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Many Passengers Find Airline Bag Fees Outrageous

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By RICH SHOPES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 16, 2008

TAMPA - Ben Dike had just paid $160 to check two suitcases that exceeded Delta Air Lines' 50-pound weight limit, so the idea of luggage fees didn't sit well with the Tampa businessman.

"It's outrageous," Dike said as he scratched a lottery card at Tampa International Airport on Sunday. "The tickets are higher, and now this; it's just getting higher and higher."

Sunday, American Airlines started charging most coach customers $15 to check a first bag. Although American was the first major carrier to announce a single-bag fee, United Airlines and US Airways quickly followed suit, saying last week that they plan to charge $15 for the first bag, too.

US Airways' fee for a first checked bag goes into effect July 9, United's on Aug. 18.

Delta does not charge for the first checked bag, but it began charging passengers $25 for a second bag on May 1 and charges $80 each for three to five checked bags.

As of July 1, Southwest Airlines will be the only U.S. carrier to allow two checked bags for free.

Most U.S. carriers already charge $25 for checking a second bag, and passengers are paying more for hefty bags as well. The added surcharges are part of a menu of new fees aimed at helping the struggling airline industry cope with record fuel prices.

All the extra charges are leaving a bad taste for many.

"This will discourage people from traveling," predicted Dike, who flies three or four times yearly.

Like many passengers, he said he has tried packing light to save on luggage fees, but that's almost impossible for extended-stay or international trips. The problems get compounded for large families traveling together with several suitcases.

Dike was flying to Atlanta for a connecting flight to Lagos, Nigeria, where he planned to visit family. His two checked bags exceeded Delta's 50-pound limit, so he was forced to pay another $80 for each suitcase.

"It used to be 70 pounds. Now it's 50," he said.

Airlines say the increased fees, or a la carte pricing, are necessary to compensate for skyrocketing fuel prices. American's fees on luggage are expected to generate $320 million to cover about 10 percent of its yearly fuel bill.

Spirit Airlines led the way last summer when it slapped fees on checked baggage.

The carrier, which at first worried about a consumer backlash, this spring decided to increase its fees for checked bags from $5 to $10 for Internet reservations and from $10 to $20 for bags checked at the airport.

Rochelle Price, who was waiting for her daughter's flight at Tampa International Airport on Sunday, said she understands airlines are wrestling with higher fuel costs, but adding fees to checked luggage will force more people to bring carry-on bags.

Airplanes' overhead compartments are already stuffed with bags, Price said. She envisions more headaches - literally - if passengers are forced to cram even more belongings into the bins.

"I've been hit in the head more than once," Price said.

Others don't mind the added costs. Georgia Siemann of Chicago said she always flies American Airlines and doesn't mind paying extra for luggage if it means keeping ticket prices lower.

She said she's careful to not overpack and on Sunday limited herself and her daughter to one suitcase between them. That's better than paying more for tickets, she said.

"I think it makes sense. It will make people more careful about what they pack," Siemann said. "If you travel with more luggage ... you're going to pay your share."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or rshopes@tampatrib.com.

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