Thanks Michael for sending this in!

Author: Liz Pulliam Weston
Source: MSN

We’ve become accustomed to paying a buck or two for soda or a bag of nuts, but such charges are going to get much more common. And that may not be a bad thing.

Fees for meals, headsets and curbside check-in are just the beginning of the ways airlines will be nickel-and-diming us in the coming year, travel pundits say.

Terry Trippler, resident travel expert at CheapSeats.com, predicts we'll see more airlines charging for all of the following:

• Advanced seat assignment
• Assignment of "preferred" seats (emergency row, bulkhead, aisle)
• Checked baggage
• Carry-on baggage
• Pillows and blankets
• Snacks
• Beverages

Many of these fees are already a reality on some carriers. United Airlines charges $24 to $99 extra for exit-row seats, while Air Canada demands $2 for a pillow-and-blanket kit. American Eagle, an American Airlines regional carrier, is experimenting with $1 cups of soda pop, while Northwest charges $1 for a bag of nuts. Many airlines are getting stricter about weight limits on checked baggage, charging $25 to $100 for luggage over 50 pounds.

That's on top of the $1 to $2 most major airlines now assess for curbside check-in, the $5 to $10 fee for making reservations on the phone or at the counter rather than online, the $3 to $5 for alcoholic beverages and the $5 to $10 for meals -- if those are available at all.

In a bit, I'll discuss ways to avoid many of these fees. But if you're expecting me to decry the trend, prepare for disappointment. Some new charges would make a lot of sense.

Why shouldn’t you pay for what you want?

In a world where four of the six largest U.S. carriers have filed for bankruptcy, the travel experience inevitably will change. High fuel costs and brutal competition mean that airlines, to survive, have to figure out a way to make a profit from travelers who insist on rock-bottom fares. Imposing some fees could help people tailor their flights so that those who want amenities get them and those who don't care can get the cheapest flights.

For example:

Carry-ons. The situation on most of today's crowded airplanes is absolutely nuts. Boarding takes too long, the overhead bins bulge and I've been on too many flights in the past year where some dimwit tried to get an obviously oversized bag past the harried gate agent.

We've got to weed the herd. Banning carry-ons isn't the answer, but charging for them is. Some of us are more than willing to cough up $20 a flight to keep from spending half our lives at the baggage carousel, staring at other people's luggage or a conveyor belt that doesn't move for 30 minutes.

And since we're likely to be frequent fliers, we're also more likely to know the protocol for getting our bags through security swiftly and the importance of stepping out of the airplane aisle when we find our seat so that other passengers can move past us.

So let us pay. Let the budget travelers check their bags. And everybody will get on board faster.

Seat assignment. Again, price is all that matters to some fliers. So why should they accidentally wind up with the best seats?

For that matter, why should I, at 5'7", get an exit-row seat when some poor 6'5" dude is jackknifed into a seat in the back?

Let me pay for my aisle seat in the front. Let him pay for his exit-row seat. Let the ones who want to save money sit at the windows or (yikes) in the middle. Everybody gets what he or she really wants: either a decent price or a decent seat.

Amenities. It's better to have choice, even if you have to pay, than to have none at all. American, Delta and Northwest no longer have pillows on many flights, and many airlines have no food at all on some hops. (Woe to the infrequent flier who finds this out too late; I now bring an extra energy bar just in case the poor sot is seated next to me.)

A buck for a soda or a few bucks for a snack pack isn't unreasonable. Neither is a small charge for headsets or Air Canada's "comfort kits" (inflatable pillows with cloth covers and blankets), especially when you can take them with you for use on the next flight.

Of course, airlines that institute these fees are going to have to crack down on carry-ons as well, or the overhead bins will be filled with the picnic baskets, king-size pillows and comforters of thrifty travelers.

A few more fees might even encourage the development of great new amenities, like good first-run movies or neck rubs.

Of course, the opposite could happen as well. When the first airline puts in pay toilets, we'll know the trend has gone too far.

How to avoid fees

If your goal is to avoid fees, now or in the future, consider the following steps to curb costs:

Reserve online. Unless you actually need an agent's guidance, you'll save a few bucks by avoiding the phone or counter. Reserving at the airline's Web site, rather than a third-party site, can earn you extra frequent-flier miles on many airlines. Don't forget to select your seats when you make your reservation; the best ones go fast. (SeatGuru.com can help you figure out the best seats and rows by aircraft, including which have electrical outlets for computers and other gear.)

Scout the details. Your itinerary should indicate whether food will be available for free or purchase; if you're not sure, call the airline and ask. Knowing your entertainment options can be nice as well, although more travelers are bringing their own music, movie and game players rather than relying on the airline's choices. Just make sure to bring your own headset, too.

Pack compact snacks. It's always a good idea to travel with something to nosh on in case the airplane choices are revolting, you get delayed in an airport somewhere or you need a midnight snack in the hotel. Nuts and energy bars are good choices because they're filling and don't melt.

Weigh and measure your bag before you leave. Some of today's bigger bags are easy to overstuff, and many airlines charge a small fortune if you exceed the limit (which is typically 50 pounds per bag on domestic flights). This leads to another tip:

Carry a collapsible duffle bag in your suitcase. Even if you were under the weight limit on the way out, your souvenirs and soggy bathing suits can put you over on the way back. Having a second bag handy can save you grief.

Check in at home. Many airlines now allow you to check in on their Web sites up to 24 hours in advance of your flight, even if you have luggage. That allows you to skip the long lines of folks waiting at the ticket counters or outside at the sky caps' station. If you forget or don't have access to a printer, look for self-serve kiosks near the ticket counters. You may have one last chance to change your seat assignment; if a better one is available, grab it.

Dress the part. Wear layers, because even if your plane has blankets, it won't have enough. A rolled-up sweater also can serve as a pillow in a pinch, although inflatable or bean-filled pillows are a better option if you're really planning to sleep. Earplugs are another handy thing to bring; they probably won't save you any money, but could save your sanity if you're parked next to Chatty Charlie or a howling kid.

And arriving at your destination sane -- not relaxed, not replete, just sane -- is about the best we can hope for these days.