Here’s another reason to try and stuff everything you own into a tiny carry-on bag: according to NPR, Delta has raised its checked baggage fees, starting today.
If you pay online for your checked bags, you’ll be charged $23 for the first bag and $32 for the second — an $8 and $7 increase from current rates, respectively. If you wait to check in your bags at the airport, you’ll have to pay even more: $25 for the first bag, $35 for the second.
This is so ridiculous! Remember when checked bags and headsets were free? Remember when airlines would actually FEED you and not try to charge you $5 for a few Doritos? If you’re like me, you use search engines like Kayak.com to try and find the cheapest fare among several airlines - but when you’re comparing prices, don’t forget to add how much you’ll have to pay for checked bags.
Delta’s fees are pretty expensive compared with other airlines. Take a look at their competitors’ prices:
Airline 1st bag (Online) 1st bag (Airport) 2nd bag (Online) 2nd bag (Airport)
US Airways $20 $25 $30 $35
Southwest Free Free Free Free
United Airlines $15 $20 $25 $30
Northwest Free $2 ($5 after 8/4) Free $3 ($5 after 8/4)
Jetblue Free Free $30 $30
AirTran $15 $15 $25 $25
Virgin America $20 $20 $20 $20
Southwest wins! Keep in mind that airlines may tack on additional fees if your bags are overweight, or if you’re traveling internationally.
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Comments
Heather Huntington
January 12th, 2010 - 9:51:21 AM
UGGGGGGGGGGGH.
1
Kyle
January 14th, 2010 - 4:17:13 PM
If you search on KAYAK, you can actually filter the search results to include baggage fees on each airline, so you can see what the "real" final price will be. Pretty cool tool.
2