Originally Posted by
GalleyWench
Baggage fees began in 2008 as airlines struggled with high fuel prices.
Then, when fuel prices dropped, the bag fees remained, of course...
Originally Posted by
GalleyWench
Baggage fees brought in $1.98 billion in revenue for the 10 largest airlines that collected them during the first three quarters of 2009, according to the Transportation Department. Almost $310 million of that was at US Airways Group Inc. alone.
These numbers always drive me nuts. If they don't figure in how much revenue was lost from passengers who simply don't fly as often anymore because of baggage fees, than these numbers are just being cited in a meaningless vacuum.