Is a la carte pricing for air travel a good idea?

Yes

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by Steven Gomez

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After driving customers away with fare increases and baggage fees, airlines look to bring back customers with a la carte pricing, which would offset the necessary rises in fees to cover fuel costs by breaking down the fare structure, keeping flights financially accessible for many.

Typically, airfare includes a seat on the plane, checked baggage, food and drinks aboard the flight, a blanket and pillow plus entertainment if the flight is long enough. A la care pricing for airfare breaks down all these items and charges the customer a lower base fare. If the customer wants any of these extras, they pay for them.

This works well for a traveler who packs light, takes short flights and really doesn't need any of the extras. And if a person does need all these extras, they can pay the sort of price they were probably due to pay had the fare been all-inclusive.

As it stands, you may eat before the 2-3 hour flight and not need a small drink or a packet of peanuts on the plane, but you pay a fare used not just to maintain the plane, but to stock all those drinks and peanuts, whether or not you need or consume them. Your fare also fuels the plane so it can carry passengers and a ton of other people's luggage.

Save for the airlines that charge for checked baggage, the price you pay is completely independent of how much space and weight you're going to take up, or how much of the complimentary service you plan to take in. Our current all inclusive fare system means you pay for all of these amenities whether or not you need them. It's not necessarily fair to people who pack light, don't care where they sit don't really need a packet of peanuts, a drink and a blanket... to pay the same fares as someone checking four suitcases who insists on an aisle seat.

Under a la carte pricing, you only pay for what you use or intend to use. The base airfare is lower, and all these amenities normally taken for granted are provided for additional fees. For example, if you carry-on a bag or two, you won't pay, but checking in three bags will cost you. If you eat before the flight, you need not pay for food and drink on a 2 hour flight, but if you want drinks and peanuts on that flight, you do.

This can cost you if you like to use the airport lounge or carry a lot of luggage. But under the incumbent pricing scheme, given rising fares due to fuel costs and demand, taking a flight was going to cost you a lot anyway. There is no huge net loss.

For those who pack light and don't need the extras, though, a la carte pricing is a boon, cutting their cost of flying while keeping airlines aloft. And if needed, these items aren't being taken from you. They'll simply cost a fee.

It's worth a shot. The overpriced American Airlines is already planning such a structure and other airlines are considering it. It won't hurt many. In fact, it will help a lot of working class passengers fly for less.

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