A New President and Fixing the Airlines

Checked Bag Fees

So of course those fees and surcharges are going to stay right where the airlines want them -- on your ticket and at check-in.

But there are little glimmers of hope for passengers, here and there. For example, the dollar is stronger against European currencies -- terrific news for anyone who's dropped a fortune on a London hotel room. As for the rest of us, notice how all the airlines recently came out with significant domestic airfare sales this holiday season? It wasn't looking good for sales of any kind a few short months ago.

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Now, you could look at the situation as "glass half-empty," meaning as soon as this global financial mess is cleaned up, there will be another crisis to take its place. Or, the half-full angle: Maybe, if we're really lucky -- we can go back to the future -- of early 2007.

Let me just add: Anything you can do to help out passengers, like fixing air traffic control sooner and putting in a flat domestic airline ticket sales tax, Mr. President-Elect, would be much appreciated.

This work is the opinion of the columnist and in no way reflects the opinion of ABC News.

Rick Seaney is one of the country's leading experts on airfare, giving interviews and analysis to news organizations, including ABC News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, The Associated Press and Bloomberg. His Web site FareCompare.com offers consumers free, new-generation software, combined with expert insider tips to find the best airline ticket deal.