A recent study says that 72% of airline travelers are frustrated with the policy, which almost sounds too low. It would be easier to understand the baggage fees if the prices were low, but they're not. In the US, we pay full service fees and receive bargain carrier add-on fees. During my last trip to the US, there were no fees for the international portion, but when I traveled within the US, they slapped on $25 each trip, without any warning when I purchased the ticket. I was traveling for two months so there really wasn't a way to have a small, overhead-sized bag for that travel. Somehow the airlines expected me to shift down to a smaller bag or eat the $25 fee.
The next time this basket case of an industry asks for a bailout, let's remember the gouging. If this industry wants a working country where there are rules for everyone, they can live with a few rules themselves. Otherwise, move the business to one of those delightful countries that has to regulations or laws of any kind. LA Times:
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said the bill is meant to protect passengers from excessive fees. The legislation would also guarantee that passengers can bring carry-on bags at no extra charge and get access to water and bathrooms on flights.
"Passengers have been nickeled-and-dimed for far too long, and something has to be done about it,'' she said in a statement.
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano recently suggested that airlines let passengers check one bag for free to reduce the number of carry-on bags packed into overhead bins. She said carry-on bags slow the screening process and increase the screening cost nationwide by $260 million a year.
