Airlines to Begin Charging for a Second Bag

by Jarrett Martineau | April 21, 2008 at 11:37 am

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This was going to happen at some point, but I'm surprised that it's happening so quickly.

Five of the six major airlines in the United States plan to start charging coach passengers as much as $25 next month to check a second bag, the latest move in their quest to offset high fuel prices.

But while the airlines, and even some industry specialists, say they expect the new fees will primarily affect leisure travelers, business travelers beg to differ.

“For people traveling with samples or trade show materials, they’re going to find their costs are substantially higher,” an airline industry analyst, Robert Mann, said. “It’s really not limited to leisure travelers.”

I wonder how many years it will take before flying becomes so expensive that only a very wealthy, elite few will be able to afford it.

Arguably, as it is already an expensive mode of travel, it's likely to be sooner than we think.