US Airways CEO: Bag Fees Here to Stay

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

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Sorry to rain on your Friday folks (it’s actually raining here now) but US Airways CEO Doug Parker has some bad news for you: Bag fees aren’t going anywhere. He once again mentioned that his carrier expects $400 to $500 million in revenue from the fees and noted that bag fees have reduced checked luggage by 20 percent, allowing the carrier to improve its on-time numbers.

So while this isn’t the first time Parker has said bag fees are here for good, it won’t be the last, either. And that’s probably because he’s right. With the industry in increasingly dire straits, bag fees (as well as the numerous other charges carriers collect) are vital to keeping an airline healthy.

A few weeks ago, Southwest suggested the “furor” over bag fees has died down, just as it rolled out a new ad campaign that deviated from its tried-and-true motto, “Fees don’t fly with us.” And now with Parker saying fees are here to stay, do you think the furor really has died down, and airlines are comfortable keeping the fees in place? And if customers are still angry, is it time to get over it? Leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

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