A number of airlines have quietly announced introduction of a surcharge on passengers checking more than one bag. That’s bad news for golfers who will have to pay an additional $50 (or more) to bring their golf bags. Doing the math, that means $200 roundtrip for a twosome…or $400 for those traveling as a foursome. If that doesn’t make you cringe, imagine a Partridge Family ski vacation: if everyone brought their own equipment, the package cost would increase nearly $1,000! Recreational enthusiasts are urged to boycott said airlines before the practice is adopted industrywide.

Full planes would normally herald a turnaround for the airline industry but profit growth has been muted by an astonishing 48 percent year-to-date increase in the price of jet fuel. To offset their costs, U.S. carriers have increased prices seven times since September 1st; in addition, some airlines have already announced they will scale back seating capacity in 2008.

Props to the airlines, the FAA, and administration officials for a relatively seamless Thanksgiving holiday travel experience. An estimated five million passengers benefited from moderate weather and heightened customer service levels. Still, baggage handling remains a daily concern. According to a New York Times report, one in every 138 checked bags was lost in the first nine months of 2007, compared to one in 155 bags a year earlier.

The snaking lines of passengers waiting to board aircraft became synonymous with the brand. Southwest Airlines, the last holdout in a world of pre-reserved seating, has streamlined its process with announcement that a boarding pass number will now hold a passenger’s place in line. At the same time, Southwest introduced Business Select Fares, which, among other things, will enable passengers to board first. Not really a big deal…except for the fact that these slightly higher fares are fully refundable. Refundable fares? Now that’s news.

Nearly one quarter of all domestic flights in the first eight months of 2007 arrived late. In the three months ended August 31st, according to FlightStats.com, 52,000 domestic flights were flat out cancelled. According to irreverant travel guru Joe Brancatelli, “about the only flight that took off on time this summer was the space shuttle.” Sentiment continues to snowball for a Passenger Bill of Rights.