United Airlines and US Airways recently announced they will join American Airlines and start charging passengers to check a first bag. That means a lot more people will start packing a lot more stuff into their carry-on bags.
“Not so fast” say the airlines. They’re cracking down on over-sized carry-on bags by posting staff at the security checkpoint lines in an effort to ‘head ’em off at the pass.’
Find out more in my Well-Mannered Traveler column on MSNBC.com. 
In today’s Wall Street Journal there’s a review of a novel that will probably appeal to anyone who’s ever found themselves stuck at the airport. And these days, that’s a pretty big audience.
Here’s a link to the review about Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles. The book takes the form of a letter written to the airline after a flight cancellation leaves a man stranded at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Reviewer Scott Morris writes: “…Now, we’ve all come to expect being stuck in airports, and we’ve not come to like it. Not a bit. There is a certain rage that results from being treated like truant kindergartners, potential hijackers and dull herds of cattle. But most of us endure the indignities and swallow the rage. Not Benjamin R. Ford.”
I can’t wait to read it!
Now that American Airlines has announced that it will begin charging most domestic passengers $15 to check their first bag, it’s a fair bet other major airlines will do the same.
Travelers are pissed off about this move, but it just seems inevitable that everyone will soon pay to check their bags at the airport.
But maybe not. Consider this: Southwest Airlines, which allows travelers to check two items for free, sent out a press release Thursday reaffirming that the airline has no plans to change its checked baggage policy.
The release ends: “We look forward to seeing you on board very soon. (And bring your luggage!)”
Any bets on how long this will last?
American Airlines canceled another 500 flights on Tuesday to check a wiring issue on their fleet of MD-80 airplanes. 193 of those canceled flights were scheduled to depart from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Some displaced travelers have been put up at hotels. Others got out of there on non-MD-80 flights. Still, a lot of people are spending the night stuck at the airport.
Luckily the folks at DFW are prepared for this sort of thing. They’re treating this incident like a weather event and have brought out cots, blankets, diapers, formula and other sleep-over necessities.
They’ve also put their emergency “concession plan” into operation: a few bars are staying open until 2 a.m. and a few restaurants will stay open all night.
Let’s just hope no one starts in with those scary ghost stories…