First Bag Fees Will Cause Chaos

Fellow travelers, I am concerned about the growing trend among U.S. airlines to impose fees for the first checked bag. American, United, and US Air are now doing it or planning it, and the rest will soon follow. I understand that these airlines have to do something to make up for rising fuel costs, but they should do it some other way than charging for the first checked bag.

Imposing such a fee is going to cause chaos in aircraft cabins. To avoid paying the fee, people will try to carry on their bags. The airlines do not enforce carry on size restrictions, but even if they did there would not be enough room for every passenger to carry on a bag. So you know what's going to happen. There will be conflict over storage space. Passengers will get mad and argue with flight attendants when they are forced to gate check bags and pay the fee. The airlines will pressure us to cram bags in under-seat storage. Flights will be delayed.

If the airlines need to recover money for fuel costs they should do so with a surcharge on their fares rather than taking steps like these that will make us even more miserable onboard. If you agree with me and are a U.S. citizen, I urge you to write members of Congress and the FAA with your concerns. Here is contact information for the relevant subcommittees and the FAA:

House Subcommittee on Aviation

Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations Safety and Security

Federal Aviation Administration

Thanks for your consideration...

Steve Reply to this

Thanks. I didn't check that far back before posting. I'm surprised people seem so resigned to it. We're cowed, I guess. I understand the airlines are businesses and they've got to make money, but they could do it in a way that won't cause so many problems in addition to having to pay more. The government should step in. Reply to this