Isn't traveling by plane so much fun? Now we get charged high prices for our plane tickets AND we get to pay extra for the privilege of checking our bags. Airlines now typically charge an extra $20 to $30 just to check a single bag. Smart business travelers have always known that checking a bag, particularly for a short trip, is generally a bad idea. Not only do you run the risk of the airline loosing it, it also wastes time that could be better spent in a cab on the way to your destination by forcing you to wait at baggage claim for your bag to be unloaded. Carry-on luggage is just as useful for a weekend car trip for a mini-vacation or a trip to grandma's house, as it is for stuffing into the overhead bin before folding your body into the cramped coach seat.

Luckily there are lots of great choices for carry-on bags today. My favorite for short trips has a slot for my notebook and holds a change of clothes, it does double duty as my briefcase and over night bag, without any worries about clients getting a peek at my boxers. For longer trips, traditional roller boards provide enough room for everything you need for a few days on the road, however, if it's a vacation with the family, your probably going to be stuck paying the extra fee and checking at least one bag. Just remember not to overstuff it and have it weigh more than 50 lbs. or an extra fee is in your future.

With the airline baggage fees, more people are deciding to go all carry-on, which combined with the security theater provided by the TSA, means getting through to your gate is an even bigger hassle. As Southwest airlines says, "You are now free to move about the country" but it isn't going to be much fun.