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The impact of baggage fees on passenger demand on US air routes

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  • Scotti, Davide
  • Dresner, Martin

Abstract

In recent years, US airlines have unbundled ancillary fees from base air fares. As a result, the carriers have implemented a variety of fees on a range of optional services. Among these, checked baggage fees now represent a significant source of airline revenues. This paper assesses the impact of baggage fees on passenger demand and airline fares. We study a sample of US domestic routes over the period 2007–2010 where passengers have a choice between carriers that charge fees for checked baggage and Southwest Airlines, which allows passengers one or two “free” checked bags. A system of simultaneous equations is estimated. Our results show that, on an average route, a $1 increase in baggage fee leads to a loss of 0.7 passengers and is associated with a $0.11 reduction in fare levels. Interestingly, an equivalent increase of $1 in fares results in a much greater decline in passengers (eight times greater). Therefore, our results support the idea that substituting additional baggage fees for higher fares may be a beneficial strategy for carriers in terms of generating revenues and maintaining market share.

Suggested Citation

  • Scotti, Davide & Dresner, Martin, 2015. "The impact of baggage fees on passenger demand on US air routes," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 4-10.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:43:y:2015:i:c:p:4-10
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2015.05.017
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    1. Yazdi, Amirhossein A. & Dutta, Pritha & Steven, Adams B., 2017. "Airline baggage fees and flight delays: A floor wax and dessert topping?," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 83-96.
    2. Botteon Costa, Raone & Ferman, Bruno & Monte, Daniel, 2020. "Baggage fees in airlines: Is this a good idea?," MPRA Paper 101864, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Yang, Chih-Wen, 2016. "Entry effect of low-cost carriers on airport-pairs demand model using market concentration approach," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 291-297.
    4. Stacey Mumbower & Susan Hotle & Laurie A. Garrow, 2023. "Highly debated but still unbundled: The evolution of U.S. airline ancillary products and pricing strategies," Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(4), pages 276-293, August.
    5. Ren, Xinhui & Pan, Na & Jiang, Hong, 2022. "Differentiated pricing for airline ancillary services considering passenger choice behavior heterogeneity and willingness to pay," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 292-305.
    6. Chiambaretto, Paul, 2021. "Air passengers’ willingness to pay for ancillary services on long-haul flights," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    7. Shaban, I.A. & Wang, Z.X. & Chan, F.T.S. & Chung, S.H. & Eltoukhy, A.E.E. & Qu, T., 2019. "Price setting for extra-baggage service for a combination carrier using the newsvendor setup," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1-14.
    8. Zhao, Guihong & Cui, Yue & Cheng, Shaoyu, 2021. "Dynamic pricing of ancillary services based on passenger choice behavior," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    9. Cho, Woohyun & Dresner, Martin E., 2018. "The impact of a baggage fee waiver on airline choice: Evidence from the Washington-Baltimore region," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 4-17.
    10. Wang, Sen & Gao, Yi, 2021. "A literature review and citation analyses of air travel demand studies published between 2010 and 2020," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    11. Adam Bockelie & Peter Belobaba, 2017. "Incorporating ancillary services in airline passenger choice models," Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 16(6), pages 553-568, December.
    12. Scotti, Davide & Dresner, Martin & Martini, Gianmaria, 2016. "Baggage fees, operational performance and customer satisfaction in the US air transport industry," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 139-146.
    13. Miyoshi, Chikage & Rubio Molina-Prados, Jesus, 2022. "Measuring the impact of long-haul low-cost carriers on lowering fares: A quasi-experimental design to assess the pre-COVID market," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 52-64.
    14. Tsai, Tsung-Hsien, 2016. "Homogeneous service with heterogeneous products: Relationships among airline ticket fares and purchase fences," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 164-175.

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