, "Our carry-on bag program has been a huge success and well received by customers and our crew members. It has reduced the number of carry-on bags, which in turn has led to speedier, smoother and safer boarding and deplaning."
Allegiant Airlines, which was already charging for checked bags, has profited in a time when many have struggled. The 2011 fourth-quarter earnings report noted it was the airline's 36th consecutive quarter of profitability. The airline reported a 10 percent increase in total fares compared with Q4 2010 and a 20 percent increase in total operating revenue.