Airlines' new cash cow causes fliers to beef

If you plan to do much flying this year, you might want to think about dumping the old bag.

No, I'm not advocating leaving the missis or the mister. I'm talking about that workhorse of a suitcase you've been watching do laps on the baggage carousels since the days of open cockpits.

The airlines are doing their best to help us lighten up. Here's why.

Because fuel costs have skyrocketed, all the carriers are looking for ways to increase revenue. It began with taking away the amenities that made flying fun.

In-flight meals, magazines and chewing gum, passed during takeoff, passed away. Children's toys, diapers and playing cards all took wing.

The only new amenities to land in the cabin were snack packages and pre-wrapped sandwiches. And there's nothing free about them.

Some airlines have gone so far as to sell advertising space on their drop-down tables, which any passenger seated in a coach middle seat will tell you is about the only space left on an aircraft.

Last year the carriers weighed in on a whole new scheme for flying out of the red. They began to charge for overweight luggage, which caused many frequent fliers to see red. Some passengers found their checked baggage cost as much as an airplane ticket.

One musician, who travels with her keyboard, said her ticket to fly round trip to Florida cost $180. Her keyboard put her back $200, and it didn't get a seat. It did get some bad scratches and a case with a broken latch, which the airline refused to fix.

Now United Airlines has added a new spin to the baggage carousel. Instead of just charging for overweight luggage, it's charging $25 to passengers who check a second suitcase (United prefers to say the first bag is "free," but I digress).

And all luggage is not created equal. Only the passengers traveling on non-refundable, less-expensive tickets get hit with the new fee.

"I'm not surprised. The airlines have been nickel-and-diming us for years," said air traveler Dave Johnson, who got socked an extra $50 for a bag that was two pounds over the limit last year. "Pretty soon there will be a charge for carry-on luggage."

United isn't the first carrier to charge for checked baggage. Some overseas, low-cost carriers have been doing it for a while.

RyanAir, the granddaddy of low-cost carriers, was probably the first to charge for checking bags. Last year, Aer Lingus began charging for checked bags on flights from Ireland to other cities in Europe.

Florida-based Spirit Airlines was the first carrier in the United States to begin charging a fee for all checked luggage. Last year it began a two-tiered system. If you checked your bag online it cost you $5. Check it at the airport and you were out $10.

Now that United Airlines has decided to lighten our load, can the other carriers be far behind? Spirit has already doubled its fees.

"The airlines can't seem to make up their minds," said one disgruntled frequent flier. "First they discourage us from bringing luggage onboard. Now they penalize us for checking it. Next thing you know, they'll be charging passengers by the pound."

Many passengers already feel like they're flying in a cattle car. But the airlines' new cash cow could put them over the top. It's already causing a lot of beefing among air travelers.

Gail Todd, a free-lancewriter,worked as a flightattendant for more than 30years. She can be reached viae-mail at gailtodd@aol.com.