Airline tickets to cost less than baggage?

With Delta Airlines Inc., the nation’s third largest carrier, doubling its charge for checking a second bag, some observers wonder when bags will cost more than airline tickets. Or is it happening already?

Fee changes include an increase from $25 to $50 to check a second bag for domestic travel. Fees for specialty items that require special handling, such as surfboards or ski equipment, will increase on domestic and international flights, Delta said.

Consumer reaction was negative. Readers of the Consumerist blog reacted this way:

“Does this strike anyone else as INSANE? They are getting greedier by the second. Soon breathing in their planes will carry a charge.”

“This is getting out of hand. I’d rather see them raise ticket prices a little bit then continue to go crazy with fees.”

“The airlines will always be bloated (and) mismanaged. …If passengers would revolt and quit flying, maybe something would change.”

First Class, BusinessElite and Medallion customers will still be able to check up to three bags at no charge, the airline said.

Delta said that as fuel costs remain high, it believes revising its fee structure for excess bags and specialty items is essential to generate the necessary revenues to offset its higher costs.

Delta currently does not charge passengers for checking a first bag on domestic flights. It has said it is studying a decision by several other major carriers to impose that fee.

Delta customers checking bags on international flights can check a first and second bag at no charge.

Fees are for each extra bag, each way.

The fee for checking a third bag on a domestic flight will increase from $80 to $125, while the fee for checking a bag that is between 51 and 70 pounds on a domestic flight will rise from $80 to $90. On any flight checking a bag that is 62 inches to 80 inches of the total of its length plus its width plus its height will rise from $150 to $175.

Delta warned on its Web site that if a customer has an extra piece of baggage that goes over the weight limit and the size limit, the passenger will be charged three times — once for the extra bag, once for going over the size limit and once for going over the weight limit.

Report by David Wilkening