Airline Fees For Checking Bags Coming?

Getting more legroom on planes is getting more expensive on at least one carrier, and fees for checking bags may not be far behind.

Northwest Airlines says it will charge domestic coach passengers an extra $15 dollars to sit on the aisle or in an exit row.

As Terry Trippler of cheapseats.com explained to The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Wednesday, "What Northwest has done is taken select aisle seats, not very many to start off, and the emergency exit rows, and they're saving those out for a charge of $15. Twenty-four hours prior to departure, you can go on, check in, and buy one of these seats. … Their elite frequent flier members, the better customers, they get to go on 36 hours. So they get a 12-hour lead. And as popular as the emergency exit row is, they're probably going to scoop those up right away."

One report says the move could generate $20 million for Northwest.

"It adds up very quickly," Trippler pointed out. "And I believe that $15 for an aisle seat … is right in there. But I do believe, after talking to many business travelers, $15 for an emergency exit row that could easily go for $50, $75, depending on the flight. So, there could be a lot of income generated by this thing that Northwest has started."

What will airlines charge for next?

"I expect they'll charge for juice and soft drinks. Probably $1 to $2.

"I think the most controversial thing that will be coming up this year is going to be charging for checking of bags. I think it's coming. Maybe $2 to $5 to check a bag.

"I really think that's coming. I really do. You just get a feeling, the way the airlines are going, the direction they are going."And if they have to charge to check a bag, they are going to charge to carry it on, because you know what's going to happen. Otherwise, we're all going to carry everything on.

"So, I think that's coming. That's going to be controversial. But 2006, I think, we're gonna see it."

But Trippler says passengers are taking fees for formerly free items in stride: "We used to be fed. And now they charge like $5 for a sandwich. I was just on a flight to Phoenix. My wife and I chuckled, because they announced $5 for a headset, $5 for a sandwich, $5 for cocktails, $2 for a snack box.

"So, it isn't so much of a jump for what they charge for sodas and so forth. People have adjusted to paying for meals, they've adjusted to paying for the headsets. So this should go over fairly well, and once they settle down, I think the baggage is coming."

Trippler marveled at Continental and one smaller carrier, saying, "They are making some bucks. It's amazing. Continental is the last full-service airline other than a low-cost airline here in the Twin Cities called Sun Country. Those two are making money and providing full service. I don't know how they are doing it."