[ChrisH]

How much has the charging for a 2nd bag helped the airlines that are already doing it?

Continental will start charging $25 to check a second bag, starting on May 5, a day I dread, as I know I will be arguing with customers ALL DAY long, with that one. It will be another source of revenue, for those who check a 2nd bag, and will also cut down on weight, thus fuel, as people start checking only one bag. BUT, wouldn't it just be easier to charge a $20 fuel charge, and add that into the taxes, and fees? Almost every other company out there, is charging "fuel charges", in addition to their normal billing. Many might say that it is deceitful to add it to the taxes, and fees, and not the fare, because passengers won't see it, until they go to purchase it, but that is the same practice other companies/industries are using. The airlines are the only industry I know of, that doesn't pass the cost of producing a product, or service, onto the customer.

Also, have the airlines looked at their flight schedules, and how much money they are losing by operating certain flights, on a daily basis. At the station I work at, for example, CAL has some flights that leave less than an hour apart, on a daily basis, all going to the same destination, IAH. There are plenty of times that both flights are booked to less than 30, and we move all, or nearly all of the passengers from the one leaving :30min later, to the earlier one. Why not combine those two flights, and instead of having one leave at 6:15, and one at 6:45, both half full, or less, have just one leave at 6:30, which will more than likely go out full, and make the same exact connections. I am sure there are countless examples just like the above, throughout the system, for all airlines, that are just costing them money.

I know it seems simple, and it probably isn't quite at as simple as it seems, or they would have done it, but there is so much I've noticed, that could save TONS of money.