AirTran Airways became the latest airline to introduce a fee to check a second bag, though the carrier plans to charge $10 compared with the $25 fee adopted by most legacy airlines. AirTran said it plans to assess the charge for travel beginning May 15.
AirTran said the fee would not apply to business class passengers or holders of elite status in its frequent flyer program. "The airline will continue to allow passengers to check additional bags for a $50 fee per additional bag," the carrier said in a statement. "As with the previous policy, weight and size restrictions apply."Continental Airlines earlier this week became the fifth legacy carrier to adopt the $25 charge for a second bag.
"Checked baggage, especially excess weight baggage, has been a major issue since last fall," states Parsons. "Recently we saw Southwest Airlines reduce free checked baggage from three bags to two. Last summer travelers who checked bags exceeding 50 to 70 pounds had to pay an additional $25 each way. Today American, United, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Virgin America and US Airways have increased the charge to $50 each way for excess weight checked bags. This new fee will catch the traveling public off guard - costing them a very pretty $100 bill roundtrip for an excess weight bag even if it is one bag that exceeds 50 pounds," observes Tom Parsons.
It should be noted however, that Northwest Airlines, AirTran, Alaska Air, Midwest Airlines and Southwest Airlines are the only remaining major airlines still maintaining the $25 fee for excess weight bags. Currently, low cost carrier JetBlue still has the best deal for excess weight baggage, charging only $20 for bags weighing 51 to 70 pounds.
Carry-on bags have also become an issue, especially on code share international flights. "This spring break, my daughter is flying to Europe on a class trip," says Parsons. "She is flying from Dallas via Atlanta nonstop to Madrid on Delta Airlines and is permitted to carry a purse and an extra carry-on, such as a small backpack. The school group is returning from Paris to Atlanta on Air France, a Delta code share partner. From Paris back to Atlanta, the students are permitted one carry-on - not two." To add to the confusion, many airlines do not permit excess luggage, overweight or extra bags at all to many international destinations during peak holiday periods. That's just another baggage embargo that will confuse the traveling public or catch them off guard.
"Now if we only had Abbot and Costello around maybe they would be able to figure out who's on first, who's on second and who's on third when it comes to flying with either carry-on or checked bags", adds Parsons.
Parsons suggests you check your airlines ever changing rules and restrictions for carry-on and checked baggage. Use the term "excess baggage" in your online search, or the read the contract of carriage for the most up to date information. And don't check months in advance, but a few days prior to departure. "Baggage restrictions of all kinds are just like the weather, always subject to change," states Parsons.
