"It was asinine, and the reaction in house and out shows just how ill-conceived it was."

More about the American Airline's $15.00 check bag fee from Joe Sharkey including an assertion that the imposition of the fee was a last minute impulsive decision made just before a shareholder's meeting.

“seems really, dare I say it, stupid,”

American Airlines new $15.00 checked bag fee has caught the media's attention. This New York Times article predicts, and we believe rightly so, "it is also likely to make the fight for already-tight space on planes more fierce, as passengers try to stuff more carry-on luggage into overhead bins."

Or as one reader comments "it's not the fee that bothers me. ... It's the free-for-all fight that's going to break out when people start bringing on huge carry-on bags."

It is important to note that Southwest does not have plans to follow American's check bag fee.

Southwest’s Linda Rutherford comments "punitive fees don’t fly with us, so what you heard are just rumors. We are NOT thinking of gouging our Customers with such a fee to check a bag.”

Checking in our favorite destination finds things are not doing so well

Is it possible? Once considered recession proof, Las Vegas, finds that it is not immune to the problems in the economy. According to Newsweek....the economy of which was once thought to be impervious to the economic swings suffered by the rest of the country. Not anymore. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), Las Vegas has seen gambling revenues fall only once since 1970: in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terror attacks they dropped 1 percent in 2002 from 2001. So far this year they've fallen 4 percent, the number of conventions held has dropped 10.4 percent, and average daily room rates were off 3.8 percent in the first two months of 2008, according to the most recent data available. Visitor volume was up 1.2 percent through February, but market analysts say that's because of the extra day provided by this being a leap year; March's figures will likely put the year-to-date numbers in negative territory. Read more by clicking the above link.