Separate Bag Fees Raise the Cost of Flying

Three peer-reviewed studies have each concluded that travelers who pay an additional fee for luggage pay more than they did, on average, when bag costs were included in the airfare.   This finding was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Airlines started “unbundling” their services such as food, drinks, luggage and now even reserving seats in an alleged effort to give passengers the option of only paying for what they want.  

Officially, airfare rates have fallen over the past three consecutive years, but with the added luggage fees, flying is actually more expensive.

Since airlines by and large charge the same prices for things unless, perhaps, you have good frequent flyer credit with them and can book tickets months and months ahead of time, your contractual bargaining power with them will be almost zero.   Take it or leave it!