Your morning news roundup – today’s topics: bag fee revenge, ice cream and the world’s busiest airports.

Revenge: Don’t Pay Bags Fees

You’ve seen the stories on airline bag fees: how the top U.S. airlines collected almost $770 million in bag fees – in just the first 3 months of 2010 alone! – and how the total “ancillary fees” collected during that period was close to $1.9 billion.

Amazing.

Now the government – and plenty of passengers – are asking for more transparency when it comes to back fees. Here at FareCompare, we’ve always tried to give you just that, with our constantly updated bag fee chart, and our all-airline-fees chart.

 

Find a Good Flight Deal Now (Checked-Bag Optional)

But there’s a better way. Don’t check a bag.

Rick Seaney pointed the way, when he traveled in Italy for ten days with a carryon bag – and you can do it too. Pack light, pack your bag right.

Celebrate Ice Cream Day with Flights

Sunday (July 18) is National Ice Cream Day in the U.S. – but since when have we needed a day to celebrate our favorite dessert?

So mark the occasion anytime this summer, with flight deals to iconic ice cream destinations; here’s a few suggestions:

• Grab a good deal to Los Angeles – Southern California is where Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins opened their first ice cream parlors and eventually got together (try the Peanut Butter ‘n Chocolate, and know the meaning of happiness)
• Grab a good deal to Boston – then head north to Vermont for Ben & Jerry’s and tour their ice cream factory (try the Karamel Sutra and know Zen-like bliss)

 

Find a Good Flight Deal to Europe (the Ancient Romans Loved Ice Cream)

Godzilla Airports of the World

The world’s busiest airport? In terms of seat capacity, it’s Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson (not bad for a city with a population of only about a half-million souls).

Number two used to be London’s Heathrow, but not anymore: it’s been supplanted by Beijing.

Here’s the top 12 from the full listing of the world’s busiest airports:

1. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL)
2. Beijing (PEK)
3. London Heathrow (LHR)
4. Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
5. Tokyo Haneda (HND)
6. Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
7. Los Angeles (LAX)
8. Frankfurt (FRA)
9. Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
10. Madrid (MAD)
11. Denver (DEN)
12. Hong Kong (HKG)