Delta to raise baggage fees

Domestic flights will increase from $25 to $50
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal
by Atlanta Business Chronicle


Delta Air Lines Inc. will increase fees for checked baggage on some domestic and international flights to cope with skyrocketing fuel prices.

for the second checked bag on domestic flights will increase from $25 to $50 for passengers who purchased a ticket on or after July 31 for flights on or after Aug. 5. Fees for items requiring special care, such as surfboards, also will increase on both domestic and international routes.

First checked bags will remain complementary on domestic flights, as will the first two checked bags on international trips, the carrier said.

Passengers in first class, BusinessElite customers and Medallion customers will still be able to check up to three bags at no charge, the airline said.

The fee hikes will apply to passengers who purchased a ticket on or after July 31 for flights on or after Aug. 5, the airline said. Fuel costs have risen more than 70 percent in the past year, and Atlanta-based Delta (NYSE: DAL) said the fees will help offset rising costs.

Fee changes for Canadian and Brazilian routes will require foreign government approval.