Free-market fans aren’t going to like this. But the bill’s sponsors say that “carry-ons often contain personal items that are important for the safety and health of travelers, including medication, personal care products and eyewear,” according to the Reuters article.

Spirit’s carry on bag charges – up to $45 at the gate, and $30 if passengers choose to pay in advance – were already facing scrutiny before Congress became involved. In an excellent interview with Christopher Elliott and Charlie Leocha last week, Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that he found the fees “outageous,” adding:  “I’ve told our people to try and figure out a way to mitigate that.”

Elliott also interviewed Spirit Air CEO  Ben Baldanza, who defended the charges as a way to improve customer service. Too much time is currently wasted boarding the plane, as people who are trying to avoid the checked baggage fee bring larger and larger suitcases and items on board, he said. Because people who pay the carry on bag fee will be allowed to board first, “the last people on the plane won’t delay things by looking for space for their bag,” he said.

Hmm. Seems that people aren’t buying it. Travel Weekly had a good article Monday that quotes many travel agents as saying that they won’t recommend the airline anymore to their Caribbean-bound customers. The article also notes that while Spirit advertises itself as a low-priced airline, the total cost of the ticket surpasses other airlines in many cases, once the baggage fees are figured in.

Baldanza continues to defend the fees. In a bizarre video released yesterday, he stuffed himself into an overhead bin to make his point. The segment is meant to be funny, but comes off as desperate and sad, at least in my view. Is this really what flying has come to?

I’m flying Spirit down to St. Thomas on Sunday, for the first and last time. I’m going to ask some of the people around me what they think about the fees – and whether they’ll fly the airline again.

Spirit Air faces backlash, legislation against carry-on bag charges is a post from: Chris Around The World: A Journalist's Travels on the Road

Next week, I’ll be flying Spirit Air for the first – and last – time.

I bought my ticket on the Florida-based airline out of desperation a few weeks ago when I needed a flight to St. Thomas. Even though Spirit generally offers itself as a lower-priced alternative, my Caribbean tickets were neither cheap (about $488 after taxes) nor convenient (we’re flying out of Atlantic City, which requires a hotel stay the night before).

And I was already well aware that we’d have to shell out more money for the seat assignments themselves, a necessity when you travel with a guy topping 6’5, although I’m a little shocked at the prices ($20 for an exit row, $12 for an aisle). On a two-leg trip, those fees will easily reach another $100 round trip.

Because we’re going on a sailing cruise, we are traveling light – as in, one duffel bag used as a carry on. Turns out that it’s a good thing we’re traveling now, as in Spirit Air announced this week that it will be adding carry on bag fees of up to $45 to its arsenal of charges. That’s right. You will now pay to store your bag in the overhead bin (if you can squish your bag under the seat in front of you, there’s no charge), just as you have to pay if you check it. Analysts are speculating that other airlines may join Spirit in adding these charges, if it is a success.

I understand that airlines – and other passengers – have suffered since checked bag fees came into vogue. On my Delta flight home from Seattle this week, I noticed the chaos and frustration as people tried to stuff their rollies into the overhead bin. It’s a real hassle for flight attendants and travelers alike, not to mention potentially dangerous. As a dedicated aisle seat fan, I am waiting for the day that someone drops a huge suitcase on my head as they try to shove it in.

(I checked my bag – and you can see where that got me. We’ll see how long it takes to get my suitcase fixed).

But imposing fees for bringing any luggage at all is too much. Seriously. Airlines should make up their minds: either charge a fee for checked bags OR for carry on bags. But not both. Spirit’s new policy is the blatant money-making move that makes potential customers furious – so angry, in fact, that I will now go out of my way to avoid flying them.

And those are the feelings from someone who likes to travel. I often hear from others who don’t travel as much as I do and between the bag fees and the TSA security theater, they are fed up, particularly if they are older or have young children. In recessionary times, it’s been easier for these people to justify their decision not to travel, which doesn’t help anyone who makes their living in the industry.

In marketing circles, it’s called customer fatigue. And now that Spirit Air has done their part to perpetuate it, I hope other airlines see an opportunity to search for a creative solution for the baggage problem that treats the flier as a savvy shopper instead of an ATM.

In the meantime, Spirit is officially at the top of my own do-not-fly list. I suggest others add them as well. As customers, let’s try to stop this trend before it spreads throughout the unfriendly skies.

What are your thoughts on a carry on bag fee? Would a fee like this encourage you to seek out another airline?

With new carry on baggage fees, Spirit Airlines has lost this customer is a post from: Chris Around The World: A Journalist's Travels on the Road

Some friends and family members have expressed surprise that I can travel for up to two weeks without checking luggage. I’ve been strict about keeping things light since last year’s trip to Costa Rica, where we lost a precious day of travel due to bag delays. And honestly, having less comes in handy when you move around as much as I do when I travel. When you have just one major bag, it’s easier to catch a bus, hop on a boat or manuever a tight train corridor.

Here are 8 tips on how to pack light.

1. Choose a dominant color scheme. Almost all of my clothes fit into the “black” or “brown” family. After considering my trip’s itinerary, I then decide which scheme will work best. If something doesn’t match, out it goes.

2. Lay out all potential items of clothing on the bed. Then take away at least one-third. A good travel wardrobe is all about the editing. Think about pieces that can do double duty, such as jeans or ankle-length black capris that can be worn touring during the day or out to dinner at night. If you have three dresses, cut one. If you have six tops, cut two.

3. Be ruthless with your shoes. It’s no secret that shoes are a major space hog. And with outdoor and sporting stores suggesting a different shoe for each activity, it’s easy to believe you need an arsenal of footwear. Trust me, you don’t. One pair of broken-in walking shoes (I like Clark’s Priva Mary Jane style), along with a street-friendly sandal, are usually all you need. And forget about heels. Unless you are going to a wedding, you aren’t going to wear them.

4. Choose your accompanying personal item well. I carry a backpack as my personal item that also functions as a laptop/camera bag. I also have a Tumi daypack that I can flatten out and stick in either my luggage or my backpack while I’m in transit. That means I actually have three bags instead of the two allowed by most airlines (and I don’t have to pay ANY fees).

5. Throw out your fashion ego. I’m often working when I’m traveling. But with long days of walking, often in the heat or on uneven cobblestone streets, I need to be comfortable too. I’ve decided it’s OK if I’m not board-room ready. If meeting hotel biz types is on the agenda, I always carry a structured professional-looking sweater coat or light jacket that spiffs up a dress or more casual outfit.

6. Remember past packing mistakes. On the road, I always gravitate to the pieces that feel comfortable and easy. And when I get home and unpack, I almost always find at least two things that were never worn. That’s usually a sign those items should have never come along in the first place.

7. Take advantage of laundry when available. If you are visiting friends or family, remember that they often have washing machines you can use. Or consider renting an apartment that might have facilities, especially in European cities. In our Barcelona apartment this June, we were thrilled to be able to wash our sweaty clothes before going out for the evening.

8. And finally: practice, practice, practice. With all the trips I’ve taken this year, packing light has almost become second nature. My bag for Mexico came together in enough time for me to write this blog post. The more trips that you take with one bag, the easier it will get.

Got any tips to add? Write them below!

8 Tips for Packing Light is a post from: Chris Around The World: A Journalist's Travels on the Road