[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

Zaydog:

Check-out this link--

http://www.airtran.com/policies/carr...CheckedBaggage

That's where I got the info I put in the title to this post.

In any case, based on your post, I guess we should start printing-out the baggage policies of the airline(s) we travel on.

The big problem I see to Airtran's $10, if paid on line, or $20, if paid at the airport, is the potential for fraud. All Airtran need do, to generate some additional--fraudulent--income, is to block people from paying for piece #2 on line. This can be done by causing a "technical difficulties" screen to appear when an attempt is made to pay on-line.

As a practical matter, the only way one can protect themself against airport agents who decide to re-write their company's contract of carriage is to pay whatever absurd sum is requested--with a credit card--then dispute the amount with the credit card issuer. You should enclose print-outs, and links, from the airline's website, which support your claim. Going through any airline's customer service department is a waste of time--unless you're trying to get some travel vouchers that are valid only on February 31st!

In general, your experience confirms a belief I've had for some time. Just like you would, very carefully, read every document a dishonest used car dealer gave you, one must, likewise, very carefully read and, where applicable, print-out, on-line statements of the airline you will be traveling on. Indeed, printing-out the contract of carriage is not a bad idea.

Airtran's calling the cops also seems to back-up my previous comments: To a significant degree, life in a US airport, or aboard a US aircraft, is a police state. One's Constitutional rights simply do not apply. I would even question whether the Magna Carta applies since people seem to be threatened with arrest--or, actually, arrested--for "offenses" having no basis in codified, or case, law.