Hawaiian carriers add charges as well

Both Delta and Northwest have come out with revised baggage fees. Northwest said it will join several other legacy airlines in imposing a fee of $15 for a domestic passenger’s first piece of checked luggage. Northwest already charges $25 for a second checked bag, like other major carriers. The new first-bag fee will apply for tickets issued after July 10 and travel on or after August 28. Northwest’s Silver, Gold and Platinum WorldPerks Elite customers will still be able to check two bags for no charge, as will SkyTeam elite customers and passengers paying full fares (Y or B). Northwest also enhanced its web site (www.nwa.com) so that passengers who check in online can now prepay luggage fees with a credit card. Delta, meanwhile, said it is increasing the fee for a domestic passenger’s second piece of checked luggage from $25 to $50, effective for tickets purchased on or after July 31 and travel on or after August 15. Medallion-level members of SkyMiles will still be able to check up to three bags at no charge, Delta said. The airline noted that it is also increasing fees for baggage items that require special handling, like ski equipment and surfboards. Delta is still allowing domestic passengers to check one bag for no fee. Delta’s fee for checking a third bag on domestic flights is going up from $80 to $125. In Hawaii, meanwhile, the inter-island carrier Go! said it will start charging passengers a $10 fee for the first checked bag effective August 10, but it is reducing the fee for a second checked bag to $17. And Hawaiian Airlines set an October 1 start for a new $15 fee for the first piece of checked luggage on flights between the mainland and Hawaii; it will not charge that fee for inter-island travel.