Spirit Airlines, which I admit I admire for being the first airline to charge for carry-on luggage, has just said they'll start charging a $5 fee for passengers who need an airline agent to print their boarding pass for them at the airport. Is this, too, a reasonable "extra" the airline can charge for, letting passengers choose?
Spirit says passengers can skip the fee by printing their own boarding passes "at home," but of course that's not an option for your return trip. (Some, but not all, hotels have printers you can use to print out your boarding pass. Few campsites do.) For now, passengers can also print their own boarding pass at an airport kiosk, though the airline says they'll start charging $1 for that option next summer.
The company says it's lowering fares $5 across the board, then charging that $5 only to customers who need the hand-holding of having a staffer print their boarding pass. As with the luggage fee, they say the intent is to lower the cost of travel for everyone. (We think fewer carry-on bags is a positive thing for everyone, no matter what.)
But is showing up with a boarding pass already printed easy enough for every traveler to do? Or, is it easy enough for most that it really does make sense to shift the cost to the passengers who need help? As for me, I'd be OK with a $5 fee to have a ticket agent print out my boarding pass for me, if I always had the option to print my own (even at the airport) or the option to wave a mobile boarding pass from my cell phone's screen. What about you?
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How far ahead can one print boarding passes? Can you print them for your return leg before you leave? If so, I guess that's okay.
I'm less enamored of the carry-on fee. I have to carry on certain lifesaving stuff like medications, on the off chance my luggage gets lost. I'd rather have strict enforcement of a carry on size rule. (Not really the point of this posting, I know.)
Of course, airline travel is now so onerous that I don't choose to do it except for times when there is no choice.
This is a fee that has been building for a while, and will definitely spread to the legacy carriers. There is a huge push for self-service, and we are soon coming to the day where your first interaction with an airline employee may be when you get on board the plane (CO and LH have been testing the self-boarding gates).
John, I'm assuming you'll still be able to check in beginning 24 hours before your first flight, so no, you probably won't be able to check in for your return flight before leaving home days or weeks before. Meanwhile, I'd have to imagine medically necessary items will always be allowed on the plane with you.
You've got me curious about self-boarding gates, Nick! I'll have to dig into it and see what the deal is. Sounds awful.
I am finding it impossible to print my boarding pass online for Spirit. I go sight to sight. This is the last time I am flying Spirit. I rather pay more and make my life easier.
Maybe this is a ploy to make it impossible so you will have to pay the $5 fee for printing your at the airport beginning in January.
They don't even serve water on a flight from Oakland to Las Vegas.
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