Avoid airline baggage fees.

[IluvVegas]

Checked baggage fees is one of the ways airlines use to make more money. Usually fees for checked baggage runs $15 for first checked bag and some airlines are charging $5 on top of the original fee.

These baggage fees generated $1.5B in 2008 which went to the Department of Transportation, and with that in mind, you can count of these fees being here to stay.

US Airways will charge you $15 for your first checked bag, plus $5 on top of that unless you pay for it in advance. So be sure to check on this when buying your ticket.

Delta and Northwest have started charging on trips to Europe, $50 for your second checked bag.

Alaska Airlines charges $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second bag.

Ways to save on these fees include taking less with you.
Then theres the option of using an airline like JetBlue, or Southwest Airlines, neither of which charge for the first checked bag.

Check with the hotel you are planning on staying at, sometimes they will pick up the bill for the baggage fee because the hotels know that this can hurt business.

One would think that when you bought your ticket, that this would include any fees for 1 bag, after all, most people travel with a suitcase.