Could your checked bag cost more at Christmas? That's one idea that's now apparently under consideration at one of the United States' most-profitable "ultra low-cost carriers."

Spirit Airlines says it doesn't have plans to add new fees, but is considering tying the ones it already has to demand.

The airline's CEO, Ben Baldanza, made that revelation to Wall Street analysts on the airline's earnings conference call Wednesday, saying such a move could help Spirit boost its already substantial fee revenue.

RELATED: Spirit fliers turn unruly following inspection delays (Oct. 24, 2013)
MORE: Spirit Airlines to sell wine by the can (June 2013)
SPIRIT.COM: Our optional services (fees)

Demand-driven pricing is already the key component in how Spirit and other U.S. airlines sell tickets, charging their highest fares during peak travel periods and offering their biggest discounts during slow times of the year.

If applied to fees, that means charges paid for bags and seat assignments could jump during peak travel periods – like around Christmas and other popular holidays -- or drop during slow ones.

Baldanza tells The Associated Press that on flights at Spirit's most popular times, there sometimes room is tight for all of the passengers' bags -- even in the cargo hold. On slow days, there may be only a small number suitcases, he says to AP.

"Clearly, he said, that shows the airline isn't pricing its extra services correctly," AP writes.

ARCHIVES: Spirit quitting Phoenix-Mesa to fly from Phoenix Sky Harbor (July 2013)

Similarly, Baldanza thinks lowering fees for seat assignments on a slow day could prompt more fliers to pay the fee for the advance assignment. "It will also make the online seat map appear fuller, causing more passengers to pay extra to avoid middle seats near the back," AP writes.

"If you look at a seat map that is empty, you are less likely to buy," Baldanza says to the news agency. "The price might be lower, but Spirit could ultimately take in more revenue with a higher volume of sales."

Spirit, the industry poster child for low ticket prices and a pile of addon fees, currently has flat fees for bags that vary only by when they are paid. Passengers pay less in advance ($30) and more at the airport ($45), for example.The fee for advance seat assignments are generally based on the length of the flight and go up to $50 each way. Passengers who want extra legroom and no middle seat currently pay up to $150 to sit in Spirit's wider "big front seats" at the front of the plane. The airline does not have a first class section.

On the topic of a sliding demand-based fee scale, Baldanza says Spirit is simply considering ways to be "smarter" about the way it charges for things.

"This is something we've been thinking about for a while," Baldanza says to AP. "It's not a foregone conclusion."

And even if the changes do come, they won't happen until next year – if at all.

"It's not just something we can snap our fingers and do tomorrow," Baldanza tells AP, noting the airline would need to do things like tweaking its booking technology and taking time to educate customers about the change.

Stay tuned ...


Dawn Gilbertson is a reporter at The Arizona Republic, which is owned by Gannett -- the parent company of USA TODAY. Gilbertson also authors the Republic's "Now Departing" blog.

Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1bGOHkc