The Sky's the Limit

New fees by airlines add to the misery of air travel.

SKYROCKETING fuel prices have pushed the financially challenged aviation industry to come up with novel and annoying ways to shake more change out of the pockets of cash-strapped and stressed-out passengers. Want some water? Pay extra. Want headphones? Pay extra. Want some peanuts? Pay extra. The latest nickel-and-diming is the announcement by United Airlines, US Airways and American Airlines that they will start charging fees for a first checked bag. This is on top of hitting air travelers with higher fees for second pieces of checked luggage. Why not look under the seat cushions for loose change?

We certainly understand why the airlines are going this route. According to the Air Transport Association, the $40 billion spent by the airlines in 2007 on jet fuel will jump this year to $61.2 billion. American Airlines, the originator of the pay-to-check plan, is staring at an expected hike of $2.4 billion over last year. And the high oil prices have forced an already unprofitable industry to take drastic action to raise revenue and cut costs. Making air travelers pay for things they used to get at no charge is just the beginning. Route cancellations have been announced by the major carriers for the fall. United announced this month that it will retire its entire fleet of 737 jets, ground six wide-body 747s and let go up to 1,100 employees. The other airlines are taking similar actions.

The baggage-check fee is bound to add to the unpleasantness of air travel. Passengers have to practically strip to get to the gate. They are crammed onto crowded planes that arrive late and don't leave on time. They wait at the luggage carousels for bags that have been lost or damaged. And now those travelers, desperate to get on or off a plane, will have to stand by with diminishing patience as someone down the aisle attempts to save $15 by stuffing a washing machine into the overhead bin.

In the 2004 cinematic flop "Soul Plane," passengers seated in "low class" had to contend with coin-operated overhead bins and rationed food that was passed from seat to seat under the watchful eye of stern attendants. There were even people standing in the back of the plane hanging onto poles as if they were riding the Red Line during rush hour. Air travel in real life is not that bad . . . yet.