Delta Airlines Baggage

[Carib Mark]

Heads up everyone! I haven't checked other carriers but the cost of fuel has apparently dealt another blow to travel. Starting May 5 2008, Delta is allowing only 1 checked bag free on all US, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico flights. For those who check a second bag for snorkel gear and extras for an extended stay that 2nd bag will cost $25. Go for 3-5 and it's $80 each!

Currently (meaning today) American still allows two checked bags but this will likely change soon.

Luckily it says that a box of duty free is still allowed as carry on (of course, overproof rum is not allowed as it's sort of explosive).

Just one more reason to go to th e islands....and stay there!

[markandpaula]

I just got an email from USAir that they are doing the same thing, as of May 5th they will charge $25 for a 2nd checked bag. Preferred level frequent flyers are exempt, along with everybody in their same reservation. Helps to be preferred!

[Carib Mark]

Okay, the reason I was told that I wold have to pay the $25 for my third checked case upon returning from St John last week was fuel costs. I understand the reason but hardly the method. It would be better to just do as the cruise lines do and impose a $10 per person fuel surcharge and leave the luggage alone. Here's why the baggage fee isn't sound:

a) Sometimes the second bag is for a specific reason, but light (ie: snorkel gear, baskets you bought, etc.) Why charge $25 for something that doesn't actually affect the plane's weight? If you are over 50 lbs in luggage, pay up, but 2 bags totalling 40 lbs is not logical.

b) Okay, I have 1 50lb checked bag. I'll also be carrying on a 10 lb laptop case and a 50 lb roll/carry on suitcase to put in the overhead. The airline won't weigh it, they just want it to fit. Now I brought 110 lbs of baggage aboard for free and slowed up departure searching for a spot for the roll/carry on and wiggling it in the bin. The engines are running? Oh well.

c) Duty free is baggage free so my 6 bottles of Cruzan rum, totalling 10 lbs with packing, gets checked through to NY free, not as a second or third bag. Why? Obvious. The duty free shop owners were freaked by the no liquids on board rule. Disallow it as checked and blood may well flow.

The travel world was ruined by 9/11, further messed up (no liquids unless you pay $3 a pint for water at the gate) by one jerk on Air France. Oil, which decades ago was predicted to be what would be the downfall of society is now taking its toll on everything. Charge me $10 more for my ticket and let me check my 50 lbs in ten suitcases, what does it matter?

[kirbychristian]

Worse news than that coming out of Am. Air...they are charging for every checked bag. http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1808804,00.html

I guess I won't bring clothes next time I travel on American...I'll just put a bikini in one pocket and a chapstick in the other and be on my way

This is so stupid...why don't they just put it in the cost of the ticket?

[Carib Mark]

The baggage charge that was added for second bags on Delta was ridiculous and annoying. However, the Delta supervisor stated "As a courtesy, and we don't have to do this, we allow you to check your boxes of duty free liquor (which cannot be carried on by the way due to TSA rules) for free, even if it is over your one bag allowance". My unspoken thought was: Yeah, you stop allowing the duty free booze on and the people here are going to throw you in the sea.

Well, guess what? American's first bag for $15 policy applies to your box of duty free booze!That adds at least $2.50 per bottle that you bring home which greatly reduces the value of duty free. And that's for lushes like me jamming 6 bottles in 1 box! Divide the $15 across 2 or three bottles and you may as well buy it at home!

The local industry, in St Thomas, is outraged and sought a waiver from American....no such luck! American's stock dropped 25% the day they instituted this stupid policy which hurts people with luggage but not those with 40 lb carry-ons that delay flights with engines running, or people who can barely fit their butts in the seat. To me, American's stock can't drop far enough. Maybe then they will just have a set $15/person fuel fee and let us bring 2 bags and our booze home to avoid a complete collapse.

[Carib Mark]

Worse news than that coming out of Am. Air...they are charging for every checked bag. http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1808804,00.html

I guess I won't bring clothes next time I travel on American...I'll just put a bikini in one pocket and a chapstick in the other and be on my way

This is so stupid...why don't they just put it in the cost of the ticket?

Don't forget, the chapstick is a gel and has to go in a 1 qt ziplock bag. The terrorists have won thanks to the inane knee jerk reactions of government. We are all hostages whether we know it or not.

[kirbychristian]

Oh, good point, Carib Mark...I almost forgot my ziploc bag!