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Airline Updates
A few months ago, Continental,
Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways announced they would begin assessing a
$25 charge (each way) for passengers checking a second bag on domestic flights.
Since I wrote that newsletter, American and several smaller carriers have also
joined the trend. This charge was intended to generate extra revenue to help
offset the rising cost of fuel.
Unfortunately, as fuel prices continue to rise, a few airlines -- including
American, Northwest, United and US Airways -- have decided to go one step
further and are now charging a fee of $15 each way ($30 roundtrip) for the first
piece of checked luggage.
American was the first to announce that they would begin charging for the first
checked bag for travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin
Islands and Canada. The new policy started with tickets purchased on or after
June 15. Exceptions include customers who purchase first or business class
tickets, AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum and AAdvantage Gold
members, oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby members, customers who
purchase full-fare tickets in economy class, and military passengers on active
duty.
Northwest's new policy is applicable to domestic, economy class tickets
purchased on or after July 10 for travel on or after August 28. Northwest
defines domestic travel as within the U.S. and to or from Canada, Mexico and the
Caribbean. Northwest Airlines' Silver, Gold and Platinum WorldPerks Elite
customers, SkyTeam Elite customers, passengers booked in full fare classes Y and
B, and customers ticketed on Northwest military or government fares may still
check two bags free of charge, and first class passengers may check up to three
bags without charge.
United Airlines is applying the fee to economy tickets purchased on or after
June 13 for flights departing on or after August 18 within the United States,
Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Canada. The following passengers are
exempt from this fee: first class, business class, First Award, Business Award,
Mileage Plus 1K, Premier Executive, Premier, Premier Associate, Star Alliance
Gold, Star Alliance Silver, Global Services members and military personnel with
orders.
US Airways' new fee applies to tickets booked on or after July 9 for flights
within the United States as well as to and from Canada, Latin America and the
Caribbean. Passengers exempt from this charge include first class and Envoy
passengers, all Dividend Miles Preferred members, Star Alliance Silver and Gold
status members, unaccompanied minors, those checking personal assistance devices
(such as a wheelchair), and active military personnel with ID and
government-issued travel orders.
For now, Continental and Delta do not plan to charge for the first checked bag,
though this could change if fuel costs continue to be a concern and they see
customers paying the fee at other airlines without a decrease in ticket sales.
Southwest Airlines remains the only major domestic carrier that still allows
customers to check up to two bags at no cost.
As always, it's wise to contact the airline directly, a few days before your
departure, for then-current information about baggage restrictions and
requirements.
Airline Phone Numbers
| Aer Lingus | 800-223-6537 |
| Aero California | 800-237-6225 |
| Aeroflot | 888-340-6400 |
| Aerolinas Argentinas | 800-333-0276 |
| Aeromexico | 800-237-6639 |
| Aeropostal | 888-912-8466 |
| Air Aruba | 800-882-7822 |
| Air Aurora | 800-443-0478 |
| Air Botswana | 800-518-7781 |
| Air Caledonia | 800-677-4277 |
| Air Canada | 888-247-2262 |
| Air China | 800-982-8802 |
| Air Europa | 888-238-7672 |
| Air Fiji | 877-AIR-FIJI |
| Air France | 800-237-2747 |
| Air India | 800-223-7776 |
| Air Jamaica | 800-523-5585 |
| Air Madagascar | 800-821-3388 |
| Air Malta | 800-756-2582 |
| Air Mauritius | 800-537-1182 |
| Air Namibia | 800-626-4242 |
| Air New Zealand | 800-262-1234 |
| Air North Airlines | 800-764-0407 |
| Air Pacific | 800-227-4446 |
| Air Portugal (TAP) | 800-221-7370 |
| Air Sunshine | 800-327-8900 |
| Air Tahiti Nui | 877-824-4846 |
| AirTran Airways | 800-AIR-TRAN |
| Air Vanuatu | 800-677-4277 |
| Air Zimbabwe | 800-742-3006 |
| Alaska Airlines | 800-426-0333 |
| Alitalia | 800-223-5730 |
| All Nippon Airways | 800-235-9262 |
| Aloha Air | 800-367-5250 |
| America West Airlines | 800-235-9292 |
| American Airlines | 800-433-7300 |
| American Trans Air | 800-225-2995 |
| Arizona Express Airlines | 866-435-9872 |
| Asiana Airlines | 800-227-4262 |
| Austrian Airlines | 800-843-0002 |
| Avianca | 800-284-2622 |
| Aviateca | 888-477-8222 |
| Bahamas Air | 800-222-4262 |
| Baltic Intl Airlines | 800-548-8181 |
| Bangkok Airways | 866-226-4565 |
| Bemidji Airlines | 800-332-7133 |
| Big Sky Airlines | 800-237-7788 |
| British Airways | 800-247-9297 |
| British Midland | 800-788-0555 |
| BWIA International | 800-538-2942 |
| CanJet Airlines | 800-809-7777 |
| Cape Air | 800-352-0714 |
| Caribbean Star Airlines | 866-864-6272 |
| Cathay Pacific Airways | 800-233-2742 |
| Cayman Airways | 800-441-3003 |
| China Airlines | 800-227-5118 |
| China Eastern Airlines | 800-200-5118 |
| China Southern | 888-338-8988 |
| Condor | 800-524-6975 |
| Continental Airlines | 800-525-0280 |
| Copa Airlines | 800-359-2672 |
| Corporate Express Airlines | 800-661-8151 |
| Corsair | 800-677-0720 |
| Croatia Airlines | 888-462-7628 |
| Czech Airlines | 800-628-6107 |
| Delta Air Lines | 800-221-1212 |
| Dutch Caribbean Airlines | 800-327-7230 |
| Egyptair | 800-334-6787 |
| El Al Israel Airlines | 800-223-6700 |
| Emirates Air | 800-777-3999 |
| Ethiopian Airlines | 800-445-2733 |
| Estonian Air | 800-397-1354 |
| EVA Airways | 800-695-1188 |
| Finnair | 800-950-5000 |
| Florida Coastal Airlines | 888-435-9322 |
| Frontier Airlines | 800-432-1359 |
| Garuda Indonesia | 800-342-7832 |
| Ghana Airways | 800-404-4262 |
| Great Lakes Airlines | 800-554-5111 |
| Great Plains Airlines | 866-929-8646 |
| Gulf Air | 888-359-4853 |
| Gulfstream Intl Airlines | 800-992-8532 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 800-367-5320 |
| Hooters Air | 888-359-4668 |
| Horizon Air | 800-547-9308 |
| Iberia | 800-772-4642 |
| Icelandair | 800-223-5500 |
| Independence Air | 800-359-3594 |
| Island Air | 800-323-3345 |
| Japan Airlines | 800-525-3663 |
| Jet Airways (India) | 866-835-9538 |
| JetBlue Airways | 800-538-2583 |
| Kenya Airways | 866-536-9224 |
| KLM | 800-374-7747 |
| Korean Air | 800-438-5000 |
| Kuwait Airways | 800-458-9248 |
| Lacsa Costa Rica | 800-225-2272 |
| LanChile Airlines | 800-735-5526 |
| Lauda Airlines | 800-588-8399 |
| Lithuanian Airlines | 877-454-8482 |
| Lloyd Aereo Boliviano | 800-327-3098 |
| LTU International | 866-266-5588 |
| Lufthansa | 800-645-3880 |
| Malaysia | 800-552-9264 |
| Malev Hungarian | 800-223-6884 |
| Martinair Holland | 800-627-8462 |
| Mesa Airlines | 800-637-2247 |
| Mexicana | 800-531-7921 |
| Midwest Airlines | 800-452-2022 |
| Mongolian Airlines | 800-642-8768 |
| Nantucket Airlines | 800-635-8787 |
| New England Airlines | 800-243-2460 |
| North Vancouver Air | 800-228-6608 |
| Northwest Airlines | 800-225-2525 |
| Olympic Airways | 800-223-1226 |
| Pacific Coastal Airlines | 800-663-2872 |
| Pakistan Intl Airline | 800-221-2552 |
| Pan Am | 800-359-7262 |
| Philippine Airlines | 800-435-9725 |
| Polynesian Airlines | 800-644-7659 |
| Qantas Airways | 800-227-4500 |
| Rover Airways Intl | 800-828-4668 |
| Royal Air Maroc | 800-344-6726 |
| Royal Jordanian Airlines | 800-223-0470 |
| Royal Nepal | 800-266-3725 |
| Royal Tongan Airlines | 800-486-6426 |
| Ryan International Airlines | 800-727-0457 |
| SAS Scandinavian Airlines | 800-221-2350 |
| Saudia Arabian Airlines | 800-472-8342 |
| Singapore Airlines | 800-742-3333 |
| Sol Air | 866-476-5247 |
| Song Delta Air | 800-359-7664 |
| South African | 800-722-9675 |
| Southeast Airlines | 800-359-7325 |
| Southwest Airlines | 800-435-9792 |
| Spanair | 888-545-5757 |
| Spirit Airline | 800-772-7117 |
| SriLankan | 877-915-2652 |
| Sun Country Airlines | 800-752-1218 |
| Sunflower Airlines, Fiji | 800-707-3454 |
| Suriname Airways | 800-327-6864 |
| SWISS | 877-359-7947 |
| TACA Airlines | 800-535-8780 |
| TAM - Brazilian Airlines | 888-235-9826 |
| TAP Air Portugal | 800-221-7370 |
| Ted Airlines | 800-225-5833 |
| Thai Air | 800-426-5204 |
| Tropic Air | 800-422-3435 |
| Turkish Airlines | 800-874-8875 |
| Ukraine Intl Airlines | 800-876-0114 |
| United Airlines | 800-241-6522 |
| US Airways | 800-428-4322 |
| USAir Shuttle | 800-428-4322 |
| Varig | 800-468-2744 |
| Vasp Brazilian Airlines | 866-776-3869 |
| Virgin Atlantic | 800-862-8621 |
| WestJet Airlines | 800-538-5696 |
| Yemen Airways | 800-936-8300 |