It's stupid to charge for the first bag, and so much! All it creates is more congestion & slower boarding times as people try to cram over-sized bags in the overhead bins again.

Posted By Lisa on January 14, 2010, 10:25 AM

Every airline should immediately stop ALL luggage fees for first 2 bags and then severely restrict carry-ons to a SINGLE item approximately the dimensions of a standard computer bag. NO extra purse, NO wheeled bags, etc. A baby would count as a person so there could be a small baby bag (again, in the same approximate dimensions as the computer bag.) Firt class would not have any extra allowance as far as carry-ons. A lunch bag-sized parcel for food could be the only exclusion to the singe carry-on rule. This single piece could quickly be hand searched by the TSA; boarding and deplaning would be greatly speeded up which would then save the airlines money on on-time departures and turn-around time. People would adjust, just like they did at Heathrow earlier in the 2000's. It has long been clear, hasn't it, that the airlines would just like us to send them money and then stay home.

Posted By joanne on January 14, 2010, 2:09 PM

I travel for business frequently and will always try to use Southwest. Charging for bags is singularly the worst decision I've seen. Leaves a bad tast for the airline in everyone's mouth.

Arogant, imperious union bankrupt airlines finding new ways to hassle customers

Posted By Steve Picarde on January 14, 2010, 7:23 PM

This is a good article that further tells readers and travelers the truth about the ever-increasing airline baggage fees.

I was a victim of these bait and switch airline baggage fees at the ticket counter on my last trip. I usually send my luggage ahead of time with a luggage delivery service, but I wanted to know first hand how it felt for travelers to get hit with a $30-$70 fee for checking luggage. My luck had me with an over-sized bag that drained my pockets to the tune of $75 dollars!

Well, I can say first hand, I feel like I was taken advantage of and I will never do that again.

The luggage delivery service I use is MadTravelers (www.madtravelers.com). They are reliable and easy to use. I sometimes pay more, sometimes pay less then what airlines charge, but I NEVER have to lug my bags to and from the airport, wait at baggage claim, or deal with security and long check in counters. For me, its worth it.

Posted By Davis Williams on January 15, 2010, 2:17 PM

The thing that frustrates me even more than the baggage fee itself, is the lack of enforcement by ticket and gate agents on the airlines that charge a fee.

It frustrates me when I see travelers that make it past the ticket agents and the gate agents with their oversized bag. They then get said oversized bag onto the plane and it doesn't fit in the bins, or the bins are full. What is the airline's response? To check their bag for free as a "courtesy."

The "courtesy" that should have been performed was the gate agent should have told that customer that they are bringing a bag that exceeds carry on sizes and that they must check their bag and pay for it. No freebies.

People are quickly learning that no one cares what size bag they try to bring on the plane, so they will intentionally wheel the oversized bag to the gate knowing that the airline has no choice but to check the bag and that they will have gotten their bag checked to their destination without paying the fee that the responsible/rule-following customer paid.

If the gate agents would enforce the baggage rules, and make the people pay for their bags like the rest of us did, the congestion in the aisles would stop and the airline would increase their on-time % and make the flying experience much more enjoyable.

Posted By M Berry on January 18, 2010, 12:56 PM

I've worked on the other side of the counter for a airline. Now, I am an elite flyer. If you fly enough, as little as 25,000 miles a year, you can be an elite flyer also and the fees are eliminated. The airline industry has never been a profitable industry and it never will be. But they need and will get close. Whatever you bring on board uses fuel. The more weight on the plane, the more fuel it uses. I for one, think that they shouldn't have the cheaper ticket prices and just include $100 worth of baggage for everyone. Essentially, thats what your paying.

Posted By Dale on January 18, 2010, 4:06 PM

I think that it would be beneficial to the airlines as well as travelers if there were an extra fee for being overweight or having a too high BMI. It doesn't make sense to charge a small woman $50 or so for a 5 pound overweight bag while letting a 300 pound man ride without fees because his luggage is within the requirements.

Posted By Rachel on January 18, 2010, 10:42 PM

I have been caught with a bag that was checked on board and they came to my seat later and asked for a credit card to cover said bag. So you don't get away with it, you just think you do.

Posted By Linda Guyan on January 19, 2010, 12:18 PM

Linda G's comment was enlightening - they come to you later and ask for payment for the overweight bag that had to be checked.

They swipe debit/credit cards for everything else - why not their stupid bag fees?

The only time a person should not be charged - just like everyone else who checks their bags at the counter - is when their bag is within the carry on limit and there isn't enough room in the bin because someone else was allowed to cram their overstuffed bags in there.

Then - to make up for the hassle of having your bag checked for you - when it was within limits - it should be checked free.

But I personally - feel that everyone should have 1 free checked bag - as a courtesy. There are NO perks to flying anymore - you can't easily find a non stop flight anywhere - you have to pay for food and even those awful headsets. The movies should be free - they help take your mind off of how uncomfortable you are - crammed into such a small space.

Posted By CM on January 19, 2010, 5:43 PM