$25 for second bag check-in with US Airways

It was announced yesterday that passengers flying with US Airways wishing to check-in a second piece of luggage will be charged $25 for the privilege, the company citing rising costs as the reason for the new charge.

The new charges will come into effect on tickets purchased from today for travel beginning on May 5th. The move follows a similar scheme by United Airlines earlier this month. The baggage charge, according to US Airways spokesman Morgan Durant, is expected to generate $75 million in cost savings and revenue per year. The airline says this is the best way to deal with the fact that they are paying $100 per barrel in oil.

Durant says that around 8 percent of US Airways passengers check a second bag, and that the former charge of $80 per bag over 2 checked pieces will increase to $100. Passengers who are exempt from the fee are first class passengers and frequent flyers who have reached a certain status in the program.