The rising fuel costs are hurting everybody, and that includes the airlines. Look, when you check your bag @ the airport it doesn't get to where you're going by magic. Somebody has to screen it and somebody has has to load it on to the plane and somebody has to unload it once you're there. That all costs $$$. Furthermore, if I can carry on my only bag while the person in front of me is checking 3-4 bags, to me that person SHOULD pay more. Why should I have my ticket priced higher just so some Desperate Housewives wannabe can take 19 bathing suits and 12 pairs of shoes on vacation with her? This provides travelers incentives to travel lighter which will help reduce the costs the airlines incur. One potential problem I do see with this though is people trying to carry on bags they have no business carrying on which will produce headaches for the flight attendants and everyone else.