Buying separate tickets means you don't get the US baggage allowances. Aer Lingus is brutal with baggage, it will cost more than your ticket if you are over their limit, and 8 euro per bag if you are under 20kg limit. Yes, EI on short-haul flights now charges over USD 20 for 2 bags. If over 20kg, it is additional 8 euro per kg. So 50 lbs. of baggage would cost about USD 100 (and go up rapidly from there, 2x50lb bags, free on AA, would cost over USD 300, for example). See the EI website for details, http://www.aerlingus.com/cgi-bin/obe...754&Category=3

these charges took effect in Jan 2007, so they are new this year.