I thank your tenacity for creating a good discussion.

People, typically, are rational decision makers who respond to incentives. These incentives are the decisions of the airlines, also rational, based on their knowledge of consumer preferences.

Frankly, a large portion of the flying public will endure hours of misery to save a nickel. That is who they are.

Your arguement, true or not, fails to gain traction for lack of economic practicality.

The introduction of checked baggage fees is the root of the problem. Westjet started it, correctly identifying their customer base as being relatively unable to avoid checked baggage fees, and being more responsive to a low base fare.

While AC responded in kind, this put pressure on bin space needed by its business customers. Westjet won by making AC a little worse.

The customer experience friendly solution is to charge for carry-on instead.

However, given the market's preference for the lowest possible base fare, the inevitable solution is a fee for all luggage.