Air Canada is the latest to join. They are now charging $25 for the extra luggage.
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/418496
Fuel prices squeezing Air Canada
Apr 25, 2008 02:30 PM
CHRIS SORENSEN
BUSINESS REPORTER
Citing soaring fuel prices, Air Canada has decided to follow a move by several U.S. carriers and begin charging some passengers $25 to check a second piece of luggage on certain flights.
The countrys largest airline, which already charges special "service" fees for a number of formerly complementary services, said today that passengers flying within Canada or to the United States on its cheaper Tango or Tango Plus fares will now only be permitted one piece of checked luggage for free.
Air Canada said the decision to move away from the previous industry standard of two pieces of checked luggage wont be applied to passengers who purchase more expensive fares classes, fly on international routes or hold certain levels of frequent flier status.
The Americans led on this one and we are just aligning ourselves, said Isabelle Arthur, an Air Canada spokesperson. Its very important that Air Canada find ways of responding to the pressures of dramatically rising fuel costs.
With this specific change customers can choose to control their own costs because they can choose to pack lighter.
While the two affected fare classes are the airlines most popular, Arthur said Air Canada research shows that only about 20 percent of those passengers check more than one bag.
In February, UAL Corp.s United Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to deviate from the standard two-free checked bags policy by charging some passengers $25 for a second piece of luggage. Since then most of the other major U.S. carriers have followed suit. The list includes Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and US Airways.
Even some low-cost carriers are implementing the extra charge. JetBlue Airways recently said it would begin charging $20 while AirTran Airways said it would charge $10.
A spokesperson for Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet Airlines Ltd. could not immediately be reached.
The changes comes as airlines struggle to cope with rising fuel prices - some analysts are now predicting that oil could climb as high as $225 (U.S.) a barrel by 2012 - in the face of a slowing U.S. economy.
Air Canada, though, has gone farther than most when it comes to asking passengers to pay for extras that used to be given away for free.
Since exiting its restructuring in 2004, the airline has adopted as pay-as-you-go model that charges fees for everything from pillow and blankets to enhanced customer service when flights are cancelled because of airport delays or bad weather.
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/418496
Fuel prices squeezing Air Canada
Apr 25, 2008 02:30 PM
CHRIS SORENSEN
BUSINESS REPORTER
Citing soaring fuel prices, Air Canada has decided to follow a move by several U.S. carriers and begin charging some passengers $25 to check a second piece of luggage on certain flights.
The countrys largest airline, which already charges special "service" fees for a number of formerly complementary services, said today that passengers flying within Canada or to the United States on its cheaper Tango or Tango Plus fares will now only be permitted one piece of checked luggage for free.
Air Canada said the decision to move away from the previous industry standard of two pieces of checked luggage wont be applied to passengers who purchase more expensive fares classes, fly on international routes or hold certain levels of frequent flier status.
The Americans led on this one and we are just aligning ourselves, said Isabelle Arthur, an Air Canada spokesperson. Its very important that Air Canada find ways of responding to the pressures of dramatically rising fuel costs.
With this specific change customers can choose to control their own costs because they can choose to pack lighter.
While the two affected fare classes are the airlines most popular, Arthur said Air Canada research shows that only about 20 percent of those passengers check more than one bag.
In February, UAL Corp.s United Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to deviate from the standard two-free checked bags policy by charging some passengers $25 for a second piece of luggage. Since then most of the other major U.S. carriers have followed suit. The list includes Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and US Airways.
Even some low-cost carriers are implementing the extra charge. JetBlue Airways recently said it would begin charging $20 while AirTran Airways said it would charge $10.
A spokesperson for Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet Airlines Ltd. could not immediately be reached.
The changes comes as airlines struggle to cope with rising fuel prices - some analysts are now predicting that oil could climb as high as $225 (U.S.) a barrel by 2012 - in the face of a slowing U.S. economy.
Air Canada, though, has gone farther than most when it comes to asking passengers to pay for extras that used to be given away for free.
Since exiting its restructuring in 2004, the airline has adopted as pay-as-you-go model that charges fees for everything from pillow and blankets to enhanced customer service when flights are cancelled because of airport delays or bad weather.
Our kids never have their own suitcase but with these extra charges, I think they will be getting luggage for Christmas. 
