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Spirit Airlines on its inaugural flight to Jamaica in November 2005.

Low cost carrier Spirit Airlines has doubled the cost to fly passenger luggage as an offset against rising fuel prices, but is selling it as a deterrent to over-packing for trips.

Effective February 20, the fee moves from U$10 to US$20 per piece of luggage checked at the counter.

However, the charge is half that - moving from US$5 to US$10 per piece - if the luggage is pre-checked online.

The one piece carry-on still attracts no charge.

The new luggage policy, said the airline which has popularised the US$99 and then the US$1 airfare, is an encouragement to pack lighter.

Cost control

Less luggage means less weight and lower fuel burn - allowing the low-budget carrier greater flexibility in controlling its costs.

Aviation or jet fuel has been on an upward trajectory, tracking rising oil prices which nudged above the US$100 per barrel market at the top of the year before retreating back to under US$87 this week.

The IATA-Platts monitor estimates that airlines are currently paying US$107.5 per barrel for jet fuel, and that 2008 prices will average higher at $109.3 per barrel, adding US$39 billion to global airline fuel bills.

Overall, jet fuel prices are now 51 per cent higher than a year ago.

"Instead of raising every fare across our entire network in response to ever-increasing fuel prices, we are proud to introduce our new luggage policy, which gives our passengers the opportunity to control their cost of travel by packing lighter," said Barry Biffle, Spirit's senior vice-president and chief marketing officer in a company statement.

Spirit, an American airline which markets itself as an 'ultra low-cost carrier' flying European planes made by Airbus, says in the past year it has flown passengers out of Florida for approximately 55 per cent less than other airlines.

Its strategy of 'unbundling' allows ticketed passengers to manage their travel bill by paying individually for the value-added services they select.

Based in Miramar, Florida, Spirit now flies 37 destinations, including Jamaica, operating more than 200 daily flights in the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America.

business@gleanerjm.com

SOURCE: Financial Gleaner, Friday, February 8, 2008