Airlines Nickel-and-Dime
Get ready for new rules on baggage and beverages.
By Anne Kates Smith, Senior Associate Editor
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, June 2007
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Off to the airport? Bring your change purse and prepare to be nickel-and-dimed. Starting in June, Spirit Airlines will charge up to $10 for every checked bag and $1 for beverages. The charges are the latest in a la carte pricing. Even discounter Southwest Airlines might tack on fees this year, say industry experts, starting with priority boarding or seat assignments. Meanwhile, baggage allowances are shrinking. This fall, British Airways will stop checking bags heavier than 51 pounds. Overweight charges can run $50 at some airlines; additional bags, $80. Lighten up by mailing items home via ReturnKey Systems or CheckPoint Mailers kiosks. Explore services that ship bags ahead, such as LuggageForward.com.
