June 17, 2008 And now for something completely different
A different take on the luggage squeeze:
Instead of charging for checked bags, airlines could probably raise more revenue and improve the quality of the flight experience by doing just the opposite: charging for carry-on luggage.
Under this arrangement, flyers determined to keep their bags within arm’s reach can pay a premium to do so. And those who want to save money can do so by checking bags free of charge.
Such price incentives would shorten security lines, bring order to boarding, and help bring out the humanity in all of us at airports. Imagine: Even late boarders (who are willing to pay) could find space in an overhead compartment – perhaps even the one above their own seat. - opinion piece in the Christian Science Monitor
Frank@OBOW
Reader Comments (1)
What about those of us who only carry our bags because of airline incompetence? (Lost luggage.) I would love to lighten my load and check everything but my iPhone and a magazine, but when you travel often, you know how often luggage gets delayed or lost.
That's why *I* carry my bags onboard, and I consider it the opposite of convenient. For an airline to charge me an extra fee because they're incapable of delivering my bags on time feels like extortion.