Say Noah to climate change

By Tom Toles

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The Fee-bag Party



One more thing among the myriad that I don't get. Air passengers in open revolt over fees on baggage. Somewhere along the way it came to be understood as another of our constitutional rights that you can pack the entire contents of your garage into your luggage and the airline will carry it for no charge. Fierce disciples of the free market suddenly start vibrating with anger when a carrier decides how it wants to price its service. It's a little like getting mad at a restaurant for not having one all-you-can-eat price. No, it's EXACTLY like that.



The really strange thing is that baggage is hardly an arbitrary place for pricing. Weight is a significant cost to flying a plane. Nor is it a place in which the consumer is helpless. Pack less, pay less! Did you REALLY need to bring that fire hydrant? What about fees for carry-on items? Does ANYONE enjoy the 20 minutes of slow-motion overhead bin Tetris before the plane takes off? It's NOT gouging. Airlines are not making off with giant profits. It's not nickel and diming. It's straightforward and logical fee for service. Right? --Tom Toles

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