Baggage Limit and Budget Carriers

If you are flying or have recently flown overseas, you may have noticed the cap on the baggage weight. In the local scene, Philippine Airlines (PAL) will limit free check-in baggage to 50 pounds (23 kilograms) per person for all flights en route to North America. It used to be 70 pounds per person. This new ruling will take effect on July 1. Other carriers in the U.S. charge the passengers for their check-in baggage. According to my boss, it's US$15 per baggage. What a rip-off!

As for domestic flights, specifically Cebu Pacific, I was informed by my friend that the carrier no longer serve free C2 in their local flights. But fret not, you can still have your favorite C2 when you fly Cebu Pac, you just have to pay for it. No more free stuff.

These news are not a surprise at all. The soaring and surging oil prices is unstoppable. Even major carriers are feeling the crunch. In the news from weeks ago, a major carrier in the U.S. will ground a number of planes due to the rising fuel prices. Logical corollary is the limited seats will jack up the plane fares. Argh.

As oil prices continuously increase, would people fly less and take more road trips?

For the business traveler, cost is not much of an issue, methinks. However, for the vacation seekers and budget travelers like myself, pleasure trips might take a backseat for now.