TRAVELERS who book airfare through Delta Airlines can expect to pay more if they check their bags.
Delta Airlines announced hiking its checked bag fee by $5 this month.
It follows major airfare companies like United Airlines, American Airlines, and JetBlue Airways in raising expenses for checked bags.
Consumers and vacation-goers have taken the news tough, as travelers were already paying $30 to check bags.
Now they’ll have to cough up $35 for their first checked bag and $45 for a second one.
This applies to both domestic flights and international short-haul routes.
However, the change doesn’t apply to plane tickets bought before March 5.
Plus, customers with Delta SkyMiles will continue to enjoy their complimentary checked bag perk.
The company cited rising industry costs as the main factor motivating them to implement the price hike.
Airlines raising prices
Below is a list of all the current US airlines implementing price hikes:
- Delta Air Lines – $35 for first checked bag, $45 for second checked bag
- American Airlines – $40 for most flights, $35 if you pay before arriving at the airport
- United Air Lines – $40 for first checked bag ($35 if traveler pays 24 hours in advance), $50 for second checked bag ($45 if traveler pays 24 hours in advance)
- JetBlue Airways – $45 for first checked bag
- Alaska Airways – $30 – $35 for first checked bag, $40 – $45 for second checked bag
The U.S. Sun contacted Delta Air Lines requesting a comment.
CHECKED OUT
Social media users shared their frustrated feelings toward the change.
“More corporate greed,” one consumer wrote on Facebook.
“CEO compensation [is] $9.5 billion.”
“Idiotic,” said another. “Should be reducing baggage fees just to reduce the ridiculous amount of carry-on crap, which causes massive load/unload delays.”
“By charging to carry bags they force people to carry on,” one person added.
“Then because everyone is carrying on, the overheads are too full so they offer free checked bags at the gate.”
FLIGHT FAIL
The CEO of Flair Airlines confirmed it’s cutting more than 600 flights from its schedule.
According to data from Cirium, the Canadian-based airline cut more than 200 flights in March, April, and May.
Flair Airlines’ CEO Stephen Jones said the changes were normal, despite other Canadian airlines expanding their flight schedules.
Read about the three airlines that declared bankruptcy, with one wracking up $1 billion in debt.
Meanwhile, read The U.S. Sun’s list of the world’s best places to visit on holiday.