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cover of episode How to hack your flight luggage allowance

How to hack your flight luggage allowance

2025/6/6
logo of podcast What in the World

What in the World

AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
H
Hannah Gelbart
K
Kelsey Dickinson
L
Lauren
S
Sage
以深入探索互联网和现实世界中的奇异故事而闻名的播客主持人和制作人。
S
Sam Gruet
Topics
Hannah Gelbart: 我总是对行李的重量感到紧张,航空公司通过额外收费赚取巨额利润,我想知道如何避免这些费用。我经常担心行李的重量,无论我携带的是大型托运行李、小型拉杆箱还是座位下的小型手提包。额外收费已经成为一项大生意,去年全球乘客在座位选择和行李费等项目上花费了1500亿美元。所以,航空公司是如何通过这些额外收费来赚钱的?我们又该如何避免这些费用呢? Sam Gruet: 现在行李收费非常普遍,几乎所有航空公司都收费。行李额外收费的兴起,可以追溯到21世纪初的廉价航空公司。航空业的放松管制导致了票价竞争,航空公司开始通过行李收费来增加利润。放松管制意味着航空公司可以自行制定规则,导致行李规定各不相同。在机场被迫整理行李,把东西拿出来是很尴尬的。过去机票包含行李费用,现在则有严格的重量限制。航空公司声称他们提供广泛的费用选择,以满足不同客户的需求。有些人认为这些费用是不公平的,因为旅客没有选择是否携带行李。印度航空市场的航空旅行不如美国和欧洲发达。包括行李费可以加快飞机起降速度,避免乘客在机舱内拥堵。 Lauren: 额外行李费太贵了,感觉像个陷阱。我觉得这太荒谬了,而且价格过高。这就像一个陷阱,你买了机票,以为价格会比较便宜,但实际上你还要额外支付200美元才能携带行李。 Sage: 超重行李费可能非常昂贵。我觉得行李费有点贵,特别是当你的行李超过一定重量时。今年早些时候我去秘鲁旅行时,我的朋友因为行李超重,回程时支付了超过200美元的费用。 Kelsey Dickinson: 我一直在寻找避免支付行李费的方法,比如穿一件有很多口袋的渔背心。你可以把颈枕装满衣服,而不是装羽毛。在免税店购买商品后,你可以把额外的物品放在免税店的袋子里带上飞机。我觉得我毕生的工作就是尽可能找到所有避免支付行李费的方法。这包括购买一件渔背心,并利用其中的所有口袋来代替行李袋。这对我来说非常有效。我甚至在出发时把我的颈枕塞满了内裤,而不是额外支付行李费。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The episode starts by discussing the anxieties of air travel, particularly concerning luggage weight and associated fees. It then delves into the global cost of baggage fees, citing a figure of \$150 billion spent last year. The discussion moves to the history of baggage fees, linking their emergence to the rise of budget airlines and deregulation in the airline industry.
  • Passengers spent $150 billion globally on baggage fees last year.
  • Baggage fees became common due to the rise of budget airlines and deregulation.
  • Airlines used to include luggage costs in the ticket price.

Shownotes Transcript

Baggage fees have become part and parcel of international travel, with charges taking off in recent years. Globally, passengers spent $150 billion USD last year on added ‘extras’ such as seat selection and baggage fees - that’s 25% more than they spent in 2023. There’s also a growing number of ‘packing hacks’ videos on social media, with more people looking for ways to avoid paying fees for their bags.

BBC reporter Sam Gruet explains why airlines started charging for luggage in the first place and how it varies around the world. And travel expert and content creator Chelsea Dickenson shares her tips on how to cut costs when travelling.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Chelsea Coates, Benita Barden and Josh Jenkins Editor: Julia Ross-Roy