TSA Plus AA Equals 'Grrr'

How does a $5 bottle of Caribbean rum become a $20 bottle of rum? When you have to pay to check your bag on American Airlines because you're trying to bring home a bottle of liquid lightning. Yup, I got smacked with AA's stupid checked-bag fee last week on my way home from St. Vincent and the Grenadines after picking up a bottle of Sunset rum at the airport duty-free shop. Which would have been a bargain except for the Transportation Security Administration's ban on carrying liquid onboard the flight, thus necessitating the packing and paying.

Grrr. I hate getting nickel-and-dimed by the airlines. Next time I need to get from Boston to San Juan, it's going to be on (fee-free) JetBlue, so I can continue to indulge in one of the true pleasures of Caribbean travel: bringing home high-quality and inexpensive rum for family and friends!