Baggage Fees--Are Passengers Getting Ripped-off with the Increase in Baggage Fees?

Baggage fees are the biggest rip-off yet in the airline industry-an industry which already charges astronomical prices for smaller seats, no meals, and less service for the majority of passengers. Not to mention restricted choice in flight times and being flown all around the country in order to reach your destination.

This is personal opinion, but it's easy to see why the airline companies are doing it. It's comparable to those little nit-picky fees that are added onto your phone bill. You know, the ones for emergency services in your city, emergency services in your county, surcharges for long distance because you aren't using a long distance carrier and a plethora of other charges for which the paying public neither voted approval nor were asked their opinion. It wouldn't be surprising to see a surcharge on the phone bill for certain color phones, and to eventually see an airline baggage fee for carrying a laptop computer on the plane.

Airline passengers have no say in the baggage fees. Most people fly because they need to travel a long distance quickly. It's not like the public has a choice to fly with one type of air transportation or another. The only choice is which airline to use.

All of which brings up a tidbit of news that appeared on the PR Newswire yesterday. According to the January 11, 2010 article, Delta Airlines and AirTran Airways are being sued for collusion.

"Collusion?" you ask. "Collusion in what?"

The lawsuit alleges that Delta and AirTran conspired to charge passengers the $15 first-checked baggage fees that went into effect in the past, with the intent that if both airlines charged baggage fees at the same time, they'd reduce the risk of losing business.

Now, according to MarketWatch, Delta Airlines (as well as Continental) is raising the baggage fees again. Starting this week, both carriers will be charging baggage fees of $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second one. That's an increase of approximately 60% for the first bag.

What's interesting is that few in the media seem to be addressing a fundamental issue that's being overlooked. The heavier the weight in an airplane, the more fuel it needs to arrive at its destination. More fuel equals greater costs for the airlines. Because of checked baggage fees, passengers are resorting to the smaller, carry-on luggage, thereby reducing weight in the plane, as well as reducing the number of baggage handlers employed.

That's what is called a win-win for the airlines, and a lose-lose for the passengers. The carriers reduce fuel needs and reduce baggage handlers, thereby, cutting expenses, yet pick up an additional $25 per checked baggage. The customers, however, continue to pay increased ticket prices, plus pay for luggage if their trip requires staying more than a few days.

The only solution seems to be a boycott of those airlines charging the luggage fees. At the moment, that means either taking the train or flying Southwest Airlines. Simply continuing to fly with companies that charge the fee, but circumventing the fee by bringing just carry-on luggage is only putting money into the airlines' pockets.

Yes, a boycott would make life a little unpleasant, but you know what? It would be worth it, if for no other reason than to let the airlines know they don't have a stranglehold on the public.

Sources:

PRNewswire: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/richardson-patrick-westbrook--brickman-appointed-interim-co-lead-counsel-in-airline-baggage-fee-litigation-81158657.html

MarketWatch: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/delta-air-lines-raises-its-checked-on-baggage-fees-2010-01-12

Personal Opinion