A few days back we posted about the rising cost of oil driving airlines to innovate. While the innovation is welcome, it's not the only thing coming out of the airlines--fees of all shapes, colours and sizes are flying around faster than the airlines' jets.

IATA predicts the world’s airlines will lose $2.3 billion this year — that’s if a barrel of crude oil averages $107 for the year. If oil averages $135, the world’s airlines will bleed $6.1 billion in 2008. Rather than just raising prices a little bit to compensate for the increase in fuel prices, airlines are, shall we say, "innovating" with fees.

American Airlines was the first to charge a $15 fee for your first checked bag, with United and US Air quickly following suit. US Airways is no longer offering any free drinks to any of its domestic economy passengers. Fuel surcharges are old news. JetBlue is charging $5 for in-flight movies and Delta is charging a $25 fee for reservations made over the telephone.

The most imaginative fee, however, is a fee based on a passenger's body weight

Imagine two scales at the airline ticket counter, one for your bags and one for you. The price of a ticket depends upon the weight of both... "You listen to the airline CEOs, and nothing is beyond their imagination," said David Castelveter, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association.