Baggage Fees increase-Anyone Fly Northwest/Delta lately?

[perkinsrose]

We are flying this month on tickets purchased prior to Sept 09.
I just checked Northwest's website about baggage fees because I heard there were changes.

There are 3 different sets of rules/prices depending on when you purchased your ticket. If recently, you now get 2 free checked bags.

For us, It says "first bag $15, 2nd bag $25, 3rd bag $125, 4th bag $200"
I panicked as i had planned and budgeted for the $15 thinking I was now having to cram into fewer bags for my family of 4.

But then I realized--this must be PER PERSON, right?? THe website doesn't clearly say that but it must be per paid ticket.

ALso, has anyone pre-paid the baggage fee online before you leave home?
The website said something about that.

More recent airticket purchases will now pay a few dollar surcharge at the airport if you DON't do this and just pay the baggage fee when you get there.

 

[OKW Lover]

Yes, the prices are per person. If you have 4 people, then you can have 4 bags at the "first bag" price.

 

[Tozzie]

We are flying this month on tickets purchased prior to Sept 09.
I just checked Northwest's website about baggage fees because I heard there were changes.

There are 3 different sets of rules/prices depending on when you purchased your ticket. If recently, you now get 2 free checked bags.

For us, It says "first bag $15, 2nd bag $25, 3rd bag $125, 4th bag $200"
I panicked as i had planned and budgeted for the $15 thinking I was now having to cram into fewer bags for my family of 4.

But then I realized--this must be PER PERSON, right?? THe website doesn't clearly say that but it must be per paid ticket.

ALso, has anyone pre-paid the baggage fee online before you leave home?
The website said something about that.

More recent airticket purchases will now pay a few dollar surcharge at the airport if you DON't do this and just pay the baggage fee when you get there.

I just looked at the website, while confusing you only get free checked baggage if you paid full fare, which is much more expensive than what most people get. Since you purchased your tickets prior to Sept 2009, you will have to pay $15 for the first bag per passenger.

 

[perkinsrose]

Thanks for clearing that up --wouldn't want to give anyone wrong idea that their bags were free.

I typically only fly once per year. I never heard of "full fare" ??

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for clearing that up --wouldn't want to give anyone wrong idea that their bags were free.

I typically only fly once per year. I never heard of "full fare" ??

A full price fare is refundable. Much more expensive than the usual discounted non-refundable tickets most people buy.

For example, I put in 2/21-28 PIT/MCO on Delta. The lowest non-refundable fare is $204. A refundable is $880 (but you get free luggage!).

 

[francie57]

Not sure when Delta put this in to effect but don't forget if you check your bag at the airport it is $5.00 more (so $20/bag). When you print out your boarding passes the 24 hours in advance you can put in the info for the checked bags and will only pay the $15 fee. We did this last year and it worked great. We then did the check-in at the hotel on our return. You would need to call BAGS to check the luggage and then take the confirmation number to the airline desk and they will check the luggage and print the boarding passes. The info was in our room for the procedure.