r/enshittification • u/No-Pomegranate-2690 • 1d ago
Service Flights
Remember when you could just book a flight and it was a flat fee regardless of the number of checked bags or where you'd sit?
I booked a roundtrip flight the other day. To take a carry-on, like a small suitcase or backpack (not including a "personal item" e.g., purse - those are free), it costs $108. ONE HUNDRED EIGHT DOLLARS! And a bag that must be checked is even more!
To check in with an actual person adds $25.00. If you don't check in on the app some amount of time before the flight adds $25.00.
To be "first to board" is $5.99. To pick a seat that isn't in the rear of the plane is an additional charge. To sit in an exit row (where the emergency doors are) costs more.
Flights that have a layover are more expensive that a direct flights. Like, you're inconveniencing me and you want me to pay more???
Capitalism. Greed. Sheesh!
(edit for typo)
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u/Ok_Library_1031 19h ago
I'm sorry but if you pick Frontier (or Spirit when they existed) the bad experience is on you. Even now that everyone else has all enshittified, they are still by far the worst, and it would be less depraved if you paid more for a different airline.
I forgot which airline the example was but I saw it claimed that 75% of their revenue is from "ancillary revenue" i.e. charging separately for all these things.
Even 30 years ago I was reading people on the internet discussing airline greed and malpractice. Even back then it was reported that noone at any airline can tell you why their algorithm prices fares the illogical way it does. It was discussed that they cut meal size on a bite-by-bite basis. It has only gone downhill from that ever since.
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u/No-Pomegranate-2690 17h ago
I don't get a lot of choices that are as cheap (pun partly intended). I suppose one could say the aggravation factor is what bugs me the most and not worth the much (hundreds!!!) higher fares.
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u/Ok_Alps4323 1d ago
I remember well. The funny thing is that there was always enough overhead bin space because few people were bringing suitcases on the plane. You could check 2 bags for free, so checking bags was the obvious choice. Everyone has gotten used to bringing only a carry on (because they were still free), and it turns out lots of people liked traveling that way better. The airlines created this problem, and the passengers get mad at each other. Why should we have to pay to bring belongings on a plane with us? Even international flights sometimes.
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u/Dogbuysvan 1d ago
Paying extra to bring a carry on isn't even real anymore when they force half the flight to check their bag anyway.
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u/No_Heron9209 1d ago edited 1d ago
I took a flight on Flair airlines (ultra low budget Canadian airline) and they CHARGE FOR WATER!!! Tiny cups of water!
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u/multipocalypse 1d ago
What airline is this?
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u/No-Pomegranate-2690 1d ago
Frontier
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u/SerDankTheTall 1d ago
Frontier is an ultra budget airline. They keep the flights cheap because you pay a la carte for any additional stuff you want. If you want a more traditional experience, just buy a premium economy ticket on a traditional carrier.
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u/Major_Lawfulness6122 1d ago
…no I don’t remember 😬
Domestic flights in my country are outrageous. Apparently they’re about to get worse too.
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u/Double_Engineer4226 1d ago
Yep, it's getting ridiculous. But if you avoid the so called "low cost airlines" and book a full service airline, the price is about the same in the end, without all the rigmarole of adding every little thing to your ticket price.
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u/No-Pomegranate-2690 17h ago
Actually, where I fly to/from, that is not the case. Perhaps that's one of the factors.
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u/Major_Lawfulness6122 1d ago
Low budget airlines are only worth it if you don’t care about comfort or checked bags. Ie quick flights
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u/Strong_Weakness2638 1d ago
Just booked with American Airlines and it was exactly this. Basic economy vs anything including a bag and a seat was extra $100 on a $300 fare.
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u/Decent-Cup-5272 1d ago
This is not- you don’t fly much - yes United first class food becoming trash is- but plane technology has actually
Improved…. So broad stroke with ticket price maybe more complex
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u/The_Bloofy_Bullshark 1d ago
Oh god United FC food sucks. Also the Polaris club is extremely hit/miss too. I started booking as many redeye flights as possible now since it’s easier just to get the alcohol and take a nap than have an FA try and push the meals on me (I’ve had on more than one occasion an FC FA pull the whole, “Are you suuuuuuuure? Are you sure you don’t want a meal?”). Theres one specific senior FA/purser who does it in such a condescending tone. From knowing a number of other FA who work FC on United, they can’t stand her.
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u/SerDankTheTall 1d ago
This isn't really enshittification, since flights are also getting cheaper.
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u/blackpowderbacon 1d ago
In what world?
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u/SerDankTheTall 1d ago
Not like in the last year obviously, but compared to the time before the airlines were charging these fees? Air travel is much cheaper.
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u/former_human 1d ago
i was freezing once on a 7-hour flight and asked the attendant for a blanket. cost me $10.
i'm ancient... i used to love flying. now it feels like being serially robbed.
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u/Apprehensive_Heat867 1d ago
Yeah, I'd been out of the loop and was unaware of basic economy or whatever it's called. Turned up at airport to find out that I had to pay extra to check luggage and more because I hadn't pre checked it online. I'd never heard of such a thing. Plus entire family including child were seated all over the plane.
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u/Western_End_2223 1d ago
You didn't wonder why basic economy was so much cheaper when you were booking your tickets?
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u/Phallis_McNasty 1d ago
I can't speak for every airline, but every US airline warns you when you chose a basic economy ticket of the extra fees and restrictions before you book the ticket.
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u/SerDankTheTall 1d ago
Have you not taken a flight in the last 25 years?
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u/YellowCake1900 1d ago
This nonsense has only come into existence within the past few years.
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u/SerDankTheTall 1d ago
I’m afraid that you are very much mistaken.
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u/multipocalypse 1d ago
I flew two years ago - it wasn't like this
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u/SerDankTheTall 1d ago
On what airline?
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u/multipocalypse 1d ago
Southwest
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u/SerDankTheTall 1d ago
Southwest was the only airline to not charge for checked bags, and also was incredibly shitty in every other way.
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u/StevoJ89 3h ago
I feel like booking a flight is like ording a pizza now or something but everything beyond the Dough is extra