A Stitch in Haste

At least two airlines are scaling back their checked baggage allowances:

Budget carrier Spirit Airlines and British Airways have announced they will begin charging passengers extra for checking more than one piece of luggage.

The airlines say the fees are necessary to keep airfares down in an increasingly competitive industry.

Some airline analysts predict the practice will become an industry norm in the near future.

Two hasty stitches:

1. There is nothing "wrong" or "greedy" about an airline, or any other business, charging customers more for using more of their services. Two Happy Meals cost most than one Happy Meal, two hours of a lawyer's time cost more than one hour, two checked bags require more work than one checked bag, etc.

On the other hand, there's nothing particularly noble, or even efficient, about it either: Sometimes the more logical approach is flat-rate pricing for all (e.g, movie tickets, "unlimited nights and weekends"). The correct approach depends on the business model, the competition and the costs of pricing one way or the other. There is no "right" or "one size fits all" approach to such questions.

2. On the other hand, let's acknowledge, as I did previously, why airlines are suddenly more concerned about overtaxing their baggage handling systems (and "overtaxing" is indeed the correct word): The carry-on liquids (almost) ban.

For example, when I log on to Continental's website these days, I am greeted by a big banner announcement that bringing carry-on bags isn't really that much of a hassle and won't I please consider not checking my bags? Many people are fed up with the "clear plastic bag" nonsense and are opting instead simply to check a bag that they previously were willing to carry on board.

In case you haven't flown recently:

1. Remove my backpack; 2. Remove my jacket; 3. Remove my shoes; 4. Remove my iBook from the backpack, and from its case; 5. Remove my approved, one-quart sized Ziploc bag containing its legal allotment of three-ounce containers of liquids and gels from the backpack. Item 4 must be placed in separate tray, alone; Item 5 goes in a round plastic dish, also by itself; Items 1, 2, and 3 are piled together in a third tray. But not so fast, as a guard warns me not bury my shoes beneath the other items. He recommends I place them separately on the belt, or in yet another tray. So there I am, one person with four separate trays of belongings. And after those belongings are x-rayed, it's time to:

1. put my coat back on; 2. put my shoes back on; 3. re-pack the computer; 4. re-pack the approved, one-quart sized Ziploc bag; 5. Strap on my backpack. All of this with no chair or table, elbow to elbow with a dozen other people all doing the same thing.

Checking a bag suddenly sounds a lot more appealing, $10 surcharge notwithstanding.

Still, expect the liquids (almost) ban -- not imposed by capitalists but by bureaucrats -- to remain in place for quite some time. Because, recall, it is better to feel safe than to be safe.