Aviation

Alaska Airlines Raising Its Baggage Fees Next Year

Alaska Airlines has declared a rise in baggage fees for all reservations made on or after January 2, 2024. The first checked bag will now cost USD 35 (up from $30) and the second checked bag will now cost $45 USD (up from $40).

Additionally, extra suitcases (the third bag and beyond) will now cost $150 each, instead of the previous $100. These fees have been in effect since mid-2023. Additionally, the overweight baggage fee (for bags over 50 lbs. / 23 kg) is still $100, but the oversized baggage fee has increased to $150 from $100.

alaska airlines keeps on waiving checked baggage fees for holders of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card, Alaska Airlines Visa® Business credit card, and for up to six additional passengers on the same reservation, despite these gradual increases. With an annual fee of only $70, both cards Alaskans who wish to avoid having to pay annoying checked bag fees.

All active duty military personnel, Mileage Plan MVP elite members, and Club 49 members in the state of Alaska are among the other travelers who are not charged for checked bags.

The newly announced plans by alaska air to acquire Hawaiian Airlines may affect the combined airline as a result of the increased checked baggage fees. As of right now, Hawaiian charge different prices for checked bags on flights within the island and to the United States. Hawaiian charges the standard industry rate of $30 and $40 for flights to the mainland, but their website lists the current first and second bag fees as $25 and $35.

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Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.