Here on The Window Seat, you've read a lot about the woes of the airline industry over the past year. Baggage fees were perhaps the hottest topic of 2008, generating grumbles heard 'round the world and provoking sour comments from our readers. Well, as Ben Mutzabaugh writes in his Today in the Sky blog, "grumble if you like, but checked-bag fees may mean less lost luggage."
If you can remember back a couple of years ago, airlines were carrying record numbers of passengers and lost baggage rates were the worst they've ever been. However, 2008 marked a massive improvement with domestic carriers losing 1.3 million fewer bags than in the previous year.
Mutzabaugh notes that baggage fees have encouraged travelers to pack less, leading to fewer checked bags on flights. Combined with fewer passengers because of capacity cuts, this means less luggage for the airlines to handle. So, your chances of getting stuck in Montreal for two days this winter with only the sweater on your back just got cut dramatically. (And, yes, this really did happen!)
Comments
Mar 14, 2009
Thanks for the timely blog on paying a fee to check bags. My mom and I are heading to Orlando this Monday and are packing lighter than before because of this.
Sherry Gleason
Plano, TX
Mar 19, 2009
I always like to travel light. One way to go about it is to travel during Summer, though it may be hot at some countries. Or just summer starts.. the weather is wonderful
My opinion is that, if possible, we should all travel as light as possible to relieve the burden of baggage handling activities (such as, save fuel, save time collecting baggages, fast flow to human traffic, no lost baggage etc...)
However, we can't help to buy things when we want to return home. After all, we may not return to the same place again.
Well, moderation..