Delta charges fees for first checked bag
Better pack lightly for your holiday travel on Delta Airlines, folks --- and ship the cranberry sauce ahead of time.
Travelers will now pay a bag-check fee for the first as well as any additional luggage they tote with them.
The new policy is what Northwest Airlines, which Delta bought last week, already has in place.
In a press release, Delta also announced it would no longer levy fuel surcharges for trips earned with frequent flyer miles or administrative fees for using skycap services.
Of course, they *will* be charging $15 for the first bag as well as $25 for a second, for travel on or after Dec. 5.
If you've bought a Delta ticket before today (Nov. 5) for travel before Dec. 5, you'll only have to pay ...
... $50 for a second bag, but your first bag will still be free.
But if you're flying first or business class, including SkyMiles Medallion members and WorldPerks Elite members, you can check three bags weighing up to 70 pounds for free.
Still not satisfied paying more? You could even decide to upgrade to a different seat in coach, by selecting a new "Coach Choice" seat. The markup ranges from $5 to $25 depending on the seat and the destination.
(photo: Associated Press)
Comments
My wife and I traveled to AZ to close on a house. We decided to use some of our Delta reward miles because we thought the flight would be "free". Boy, what a mistake. Delta not only charged us $100 apiece to use our airmails but also charged us $50 apiece for our second bag. So in fact, we ended up paying almost as much as a regular airfare by using our frequent flyer miles. And to top it off, Delta charges for meals now on flights. We were charged $8 for a chicken sandwich. Better to buy your Subway sandwich before the flight if you have time. So think twice about flying Delta. And go with a another carrier if you can.
$100 each?! Thank goodness those fuel surcharges are no longer in effect. I'm wondering if you might have made more on a tax deduction donating those miles to charity. --- lfk
Posted by: Barry | November 5, 2008 1:35 PM
I travel often for work and this is now the standard, not the exception. Unless it's an international flight, you have to pay for anything more than a cookie/pretzels. Nothing free anymore.
Sometimes you have to pay for aisle seats, window seats...it's out of control.
It's hard for me to separate expectations --- a free in-flight beverage, snack, etc. --- with something that seems critical to a trip, such as the clothes to wear while you're away. I mean, JetBlue is charging $7 for pillows, which might be worth it if you *really* want or need a pillow and didn't bring one. But paying to check your first bag seems like too much. --- lfk.
Posted by: not just delta | November 5, 2008 1:47 PM