Checked Baggage Fee with Layover Question

[phragmipedium]

Forgive me if this has been done to death, but I'm having a hard time finding the answer to my question.

Most of the FAQs on airline baggage fees mention that the fee applies for each flight. My question is, does that include layovers?

My DH and I plan to fly from Boise to MCO in August. Our flight there (on United) will include a layover in Denver and our return flight (on Delta) will include a layover in SLC. We will likely each have one checked bag. Should be expecting to pay $60 total ($30 for two bags there and $30 for two bags back) or $120 because of the two layovers equaling four actual flights?

Again, forgive me if it's a silly question, but I haven't flown since August 2006, when the liquid concern was still very new but the checked baggage fees hadn't yet began.

 

[kaytieeldr]

As long as YOU didn't book the tickets that way (flight from BOI to DEN, different flight from DEN to MCO; then flight from MCO to SLC, different flight from SLC to BOI) then you will each only pay the fee once in each direction.

 

[phragmipedium]

As long as YOU didn't book the tickets that way (flight from BOI to DEN, different flight from DEN to MCO; then flight from MCO to SLC, different flight from SLC to BOI) then you will each only pay the fee once in each direction.

Ah - that makes sense. No, I'd be booking through expedia I think, and it looks like a departure with a layover, and a return flight with a layover. So I think it should be the $60. Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

It they are different flight numbers you would be charged for each flight.

 

[Carriemel]

The OP will NOT be charged for each flight. OP will, however, be charged on the way TO MCO from BOI and on the way FROM MCO to BOI only. When she checks in, the bags will be tagged to the final destination. Only if she would be spending the night (stopover not layover) in the intermediate city would there be need for a second bag fee.

 

[drew64]

Here is how the rules work.

first, I don't think you have a layover. A loayover is when you break your trip and stay at a midpoint. What I believe you have is a connecting flight with the change in Denver.

within the continental US, a layover is a planned stop of more than 4 hours duration at the midpoint. Planned in that you can exceed 4 hours if flights are delayed/cancelled.

For a layover your bags woudl only be checked to Denver and then, you would recheck them for Denver-Orlando and would pay the fee twice.

More likely, you have a connecting flight with a change in planes/flight numbers in Denver. In that case, your bags will be checked through to Orlando, you will not see them in Denver and you will only pay the baggage fee once for straight through to your destination which is Orlando.

 

[CarolA]

Is there a reason you want to book via Expedia? If the price is the same book on the airlines website.

Otherwise when the schedule changes you get to deal with Expedia. It's an ONLINE agency.....Customer Service can be "iffy" I would rather deal direct!

(And no two "flight numbers" does not mean two charges. As other's have pointed out it's the overall trip. So your basic Bosie-Denver-MCO is one charge. If you spent a few days in Denver before heading onto MCO then it's two charges)

 

[Lewisc]

Online sites like Expedia will sometimes book connecting flights on two different airlines. I'm not sure how checked luggage charges work under those circumstances.

I agree with the pp, book directly with the airline.

 

[crashbb]

Although I'm not sure how well this holds for trips booked through Expedia (for the reasons Lewisc pointed out) I was told that you are, in essence, paying to "check in" your luggage.

So, if you have a connecting flight, you generally don't collect and then check-in your baggage in the lay over city. Therefore, you only pay once.

However, if you have a stop over where you do collect your luggage and then check-in again for your next flight (after spending some time in the stop over city), then you do pay again.

Similarly, if you've booked two back-to-back tickets (i.e. made your own connecting flights) then you'd have to check in for each flight separately and, thus, pay twice.

 

[CarolA]

Online sites like Expedia will sometimes book connecting flights on two different airlines. I'm not sure how checked luggage charges work under those circumstances.

I agree with the pp, book directly with the airline.

According to Delta. The "initial" carrier's rules are the ones they use.

So for example, I had a flight that was DL from Atlanta to Dallas and American to my final destination. At the time Delta did not have a first bag charge and American did. Since my first flight as on Delta, the Delta rules were in place. Now my return was the exact opposite and I did have to pay AA for that luggage! Since it was one ticket I did not have to claim luggage in Dallas. They interlined it to the other airline.

This is the only time I use someone like Expedia. I could not book that flight on either DL or AA!