Some airlines still adding new fees

Budget carrier AirTran Airways is charging passengers a $15 fee for checking a first bag, joining a long line of other airlines that have done the same. The new fee will be applied on travel from December 5.

AirTran is the latest of the regional carriers to charge for the first checked bag, following the lead of Frontier and Midwest, as well as all major airlines in the U.S., which have added the bag charge as an additional source of revenue.

The profits of many carriers have been wiped out on many of its domestic routes by the economic downturn and weak passenger demand. Their international routes are remaining profitable, however.

Delta Air Lines was the last of the full-fare airlines to charge for a first checked bag, adding a $15 fee for travel from December 4. Last week, Delta lowered its fee on a second checked bag from $50 to $25. According to Delta Air Lines the changes were introduced to align its policies with that of its new partner, Northwest Airlines. The newly-combined carriers have formed an airline that will be called Delta.

American Airlines, the second-largest U.S. carrier, introduced its first-bag fee of $15 in June. Continental, Northwest, and US Airways quickly followed American’s lead.

Southwest Airlines does not charge for first or second checked bags, and advertises this policy saying: ‘Fees don’t fly with us.’

www.airtran.com