I’m all for pay to play on just about everything – meals, drinks, whatever. But suggesting that carry on will work for the masses is just…wrong. Carry on isn’t really an option for many travelers. The list of items you cannot carry on a plane is quite long, changes frequently, and there are overall size restrictions to boot. Sure, 40 pounds is a lot of weight, if you want to puree your clothes in a blender. Plus there are the hassles of making sure all of your (and/or your girlfriend’s) various liquids, gels, sprays, whathaveyous fit in a small Ziploc bag. Not to mention the PITA of tracking down all the small travel size versions of all the stuff you need to take.
Besides, I’m a hunter; I travel with a firearm, which has to be checked separately from all other luggage. Other hunting equipment (pocketknives, for example) must be checked as well. That’s two bags I have to check on those trips, whether I want to do so or not.
Not saying the airline doesn’t have the right to charge me; but I also have the right to stay home.
