Scary Airline Resolutions for 2011

Dec. 29, 2010— -- Good news: The airlines are doing better. Bad news: The airlines are doing better.

This is good news for the airlines, of course; they are in recovery mode and seeing what looks like their most profitable year since the horrendous slump after the Sept. 11th terror attacks.

The bad news is strictly for us fliers: Recovery means higher airfares, especially if oil prices keep rising.

I think we can guess some of the resolutions the airlines will be coming up with for 2011, and despite what leisure travelers like Elaine Key of Virginia Beach, Va., want -- "Get rid of bag fees!" -- fees are here to stay. Other resolutions the airlines probably have in mind are equally scary; again, strictly from the passengers' point of view. Here's my take on airline New Year resolutions, plus the direction they should heading in but probably won't.

Look for my personal plea to the airlines, airports, the Transportation Security Administration, and Federal Aviation Administration at the very end of this column. Hint: I'm a simple man and my needs are few, but on-time planes are one of them.

For more travel news and insights, view Rick's blog at farecompare.com

What are airline execs planning? Picture them examining their balance sheets then saying, "I resolve to …"

No. 1: Resolution: To Continue the Fee Gold Mine

You saw this one coming, and why not: The airlines made billions off bag fees and other extras this year, and you'd have to be nuts to cut off that revenue stream. The airlines are many things but crazy is not one of them.

I won't waste anyone's time by suggesting a resolution calling for an end to or even a reduction of fees, since I expect airlines will continue to raise fees, albeit with some discounting on the increasingly popular concept of bundling fees. Still, maybe they could also simplify things for the anti-fee flier: How about create a new class of travel called "Bare Bones"?