How to rid yourself of excess baggage – and friends
Dear Economist,
Me and my friends are a pickle. Twelve of us have agreed to go on holiday in July. Everything is sorted apart from one thing. We originally planned to take hand luggage to save money – we’re all 18 and flying budget. That seems fine – as the apartments we are going to (one of which my parents own) have almost everything we could need bar clothes.
But now certain members of the group say that 10kg of luggage simply isn’t enough, and want to pay an additional £26 for their bags. This would be fine, except that means an early check in and starting at 3.30am instead of 5.30am – unfair to the parents who have volunteered transport.
I’ve been trying to think of a fair way to impose an additional cost on these people to either discourage them or compensate everyone else. Any suggestions on how I could increase the private costs so they reflect social costs? Obviously these people are my friends, so I don’t want to be too harsh on them.
Yours,
F.M.
Dear F.M.
I am surprised your parents haven’t resolved this conundrum for you already – they seem to have laid out everything else on a plate.
No matter. I have a big bag of political philosophy right here to sort you out. Your problem is your Marxist insistence on collective burden sharing. Take a free market approach instead: if your friends Imelda Marcos and co. want to get up two hours earlier, let them. If they can persuade their parents, fine. Otherwise they can pay for the cab. The rest of you should travel seperately, enjoy the comparative lie-in, and avail yourselves of the free transport.
Oh, and if one of them suggests buying your holiday drinks in rounds – tell them to go first, and ask for champagne.
21st of May, 2011 • Dear Economist
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4 Comments
Venkataraman Ganesan says:
Can the extra luggage be not divided amongst the travellers? From a bare perusal of the situation, not all 18 seem to be inclined towards extra luggae. So if it is only a few who perceive the need for additional baggage, the things that form part of the additional baggage might be spread out amongst everyone in small quantities. This can be done in advance and hence the problem of the early start can be resolved! And the good samaritans can ask for compensation in the form of either the suggested drink or champagne or authentic Single Malt Scotch (my personal favourite)! Also the extra cost of 26 pounds can be saved and mayne splurged on the drinks!!!
21st of May, 2011S.Field says:
It’s obviously hard to put a definitive price on the above compensation, but if we look at the opportunity cost – what you would be doing if you didn’t have to get up and go to bed two hours earlier – you would be sleeping and your parents would most probably be using the two extra hours (the night before) for relaxation. The compensation given needs to reflect the loss of your sleep and your parents loss of relaxation time. Therefore, to compensate for the lack of sleep, maybe coffee would be a good idea, courtesy of your friends who want more clothing, and to compensate your parents for their loss of relaxation, maybe some wine from the duty free.
22nd of May, 2011Smylers says:
Except, if they’ve got a single group booking then the entire group will likely have to check in together.
This affected me a few years ago. One member of the party didn’t have a passport, which was required for online check-in. He had some other ID, only permitted in person. But that meant the entire group of us each had to check-in in person, and each of us had to pay the fee for doing so. Twice.
25th of May, 2011Travelling steve says:
As a regular traveller I would suggest the following 2 options.
1. fairness.
The additional luggage should be shared amongst all travellers (including the cost) which hopefully all will benefit with. Sadly parents will likley agree either way so this is the solution that evens out the issue or could also deter the guilty party.
2. repercussion.
30th of May, 2011The additional 10 – 20 minutes waiting on baggage checked in on arrival can mean the difference in sharing a cab and getting your own. I’d go with the plan that the additional complications be solely borne by the guilty party.