Might I suggest that when flying in Europe, especially easyJet, RyanAir and British Air, that you check the fine print.

A few weeks ago, I decided to check out European low cost carrier easyJet, and made a booking with one of my staffers to fly from Luton airport outside of London to Paris. The fares were certainly cheap enough — about $50 each way. And there was an additional optional box to check on the internet booking form: The airline said I was allowed only one check-in bag with a 20kg (44-pound) limit, but if I checked the box and paid an additional fee — five British pounds per passenger (or about $20 for two people) I'd be allowed to check two bags. I checked the box. It seemed fair enough.

I arrived two hours ahead of time for my flight to Paris, and that's when the airline hit me with a whammy, and a big one.

The counter agent at easyJet claimed I was 40 kilograms (88 pounds) over. How could that be? I had checked the box. I had spent the extra money for the second bag for two people —thus we were checking in two bags each — and each was 20 kilos or less in weight. I had been careful not to overpack.

But the airline still claimed I was 40 kilos over, and they were going to charge me. I wasn’t happy, but there was nothing I could do. Was the charge $25? $50? Hardly. The excess bag charges for one 48 minute flight from the U.K. to Paris: a whopping $514.69! I was trapped. Had no choice but to pay. And two days later, on another easyJet flight, they charged me $585.62.

How did this happen? Turns out it’s all in the fine print. Yes, for an additional charge I am allowed to check in a second bag on easyJet, but the airline does not increase the weight allowance no matter how many additional bags you check!

And you thought you got the shaft on flights here in the U.S. You'd think the socialists in the EU would stop evil companies from doing this sort of thing.