It will be interesting to watch future developments in the market. I think the first airlines to have good wifi and is reliably on all flights would get more business travelers. I know I would look for it. But do they charge for it or offer it as a perk to get those customers? Right now, it is only on certain airplanes with many different airlines. So you never know if you’ll have it until you are on the flight.

If you are a business person, productivity can actually be quite high without wifi. You can write up emails, memos, expense reports or articles ahead of time. Work on those spreadsheets or photos. Although the internet opens up things that you can do on your laptop, it also will lead to time wasted on all kinds of websites, email and social media services.

If you just do carry-on, you’re okay and it won’t (yet) cost any more cash.

The negative is that it may cost you more and in other ways. Also, more people will be trying to take more stuff onto the airplane to avoid the fees. This means the on board compartments will be even more full and you’ll have to wait longer for people to deal with all their stuff. More items will probably be taken away from you as you board the plane as well if you don’t board early. I’m not sure how they will charge for these gate checks or if they’ll just leave your stuff on the tarmac if you don’t have money on you. Now that you are paying specifically for each bag to come with you on the plane, I think airlines will hear more valid complaints and charge backs when it doesn’t make it. This extra hassle may even eat up some of the profit that they make from it.

The transactions are separate from your ticket, either online or at the airport, so it probably messes up your rewards calculations as well. No longer will you have a completely free ticket unless you just do carry-on.

Fees are each way so double them for your round-trip. The airline name goes to the main page of their official website while the last line for each brand goes to their baggage policy page so you can read more and get the latest details.

AirTran Airways

First bag: $15
Second bag: $25
Additional bags: $50
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $39 or 71-99lbs: $79
Oversized bags: 62-70 linear inches: $39 or 71-80 inches: $79
AirTrain Airways Baggage Fee Policy

Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air

First bag: $15
Second bag: $25
Additional bags: $100, 7th bag and more is $150
Overweight bags: 51-100lbs $50
Oversize bags: 63-80 linear inches: $50 or 81-115 inches: $75
Alaska Airlines Baggage Fee Policy

American Airlines

First bag: $20
Second bag: $30
Additional bags: $100, 6th bag and more is $200
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $50 or 71-100lbs: $100
Oversize bags: 63 linear inches and over: $150
American Airlines Baggage Fee Policy

Continental Airlines

First bag: $20 ($15 if paid online)
Second bag: $30 ($25 if paid online)
Additional bags: $75 for nonstop, $100 for connecting
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $50
Oversize bags: 63 linear inches and over: $100
Continental Airlines Baggage Fee Policy

Delta Airlines

First bag: $20 ($15 if paid online)
Second bag: $30 ($25 if paid online, $50 for overseas travel)
Additional bags: $125, 4th bag to 10th bag is $200 each
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $90 or 71-100lbs: $175 ($150/$300 outside US)
Oversize bags: 63-80 linear inches: $175
Delta Airlines Baggage Fee Policy

Frontier Airlines

First bag: $15
Second bag: $25
Additional bags: $50
Overweight bags: 51-100lbs $75
Oversize bags: 63-80 linear inches: $75
Frontier Airlines Baggage Fee Policy

JetBlue Airline

First bag: $0
Second bag: $20
Additional bags: $75
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $50 or 71-99lbs: $100
Oversize bags: 63-80 linear inches: $75
JetBlue Airlines Baggage Fee Policy

Northwest Airlines

First bag: $20 ($15 if paid online)
Second bag: $30 ($25 if paid online, $50 for overseas travel)
Additional bags: $125, 4th bag to 10th bag is $200 each
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $90 or 71-100lbs: $175 ($150/$300 outside US)
Oversize bags: 63-80 linear inches: $175
Northwest Airlines Baggage Policy

Spirit Airlines

First bag: $19
Second bag: $25
Additional bags up to 5: $100
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $50 or 71-99lbs: $100
Oversize bags: 62-79 linear inches: $100 or 80 and over inches: $150
Spirit Airlines Baggage Fee Policy

Southwest Airlines

First bag: $0
Second bag: $0
Additional bags: $25, bags 4-9:$50, 10 and over:$110
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $25 or 71-100lbs: $50
Oversize bags: 62-80 linear inches: $50
Southwest Airlines Baggage Fee Policy

United Airlines

First bag: $20 ($15 if paid online)
Second bag: $30 ($25 if paid online)
Additional bags: $125, 5th bag and more: $250
Overweight bags: $100
Oversize bags: 63-115 linear inches: $125
United Airlines Baggage Fee Policy

US Airways

First bag: $20 ($15 if paid online)
Second bag: $30 ($25 if paid online)
Additional bags: $100
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $70 or 71-99lbs: $120
Oversize bags: 62-80 linear inches: $100
US Airways Baggage Fee Policy

I also should mention my Travel Contacts and Resources page where I list all official websites and phone numbers for all forms of travel companies.

What do you think about the added fees? Tell everyone about any experiences you’ve had with them as well, lost luggage, etc.

What is the deal with these companies? Here is how crazy they are getting. And remember, fees usually start with one or two airlines and then the others follow if the outrage isn’t too high. They test the waters to make extra millions.

Check in your bags at the counter in the airport: $5 on top of whatever bag fee already exists, like $15 – Instigators: United and US Airways

Want an exit row seat for more legroom? $20 – Instigator: AirTran

Instead of encouraging your purchase online, which saves them money, some airlines may want to charge you a fee for buying your ticket online  – Instigator: Allegiant Air

Want to check in and use the ticket you already paid for? How about another $5 to $10 to do so. No way to avoid this ridiculous fee – Instigator: Ryanair

Want to choose a seat? How about paying to do so? We’re not sure what happens if you don’t pick a seat. Perhaps you stand up for the flight? – Instigator: Vueling

Want to get through security faster? $25. Instigator: United. I did this once thinking the lines would be long when I got to the airport and I could get through and do some work on the other side. I’m sure this will vary by time and place, but the problem is that United can only do this in certain airports where they have large volume. So when I did it in San Francisco, United’s “Premier Line” was longer than the normal security line. It did also allow me to board ahead of some other passengers however.

Want to use the lavatory or get sick and use a bag? Ryanair wants to charge for it but they haven’t started these last two yet. I wouldn’t want to sit next to the person who doesn’t have the correct change on them. Maybe they should charge for seat belts too.

We’ve already seen fees lately for checking a third bag. Sending a child on  plane without an adult. Fuel surcharges. Blankets. Headphones. Crappy food. Magazines and newspapers. Oversize passengers.