Passengers Avoiding Airline Baggage Fees

It's been going on for a while - or as long as there have been baggage check fees - as anyone who's been on a flight can attest. Instead of paying $25 to check a bag, many passengers are taking an oversize carry-on onboard in hopes of a gatecheck for free. Chances are, they will get it.

Melissa Rein, a public-relations director from Scottsdale, Ariz. told the Arizona Republic that she used to check her luggage, but now carries it on board.

"It's an outrageous fee," she said. "When we try to get away for a little weekend, if we have to pay those fees, it completely devalues the trip."

Travelingmom.com advocated bringing luggage on board and garnering a free gatecheck in April:

Next time you fly, especially if you've left the kids at home, consider packing separately in a bag that can be gate checked. This seems to be a non-publicized option as there was no mention of it on the US Airways website. I would certainly ask if you have this option as you check in for your flight.

6. Carry the kitchen sink too. They may gate check your bag for free today. But I suspect it won't be long before they have portable charge machines on them to make you pay. Maybe they'll setup of a register and counter right there on the ramp. All of this holds up the boarding process and makes you unpopular with other passengers however.

With all this advice on how to avoid $15-$25 fees, it would seem airlines might understand there is a desire, some might even say consumers are making it a point, to avoid baggage fees. Airlines first began the fees as a way to recoup skyrocketing fuel prices, but have stayed because airlines, like Continental Airlines, want to "stay competitive." (Many airlines have recently added the fee to international routes.) However, American Airlines said it wouldn't add the baggage fee on flights to Asian and South America where it's "ultracompetitive."
I'm not quite sure what "competitive" means to airlines, but it seems as if it's synonymous with money. They want the fees because it's guaranteed revenue, which is good for their bottom line and shareholders. (I seriously doubt the fees will ever go away, in fact, they seem to be growing exponentially by asking passengers to pay for earlier boarding, lounge access and less-cramped seating.) They seem to be thoroughly discounting the idea of goodwill or consumer loyalty.

We will probably see more how-tos on how to avoid airline fees, because as long as airlines add fees there will be passengers figuring out how to circumvent them.