Baggage Fees

(Dive Travel Business News - December 20, 2011) -- U.S. Airline passengers frustrated by inconsistencies in how carriers advertise their fares will be getting some relief next month when a new federal rule kicks in requiring that all government taxes and fees be included in the stated price.

The new rule, part of the second phase of a package of federal airline passenger protections enacted this year, is set to take effect Jan. 24.  When the law comes into effect, customers searching online for the best fare will no longer have to click through to find footnotes or fine print that boosts the final price. Airlines will still be allowed to list optional charges separately, such as baggage, seat assignment and reservation change fees.

Additional measures slated to take effect next month include:

• A requirement that airlines disclose baggage fees at the time of booking. Airlines already must post baggage fees on their websites. But passengers now will automatically see the fees when they buy a ticket online. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - July 15, 2010) -- A report released Wednesday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicates that the growing number of airline ancillary fees can be confusing and misleading to consumers and ought to come with better disclosures.

There have been many intended and unintended consequences of the unbundling fees from ticket prices. According to the GAO report: read more »

(Dive Travel Buiness News - March 16, 2010) -- It's hard to figure out the true cost of travel these days. Travel Professionals, Tour Operators and their customers are struggling to play catch-up with the changing baggage fee scene along with a surge in airline ancillary fees for meals, premium seating, blankets, WiFi and unaccompanied minors. 

In addition to the changing policies on ancillary fees, each airline has its own fee policy for these items. For instance, the fee for a single bag on a United international flight is determined by a combination of baggage weight, direction of travel, ticket class, the date the ticket was purchased, the date of travel and whether the bag will be registered at the airport or ahead of time on United's website. Then there is the question of whether or not you'll get your bag at the other end.

The situation is further complicated when factoring in how these policies affect codeshare agreements between two carriers and international-travel issues such as whether the weight limit on a bag will apply on all legs of the travel itinerary. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - Feb 3, 2010) -- Don't get caught off guard by tthe differences in air lines baggage policies. LuggageLimits.com  is an  ambitious new site built to help the travel industry and their clients determine baggage limits and fees for a specific airline they fly. The site is built around a central database that picks out what you can expect in terms of luggage limits, by matching your airline with your departure and arrival airports.

Once you choose your airline, a bunch of general information gets displayed, both as a broad description and in boxes with specific information. At the top there's a drop-down box where for setting airline-specific ticket class, which reflects the idiosyncratic options of each company.

Currently there are 139 airlines in the database including the recent addition of Avianca, Cayman Airways, LIAT, TACA, Bahamasair, and Copa Airlines. Visit LuggageLimits.com for details.

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June 12, 2008 (DTB) -- United Airlines said it will charge a service fee of $15 to check one bag for domestic travel each way, following American’s move to do the same last month. 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.

These changes apply to customers who purchase a ticket on or after June 13, 2008, for travel within the U.S. and to/from Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on or after Aug. 18, 2008. The $15 service fee does not apply to customers who are flying in United First or United Business or who have premier status with United or Star Alliance.

United said that record-breaking oil prices mandated the move and that the service fee probably will apply to one out of three customers. According to the airline, the potential revenue from baggage handling service fees, including those for checking a first and second bag, will be approximately $275 million a year. read more »

November 4, 2008 (DTN) -- United Airlines has rescinded its second bag fee increase, which was planned to become effective Nov. 10, 2008 for tickets purchased on or after Sept. 16, 2008. Instead, United's second bag fee will remain at $25. As a result, all major network carriers (American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways) checked baggage fees are now aligned at $15 for the first checked bag (each way) and $25 for the second checked bag (each way).

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ORLANDO, Fla., November 12, 2008 (AirTran Airways) -- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), today announced that the airline has modified its policy for checked bags. Effective November 12, 2008, for travel on or after December 5, 2008, customers will be charged $15 for their first checked bag. Customers who purchased tickets on or before November 11, 2008, will not be charged for their first checked bag. AirTran Airways will continue to charge $25 for a second checked bag and $50 for each additional bag.

Business Class travelers and A+ Rewards Elite members will be exempt from the first bag charges and will continue to be exempt from second bag charges.

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November 12, 2008 (Delta Air Lines) -- Effective Nov. 12, 2008, Delta Air Lines has increased its Administrative Service Charge (ASC) to $150USD/$179CAD per ticket for voluntary changes to restricted tickets sold in the United States and Canada. The Administrative Service Charge (ASC) is a per ticket reissue, exchange, or change charge.

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