Travelers by now know that airlines have found a cash cow, charging fees for checked-in luggage. While policies vary, airlines charge about $25 for the first checked-in bag, with exceptions such as Southwest.
Passengers not only find the fee unfair, but also inconvenient. The wait for checking in bags and receiving them at destination makes it a double whammy. Savvy travelers try to cram as much as they can into carry-ons, which are free (except at Spirit).
The unintended consequence of baggage fees has created many problems:
* Longer security lines due to larger carry-ons and more
bulkier items passing through the security gauntlets.
* Longer boarding process where passengers occupy aisles
longer hunting and jockeying for overhead bins.
* Mad scramble to board first just to get better chance to
stow luggage overhead.
The solution may be simple. While this may sound counter intuitive, airlines should go back to check bags free and charge for luggage carry-ons. Boarding process will be a snap, departures/arrivals are more timely, and security lines will move faster.
www.premieretravel.com
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