Delta To Charge $40 For 3rd Checked Bag

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Delta To Charge $40 For 3rd Checked Bag
Fewer People Carrying On To Avoid Delays
Posted: 11:05 a.m. EDT August 15, 2002

ATLANTA -- You'll have to pay now to check all that luggage on Delta Air Lines.

The airline says it will a charge $40 to check a third bag. Passengers have been able to check three bags as part of their ticket price until now. Now, you can check two bags and carry one bag on the aircraft, as long as it fits under the seat or in an overhead compartment.

Delta says more people have been checking baggage since Sept. 11 to avoid the waits at security.

The new checked bag policy applies to passengers traveling on Delta, Delta Express, Delta Shuttle, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Comair, Chautauqua, Atlantic Coast Airlines and SkyWest Airlines

 

[clkelley]

This new policy will make it very difficult for me to fly and camp!!

 

[Laz]

Another reason why people won't fly and they are losing money.

Intsead of finding ways to cut service, they should be finding more effective ways to make it easier to fly while maintaining security. It takes money to make money. The airline business has lost its creativity and willingness to compete. Eventually, they will be like Amtrak--shoddy service and equipment with a total dependency on government subsidies to stay afloat.

 

[idontknow]

Since the paper ticket is a dinosaur these days, I don't have one infront of me, but I thought they only allowed 3 bags per person anyway. What is the difference now? Hasn't this always been the rule? Maybe they are charging more for the extra baggage?


I do agree, though, that all of the airlines are shooting themselves in the foot. They cried that 9/11 was going to put them out of business, but they were already one foot in the grave before that time. Geez, if I ran my life like these companies..............

 

[DebbieB]

Before they were encouraging people to check bags rather than carryon to reduce lines at security. Now they are going to charge people who check their third bag rather than carry it on, encouraging them to carry it on and probably increasing lines at security.

 

[CarolA]

Once again the press has found an existing practice and decided to treat it as new.

This has actually been a practice. However, most airlines did not always enforce it. It was very easy to get around if you skycap checked the luggage! However, I have been charge extra for my "audit" bags when I checked two suitcases and one work suitcase numerous times in the past on American. Yes, I was also carrying on my PC.

 

[Redmic]

Personally, I think it's a great idea! Our family of 4 goes to Disney for 9 nights every year and we have 1 checked bag and 2 carry-ons, total. People don't need half of the junk they bring. If this causes them to cut back, it will speed up lines and increase safety at the same time, because the fewer bags they have to scan the more thorough they can be. I'd like them to limit it to one checked bag and 1 carry-on per person!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Redmic,
I totally agree with you. We check two bags each and we carry on the important stuff, like the laptop, the digital cameras and something to read, tickets and reservation confirmations. That is it. I think some people pack like they were actually moving.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think limiting it to 1 checked and 1 carryon would be a good idea. Then people would bring on the biggest carryon possible, probably those rolling bags and try to stuff it in the overhead. We check 1 bag each with our clothes, plus another bag that is about half full on the way down. We use that bag for the stuff we buy to bring back. Then carryon 1 each (1 overnight size with the laptop, one freedom bag). It's easier when you have kids because they get the baggage allowance but don't have that much. For 2 adults, it would be difficult with 1/1 for longer trips.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Debbie,
We are two adults also and I think one checked and one carryon would be a bit difficult.
As to bringing the largest possible as a carryon, thank goodness there are limits. Unfortunatley, they don't seem to be enforced very well.
The 2 checked, 1 carry on seems pretty fair to me. But, of course, we will get those that cannot live without their George Forman grill and crockpot, not to mention the cooler and other nifty things they simply cannot live without.

 

[seashoreCM]

However the passenger should not have to pay for a bag of proper size and weight that the airline wants to gate check because "the cabin is full".

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

They do not charge for gate checked luggage if the bag cannot be accomodated in the cabin.