Headline News
Airline Fees Reach New Heights...Or Lows: You'll Pay for That First Checked Bag Too
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, American Airlines, the nation's largest carrier, announced it will charge $15 for the first checked bag. That's on top of the newly implemented policy of charging $25 for your second checked bag. Apparently this gives other airlines permission to do the same. So far, United and US Airways also think it's a great idea.
At this point, perhaps it's the perfect opportunity to alert you that Southwest Airlines is the only airline that still allows you to check up to two free bags and they say they plan to keep it that way. So, if you're lucky enough to live near an airport served by Southwest, book a flight and feel free to bring your luggage (pun intended).
Now, back to the grim news regarding fees for checking your bag, any bag at all. And there's no use trying to avoid checked-baggage fees by stuffing everything into an oversized carry-on, either. While airlines have not changed their carry-on rules, they will be enforcing them, so you'll be busted and end up paying to check that oversized carry-on. As far as the nitty-gritty, let's break it down by airline:
American Airlines
• The $15 fee for a first checked bag takes effect on domestic economy-class tickets purchased on or after June 15, 2008, and applies each way. A reminder: The $25 fee for a second checked bag is effective on tickets purchased on or after May 15, 2008.
• Exceptions to this policy include American's AAdvantage program members who have achieved AAdvantage Gold®, AAdvantage Platinum® and AAdvantage Executive Platinum® levels; those who have purchased full-fare tickets in the economy, business and first-class cabins; and those with international itineraries (except to and from Canada and U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Passengers flying on military and government fares also are exempt.
• American also has increased its fees for certain other services, ranging from reservation service fees to pet and oversized-bag fees. The increases mostly range from $5 to $50 per service.
For more information, visit the "Baggage Information" section on www.aa.com.
United Airlines
• The $15 fee for a first checked bag takes effect for tickets booked as of June 13, 2008, for travel on or after Aug. 18, 2008, and applies each way. The $25 fee for a second checked bag affects tickets purchased on or after Feb. 4, 2008. Passengers flying on tickets issued before Feb. 4 are exempt from both fees and can still check two free pieces of luggage.
• The fees apply to economy tickets for travel exclusively within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. For itineraries that include international flights (except Canada), checking a first and second bag will continue to be free, and the cost to check more than two bags or items that are overweight or require special handling varies by destination.
• Exceptions to this policy are passengers flying business class or first class; members of Global Services, Mileage Plus® 1K®, Premier Executive®, Premier® or Premier Associate®; Star Alliance® Gold or Silver members; and military personnel traveling on orders.
• United also announced the fee to check three or more bags, overweight bags or items that require special handling will increase from $100 to $125 or from $200 to $250, depending on the item.
• Customers can pay these service fees at an airport Easy Check-In kiosk with a credit card or at the check-in counter with a credit card, check or cash.
For more information, United’s new checked bag policy is available at united.com/baggage.
US Airways
• The $15 fee for a first checked bag takes effect for travel on or after July 9, 2008, and applies each way. Passengers flying on tickets issued before July 9 are exempt and can still check one free bag. The $25 fee for a second checked bag applies to anyone who purchased a ticket after Feb. 26, 2008. Travelers who purchased airline tickets before Feb. 26 for travel on or after July 9 are exempt from both checked-baggage fees.
• Applies to economy-class tickets for all flights to and from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as flights within the U.S.
• Applies to all itineraries operated by US Airways, US Airways Express and US Airways Shuttle.
• Checked-bag fees are waived for all Dividend Miles Preferred members (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Chairman’s Preferred); passengers traveling to and from Europe; confirmed first-class and envoy passengers at time of check-in; Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members; active military personnel with ID and government-issued travel orders; unaccompanied minors; and passengers checking personal assistive devices.
Additional information is available at US Airway's website, www.usairways.com/baggage.