Airlines checked baggage fees

Posted on 04. Jun, 2008 by Theresa Ritchie in Travel Information

The Department of Transportation has issued specific policies effective immediately on the disclosure of fees for checked baggage. Please refer to this list for a summary of each carrier’s policies. Click on the link to go to the carriers’ websites for full detailed information.

Air Canada

Air Canada said that it will implement changes to its checked baggage policy on flights within Canada, and between Canada and the U.S. including Hawaii, effective May 15, 2008 for travel on or after July 15, 2008.

Under the new policy, customers who purchase Tango and Tango Plus tickets may check one bag at no charge and a second bag for a $25 service fee. Tango and Tango Plus customers will continue to have the choice of customizing their fare including obtaining a discount when travelling without checked luggage.

There is no change in the checked bag policy for customers purchasing Latitude and Executive Class tickets. As well, Air Canada Elite, Super Elite and Prestige members in addition to Star Alliance Gold and Silver members maintain their current baggage allowance when purchasing Tango and Tango Plus fares. Baggage allowance for travel to and from countries other than Canada and the United States will remain unchanged. This includes North American flights as part of international travel. View complete details of new Air Canada’s baggage policies.

Alaska Airlines

The baggage rules and fees noted below apply to tickets purchased on or after May 1, 2008, for travel on or after July 1, 2008. Free baggage allowance consists of 1 checked bag per ticketed passenger. Baggage can be a maximum of 62 linear inches (length + width + height) and may weigh up to 50 pounds. Excess baggage charges apply to additional pieces, overweight pieces between 51 and 100 pounds and oversized pieces of luggage. Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD roundtrip). View complete details of Alaska Airline’s baggage policies.

American Airlines

Customers who purchase domestic economy class tickets on or after May 12, 2008 but before June 15, 2008 may check one bag for free and check a second bag for $25 each way. Customers who purchase domestic economy class tickets on or after June 15, 2008 will be charged $15 each way for the first checked bag and $25 each way for the second checked bag. Our carry-on policy of one personal item (such as a purse or laptop bag) plus one bag remains in place. View complete details of American Airline’s baggage policies.

Continental Airlines

Continental Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy for certain Economy fare tickets that were purchased on or after April 5 for travel on or after May 5, 2008. This policy applies to travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for $25 USD fee ($50 USD roundtrip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
Note: OnePass Elite members, SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members, Tickets issued on Y class of service, Continental Airlines Presidential Plus credit card holders, active military traveling on orders are not impacted by this policy change. View details of Continental Airline’s baggage policies.

Delta Airlines

Delta has announced a new checked baggage policy for domestic tickets traveling on or after May 1, 2008. Customers may check one bag free of charge when traveling in the U. S., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD roundtrip). (If traveling outside the U.S. you can check two bags free of charge.) The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage. The fee will be charged to passengers if their itinerary includes segments after May 1 regardless of when the tickets were purchased. View more details on Delta Airlines baggage policies.

Frontier Airlines

The following fees and policy changes are effective for Frontier Airlines tickets purchased on or after
June 10, 2008:

For flights within the United States (domestic flights):

* Bag 1 – Complimentary
* Bag 2 – $25
* Bag 3 and above – $50 per piece for each additional bag

For flights to/from Mexico, Canada, or Costa Rica:

* Bag 1 – Complimentary
* Bag 2 – $25
* Bag 3 and 4 – $50 per piece
* Bag 5 thru 17 – $100 per piece
* Bag 18 and above – $200 per piece for each additional bag

View more information on Frontier Airlines baggage policies.

Jet Blue

Each customer may bring two bags free of charge until June 1, 2008. On or after June 1st, each customer may bring only one bag free of charge. Please note: Customers who booked their reservation prior to May 1, 2008, may continue to bring two bags free of charge.

Second Bag Fee (Effective June 1, 2008)
Customers who booked their flight on or after May 1, 2008 will be charged an additional $20 fee for checking a second bag on flights on or after June 1, 2008.

3rd+ Baggage
Customers checking three or more bags on their flight will be charged a $75 fee per bag if they booked on or after May 1, 2008. View more details on Jet Blue’s baggage policy.

Northwest Airlines

Northwest Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy for those traveling within North America on or after May 5, 2008. This policy applies to tickets issued on/after March 29 for travel within north America on/after May 5. Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD roundtrip). For customers checking in three or more bags, the carrier will assess a fee of $100 per bag each way. The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage. View more information on Northwest Airlines baggage policies.

Note: Silver, Gold, and Platinum WorldPerks Elite customers, SkyTeam Elite customers, and those booked in first or full fare classes (Y or B) will not be impacted by this policy change.

Spirit Airlines

All customers are allowed one free carry-on bag. Effective June 10, 2008, fees for bags paid in advance online at www.spiritair.com are $10 each way for the first bag only. The fee for Bag #2 is $20 each way, and items 3-5 are $100 per item each way. When paying at the airport, fees for the first and second bags are $20 per bag each way. View more information on Spirit Airlines’ pre-purchase of checked bags.

United Airlines

United has published a new checked baggage policy for customers who purchase Economy tickets for travel exclusively within the United states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.

Customers purchasing any domestic Economy ticket and who do not have premium status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for $25.00. Customers who have attained Premier Associate status or higher in Mileage Plus or Silver status and above with a Star Alliance partner are exempt from this policy change. This new policy applies to tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008. View more information on United Airlines baggage policy.

US Airways

US Airways has announced a new baggage policy for tickets purchased on or after February 26 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.  The new policy applies to all flights within the United States, to/from Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 roundtrip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.

The following passengers are exempt from the $25 second checked bag fee: All Dividend Miles Preferred members (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Chairman’s Preferred), passengers traveling to and from Europe, or to and from Asia, 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. View more information on US Airways baggage policies.