When we flew to Hawaii in May for my grandmother’s funeral, American Airlines sucked nearly $100 from us thanks to a combination of baggage fees and their insane pillow, snack and blanket fees.
When you are traveling on a 10-hour red-eye with a kindergartener you don’t think twice about forking over eight bucks for a pillow and blanket. They got me; what can I say?
The litany of new or higher airline fees is despicable. However, the anger and frustration, which travelers harbor regarding the costs, has fueled a creative new tactic used by several savvy marketers. Take a look:
Hotels: InterContinental Hotels Group, which owns Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels, just announced that it will pay the checked bag fees of guests who book two weekend nights between September 1 and December 30, 2010. If you plan to stay at the properties you need to make your reservations with a Visa card and file a rebate form in order to get reimbursed. A prepaid credit card with the amount of your baggage fees should arrive six to eight weeks later at your home address. The hotel chain will cover the cost of one checked bag per stay, but guests can earn up to $850 over multiple stays.
Kimpton Hotels is also helping cash-strapped travelers by issuing a $25 credit to guests who check a second bag. The offer is limited to one bag charge per room and only applies to a second checked bag. To get the credit you must provide proof of a second checked bag at check-in, then $25 will be taken off your room charge.
Airline Loyalty Programs: You may have seen the new commercial for this offer as it has been playing ad nauseam. If you are a member of the Delta SkyMiles program, the airline will waive the checked bag fee. The free checked bag perk is also being featured on Continental Airlines. If you have a Continental Airline Presidential Plus Card you get two free checked bags.
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