“Mandatory check-in luggage, lightning protection, this airline company”, “18 inch suitcase is not allowed to be brought on the plane, small handbag can be”, “it hurts to spend one or two hundred more Tuo freight”
Recently, many passengers complained on social platforms that the baggage check-in charges of many low-cost airlines represented by Xiangpeng airlines were not standardized.
On March 7, Ms. Zhou took Xiangpeng airlines from Yunnan to other places. She told the interface news reporter that she mostly chose Xiangpeng airlines for her usual air travel. In the past, she could take a 20 inch suitcase on the plane, but this time, the suitcase she brought was only 18 inches, but she was asked to be transported by the staff, “1kg / 14 yuan, a total charge of 150 yuan”.
Ms. Zhou also mentioned that Xiangpeng Airlines has set up an iron frame next to the counter. The staff said that the suitcase that can be put into the frame can be brought on the plane.
Some passengers shared photos of Xiangpeng Airlines baggage size frame on social media, with the size of 20cm 30cm 40cm.
The interface news reporter asked the customer service of several Taobao merchants whether there are suitcases of this size for sale. The reply was: “there are no matching suitcases in the store, and you may have to carry your own backpack of this size”.
There is also a customer service Euphemism: “the size you said is probably less than 16 inches, and we have a minimum of 18 inches.”.
Source: microblog
Mr. Chen had a similar experience with Ms. Zhou. On February 21, he posted on the black cat complaint platform. When taking Jinpeng airlines, he brought a 20 inch suitcase, but the staff refused to board the plane, and finally spent 176 yuan to check in.
Unlike full-service airlines, the tickets sold by low-cost airlines are not “all inclusive”, but by canceling some traditional airline passenger services, such as free baggage check-in and on-board meals, so as to control the operating cost at a low level, so as to provide a large number of low-cost tickets for a long time. If you want to pay for these services, you have to pay for them.
A number of airlines have publicly said that the implementation of baggage differentiation services can “unbind” the baggage check-in fee from the ticket, and passengers choose to buy the checked baggage amount according to their own needs. With the continuous optimization of differentiated services, travel options will be richer. Ticket prices vary according to product levels, and the price of “naked tickets” without additional services will be more favorable, so as to meet the needs of different passengers.
The interface news reporter noted that from September 1, 2021, the regulations on the administration of passenger service of public air transport will be officially implemented. The new regulations point out that the independent management right of enterprises will be fully respected, and unified provisions will no longer be made on the size, weight, free baggage allowance, excess baggage fee and small animal transportation. Carriers can formulate relevant standards and publish them according to the business characteristics of enterprises.
This also means that airlines have more flexible operating space in baggage charges.
However, some netizens left a message on the People.Cn Co.Ltd(603000) “leadership message board” and suggested that the Civil Aviation Administration standardize the size of suitcases that can be brought on the plane.
In this regard, the Civil Aviation Administration replied that the deletion of “one size fits all” provisions on baggage size, weight, free baggage allowance and excess baggage fee reflects the principle of marketization, and the purpose is to encourage airlines to provide diversified and differentiated aviation services according to market structure, consumer demand and business characteristics of the company, It is convenient for passengers to choose aviation products more in line with their own needs.
On the premise of independent and flexible baggage rules, does the baggage charge of low-cost airlines have certain norms and commonalities to follow?
Therefore, the interface news reporter briefly combed the baggage standards of Spring Airlines Co.Ltd(601021) , Xiangpeng airlines, Capital Airlines, Western Airlines, Chang’an airlines and other low-cost airlines.
The first is the amount of free hand baggage. The above-mentioned Airlines stipulate that the amount of free hand baggage for ordinary economy class passengers in China is: one piece, with a weight of no more than 7 kg and a volume of no more than 20 30 40 cm.
Image source: Spring Airlines Co.Ltd(601021) official website
Some airlines will relax the amount of hand baggage within a specific period of time to increase their attractiveness. For example, from November to December last year, Capital Airlines upgraded the baggage size on some routes and classes. On routes from Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chongqing and Haikou to Beijing Daxing, passengers bought their economy class tickets, and the free hand baggage size was upgraded from 20 30 40 cm to 20 40 55 cm.
If the hand baggage exceeds the free allowance, it is called “excess baggage”, also known as “excess baggage”, which needs to be priced by weight. Taking Xiangpeng airlines as an example, the charging standard for excess baggage is: the flight distance is 0-800km, 12 yuan / kg; Flight distance 800km (inclusive) – 1600km, 14 yuan / kg; 16 yuan / kg for a distance of more than 1600km (inclusive).
If the baggage beyond the free baggage provision is monitored at the boarding gate, if conditions permit, the ground service staff will notify the passenger to return to the check-in counter for check-in, or charge 300 yuan / piece, and the passenger’s baggage will be brought into the cabin with him.
In terms of information disclosure and notification, according to the search of interface journalists, at present, all low-cost airlines clearly list the baggage charging rules on the company’s official website or the booking page of the client. The third-party OTA platform will also list the provisions of checked baggage and hand baggage on the booking page for passengers to know and make choices.
