Hotels Shoulder Checked Bag Fees To Entice Travelers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Aug 25th 2010 at 6:01PM

Additional charges are a lot about perception. It's not always about the money as much as it is about the idea that you are paying for something you should get for free. We've seen this with the backlash against resort fees and now some hotels are taking on another common traveler complaint, fees for checked baggage. USA Today reports that some hotel companies are offering to pick up checked-baggage fees as an incentive for guests. InterContinental hotels including the Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo and others are now offering a "Check It Free" promotion. It's a little complicated. To be reimbursed you have to fill out an online form and mail in receipts of both the hotel stay and bag-check fees. After that InterContinental will mail the reimbursement on a Visa debit card.

It's a little easier over at the Kimpton chain of boutique hotels. Their "We've Got Your Bag" promotion requires proof of an airline baggage charge when you check in at any Kimpton Hotel in the country. They pay up to $25 per room but the deal is valid only with Best Available Rate booking and not valid for discounted or negotiated rates or groups.

The USA Today article says that these types of deals are aimed at vacationers and more occasional travelers who may not have amassed the frequent flier perks that allow some to dodge these fees. The point of these deals isn't so much about the savings as it is the sense of goodwill and camaraderie engendered. A variety of hotels have offered these deals in the past. It's an inexpensive way to get a little publicity and it has some appeal for travelers. What we haven't seen yet is third-party travel sites offering to pick up the tab. That might have even more impact.

Tags: checked bag fees, hotels, intercontinental, intercontinental hotels group, kimpton hotels, travel