TAMPA, FL (November 10) — The scene is grim for airline travelers with the recent airline Passengers’ “Bill of Rights” on hold, increased fees for everything from luggage to water, and customer service lacking. While Southwest Airlines remains one of the few airlines that have yet to add or increase fees, they only fly to select cities. This leaves many travelers scrambling to find affordable fares, especially with holiday travel right around the corner.

The fee increases associated with checked luggage has travelers expecting more from the airlines since they’re paying a separate handling fee. The U.S. Department of Transportation stated U.S. Airlines received 247,305 reports of lost, damaged, delayed, or pilfered luggage last November.

“Now that travelers have to pay these new baggage fees, they seem to expect more when it comes to the way their luggage is handled. However, more fees do not always equate to a guarantee,” said Jim Sweat, managing director, AAA Travel. “AAA wants travelers to be aware of alternatives like Luggage Forward™ and while many travelers realize they will have to pay excessive baggage fees, they aren’t willing to deal with the long lines, lost luggage, and the constant worry about whether or not their luggage will show up at the terminal.”

Luggage Forward™ offers travelers peace of mind through a guarantee of not only a full refund, but $500 for any expenses that resulted from the late luggage. They are the leading provider of door-to-door luggage and sports equipment delivery.

“Often times, it’s not a matter of savings, but peace of mind and convenience,” said Zeke Adkins, co-founder of Luggage Forward. “Instead of waiting in multiple lines to check and pick up luggage, travelers can just get on their plane and go to their destination and all their luggage is there waiting for them.”

In the week after Memorial Day, Luggage Forward™ saw a 400 percent year-over-year spike in sales that Adkins, attributes to people seeking alternates to increased airline fees.

“At the start of summer, many travelers experienced the new airline and luggage fees for the first time and with the spike in sales the week after, we think people immediately sought alternatives for the remainder of their summer travel,” said Adkins.

A recent AAA Travel Pulse™ survey showed 55 percent of travelers said they will cut back on what they pack so they only have to check one bag, and 23 percent said they will try to fit everything into a carry-on bag to avoid paying fees all together. For an updated list of airline fees, visit www.AAA.com/airfares.

For the full survey, visit www.aaasouth.com/survey/200807_travel_pulse.pdf.

AAA Travel, with more than 4.1 million members in Florida, Georgia, the western two-thirds of Tennessee, and Puerto Rico is the largest travel agency in the Southeast United States and is one of the top 10 leisure travel agencies in the nation. AAA is the largest membership travel organization in the world with more than 50 million members nationally.

Contacts:
Jim Sweat, (813) 289-1453,Managing Director, AAA Travel;
Or Zeke Adkins, (617) 502-1802, co-founder, Luggage Forward™,
For your local Media contact: www.AAA.com/Media