OK, even I can't defend this ...

My former employer, US Airways, is hiking fees for bags:

http://www.azcentral.com/travel/articles/2011/02/07/20110207us-airways-baggage-fees-rise.html

As stated in previous threads, I have no problem with bag fees, overweight bag fees, oversize charges, all of that, because I understand the overall problems the airlines face.

But to think that it's, what's the word, justifiable to charge someone $90 bucks for a 51-pound bag, it has gotten out of hand. And now it's $175 for a 71-pound bag. That's a jump of 80% and 75%. I could see going to $60 and $110 as an increase, but wow, they are going for broke here.

I have got to think this won't last long, sort of like them charging $2 for an on board drink a few years ago.

See, even I have a heart

 

People will complain but will pay it.

They do it because they know they can.

 

The last time I flew it was because I was getting my travel costs reimbursed. The last few years I've driven multiple trips I would have flown before. Granted, I'm not going coast-to-coast or international, but I can't afford to fly to visit family anymore.

 

Lufthansa (no bag fee as long as you only check one) dinged me $130 for my one bag that was 6 kilos (14 pounds) overweight.

That was in addition to their $600 fees ("take it or stay in Russia") mentioned in an earlier thread.

I'll take a dinghy to Europe before I set foot on one of their planes again.

 

I actually fly more nowadays for a number of reasons, but mostly because JetBlue and Southwest take me wherever I need to go, and they do it efficiently. There's also no need to factor in bag fees or other nonsense; the price they quote me up front is what I'm paying.

 

I would never pay that. I'd throw out a pair of shoes, or something heavy before paying 100 extra bucks each way.

 

I'll stick with Southwest. They go where I go and the prices are right on par with everyone else and no bag fees.

 

Bag fees don't affect me. The next time I check one will be the first.

 

You can't defend this?

You sound like your Tar Heels.

 

Thanks to these bag fees and all the other bullshit that comes with flying these days (including the TSA), if I can't get there quickly by car or by train, I ain't going.

 

It was just one way. Wife packed a lot of personal items from homeland that she could not take when she first arrived.

 

IJAG=Dead. To. Me.