If you fly much, you know that baggage fees are prevalent on many airlines. They say the fees are necessary to help pay for the rising cost of jet fuel. Consumers continue to complain. So what happens next? Some members of Congress want government to intercede to prohibit or cut back fees the airlines are “allowed” to charge, which would inappropriately infuse government into the industry. As usual, however, the innovative marketplace is coming up with new products and services to address the baggage-fee development. No government intervention needed — just good old creativity and risk-taking.
An entire cottage industry has emerged for products that help people evade the baggage-check fees, according to Kate Hanni, director of FlyersRights.org, a consumer group that represents airline passengers. Ms. Hanni uses vacuum-seal bags inside her carry-on bags, she said; the bags, which shrink down to a compact package when air is pulled out by a vacuum cleaner, allow her to fit considerably more items in a carry-on than would normally be possible.
“I can fit three times the amount of clothes in a carry-on than I used to be able to,” she said.
There is also the Scottevest line of travel clothing in which trench coats, vests and other garments are made with large built-in pockets that allow people to carry everything from folded shirts to an iPad.
“You can fit all of your folded shirts, iPad, cellphone, iPod, sunglasses, camera, passport, keys — you can put everything in the jacket that you would put in a carry-on,” Ms. Hanni said. “It’s sort of sweet justice.”
