Flying in from Boston last night, I found the real cost of baggage fees appears to be what many had feared: Time, not money.
Carrying on luggage has been the preferred method for savvy travelers for several years, since baggage loss and delays became more common. But with new fees for checking bags -- on American, it's $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second, unless you're a high-level mileage program flier -- nearly everyone seems to be trying to cram their entire wardrobe into the overhead bins.
At least that was the case on my flight last night. The result was predictable: A longer-than-usual boarding procedure, cranky passengers, and a flight delay.
So you have to wonder: Is American actually picking up any additional revenue by charging that $15? And what about the losses incurred by those delays? You have to figure that the longer a flight a delayed, the more it costs the company.
What's your experience been since the new charging rules went into effect? Have your flights been delayed? Are you paying the $15 to avoid the overhead-bin squeeze? Please comment below.

