Headline News
Northwest Airlines Matches Competitors
with $15 Fee for First Checked Bag
Northwest Airlines announced it is implementing a $15 fee for a first checked piece of luggage on domestic coach-class tickets purchased beginning July 10, 2008, for travel on or after August 28, 2008. This follows on the heels of similar announcements by American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways. I suspect that Delta (which plans to merge with Northwest) and Continental will follow suit soon enough, as will most if not all of the low-cost carriers. Southwest continues to be the only airline that allows two free checked bags to all passengers on domestic flights.
As with the other aforementioned airlines charging for your first checked bag, Northwest is adding this fee on top of a $25 charge it previously implemented for a second checked bag. Both fees apply each way to travel in North America (U.S./Canada), Mexico and the Caribbean. Passengers are still allowed two free checked bags when flying outside of the U.S. (excluding Canada).
There are exceptions to the fee. Northwest Airlines' Silver, Gold and Platinum WorldPerks® Elite customers, SkyTeam Elite customers and passengers booked in full-fare classes (Y or B) can check two bags free of charge. Customers seated in first class can continue to check up to three bags free of charge. Luggage in excess of these special free allowances will be charged a fee of $100 per piece each way. Passengers flying on military and government fares also are exempt.
In addition, for domestic coach-class tickets purchased prior to July 10, 2008, the luggage allowance is one piece of checked luggage and one carry-on, plus a purse, brief case or laptop. The fee for a second piece of checked luggage is $25 each way.
Northwest also has increased its fee to change a ticket and is adding a service fee to book award tickets. For WorldPerks® Award tickets issued in North America on or after September 15, 2008, Northwest will charge $25 for domestic tickets, $50 for Trans-Atlantic tickets, and $100 for Trans-Pacific travel. As for ticket change fees, starting July 9, the fee for domestic non-refundable ticket changes will increase from $100 to $150. International ticket change fees will increase by an additional $50 to $150 per ticket, depending on class of service and other restrictions.
For more information, check the "Luggage FAQs" section on www.nwa.com.