Just in time for Thanksgiving travel nightmares, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., introduces legislation that makes sense only if you’re tripping on tryptophan. The Airline Passenger BASICS Act would outlaw commercial airlines from charging passengers for their first checked bag, within certain size and weight limitations. Landrieu says it’s all about safety and consumer convenience, but really it’s all about stupidity, or at least ignorance of the Law of Unintended Consequences.
If some carriers (Southwest) hope to gain a competitive advantage by refusing to charge passengers for their checked bags, great! If others (just about everyone else) don’t, that’s an issue they’ll have to take up with their customers.
But if no one is allowed to charge for the first checked bag, guess what? Airlines will increase fares to compensate for the money they’ve forgone in baggage fees. And everyone will pay the higher costs, including passengers who never check luggage to begin with.
The bill may never become law, but the introduction of it should remind us that in some circles, basic economic sense often takes a holiday.
