{"id":3673,"date":"2010-01-28T09:14:21","date_gmt":"2010-01-28T15:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=3673"},"modified":"2016-12-16T21:46:35","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T03:46:35","slug":"airlines-raise-checked-baggage-fees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2010\/01\/airlines-raise-checked-baggage-fees\/","title":{"rendered":"Airlines raise checked baggage fees"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"checkedBy Joe Brancatelli<\/em><\/p>\n

After the first full year of charging checked baggage fees on flights<\/a>, the five remaining legacy carriers are racking up huge annual losses. American Airlines, for example, reported a full-year 2009 loss of $1.5 billion, and Continental reported a 2009 lossof $282 million. On the other hand, Southwest Airlines, the lone carrier that still permits all travelers to check two bags on flights free of charge, reported a $99 million profit in 2009.<\/p>\n

So how have the legacy carriers reacted to their losses and Southwest’s profit? They’ve all raised their checked baggage fees again. It started with Delta Air Lines, which now charges $23 for the first bag and $32 for the second if you pay online or $25 and $35 at the airport. Within a dollar or two, all of the other legacy carriers matched. Southwest has been thrilled with this decision and has been advertising heavily to promote its bags-fly-free policy.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/h3>\n