Elite frequent flyers are exempt

Denver-based Frontier Airlines has become the latest carrier to announce it will charge a $15 fee for a passenger’s first piece of checked luggage. The Frontier policy takes effect November 1, for tickets purchased on or after September 13. Elite members (Summit and Ascent levels) of Frontier’s EarlyReturns frequent flyer program will be exempt from fees for a first and second checked bag, as will elite members of partner AirTran’s A+ Rewards program when they are traveling on Frontier. In June, the carrier started charging a $25 fee for a second checked bag. Along with Frontier, airlines that now charge a fee (except for their elite flyers) for a first checked bag include American, Continental, Northwest, Spirit, United and US Airways; Midwest Airlines will implement a first-checked-bag fee effective October 21. The first checked bag is still free at Alaska, AirTran, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and Virgin America – although Delta recently boosted the fee for a second checked bag from $25 to $50.