12 January 2010

Latest new airline feesÃ¢â¬~¦maybe

Airline fees have gone up so suddenly but this may be the latest…so far, anyway.

Here are some new fees, as listed in SmarterTravel.com in its "Ultimate Guide to Airline Fees" as well as other sources:

• AirTran raised its fee for overweight bags between 51 and 70 pounds to US$49 (formerly US$39); raised its bag size allowance to 70 linear inches, and now charges US$79 for bags measuring 71 pounds or more.

• Delta Air Lines Inc. is raising its fees to check the first bag on a domestic flight by US$8 and the second bag by US$7. It will continue to cost you even more if you don't pay the fees in advance on the airline's Web site. Elite frequent fliers and certain other customers, including active military personnel on deployment, are exempt from the fees.

• Hawaiian changed first bag fees to US$15 online/US$20 airport (formerly US$15, airport only), and raised second bag fees to US$25 online, US$30 airport (formerly US$20, airport only).

• JetBlue lowered overweight bag fees to US$50 for bags between 51 and 70 pounds (formerly US$75) and to US$100 for bags 71 to 99 pounds (formerly US$175 for bags 71 to100 pounds).
• Midwest raised overweight bag fees to US$75 for bags between 51 and 100 pounds (formerly US$50 for bags between 51 and 70 pounds, US$65 for bags (between 71 and 100 pounds).

• Virgin America raised the fee for bags three through US$10 to US$20 (formerly $15).

Southwest (so far) does not charge baggage fees but rumors are out there…

By David Wilkening