True, United would probably make way more money, but way increase the ticket fare and have 2 bags checked for free, when you can go to JetBlue or American as an example, pay less for a ticket, and check bags either for free, or pay 15.00 more vs paying 30,50,70 dollars more for a United ticket. If United did that, they would sink quick, they like everyone else needs to keep their ticket prices down as low as possible to stay competitive with the other Airlines.
Now, if all the airlines started to included the baggage fee in their ticket with free bags to check, than I'm sure it would remain and be successful, but I highly doubt anyone other than Southwest anytime soon will do that.
Thats awesome for Southwest that they dont charge pax to check bags, im sure their revenue has gone up some because of it, but the other airlines continue to charge for bags because they have destinations and direct routes that southwest do not and will not ever have, and take advantage of it. LAX-JFK UA,AA,DL or LAX-EWR, IAD-DEN, BOS-LAX or LAX-SBA, SBA-SLC, SLC-COS (COLORADO SPRINGS), or even LAX-ASE (ASPEN, CO). The airlines know that sometimes people just dont have to much of a choice, especially if that "particular" airline is the only one thats flying to the remote destination.
To top things off, who do you know that will absolutely have to check bags, a FAMILY.
Is it right to charge for bags no, is it necessary in this time of need, if you want to go to work tomarrow, well than absolutely.
These are my thoughts on it anyway.
I agree with you, i'm sure the fee for bags ,if one, was included in the cost of the ticket, but now the airlines are using the cost of fuel as an excuse to charge even more for somthing that im sure they have been charging for anyway to begin with. They will do what it takes to stay in business. I don't think it's right at all, but I would like to go to work later today and still have a job, so I cant complain too much. Besides right or wrong, I want this industry to succeed no matter what it takes.