The Sinister Motive Behind Airline Baggage Fees

With the soaring cost of fuel, some airlines are imposing new restrictions on the number of free checked luggage. As an airline captain, it appears to me an attempt to move counted bags in the cargo hold to non-counted bags in the passenger compartment. While the actual gross weight of the aircraft will not change, the assumed payload weight (assumed weight of bags plus assumed weight of passengers) used by the airline to calculate weight-and-balance and fuel requirements will change. This is a sinister effort to reduce fuel costs at the expense of aviation safety. I suggest all airlines who limit the number of free checked bags to less than two be immediately required to weigh all checked and un-checked luggage and passengers and crew and use actual weights in all weight-and-balance and fuel computations.