In Baggage and Reservation Fees??? In 2012 alone???

As if ticket prices weren’t already so high as to make one think twice about flying, now we learn that the weaselly money-hungry airlines have collected six billion dollars in various fees, from charges for checking one or more pieces of luggage to charges for overweight bags to fees for reservations changes.

And, had it not been for that $6 billion, the industry would have lost money.

The airlines took in $159.5 billion in revenue last year and had expenses of $153.6 billion, according to the government. That 3.7% profit margin comes entirely from the baggage and change fees.

Good grief.