Can I Bring Luggage?

More confusing than the rules for your passport and things you can bring with your carryon are the new luggage rules being implemented by the airlines. Yes, it's not enough you need to pay for a boxed meal on board and new fuel surcharges, but yes, hello to new longer waits in line to pay for your baggage too! No wonder I see more and more backyard pools springing up!

When you do travel here are some of the new rules for luggage. These rules, like others are sure to change, so please contact your airline before you travel or your travel planner to find out the rules before you fly.


The Department of Transportation has issued specific policies effective immediately on the
disclosure of fees for checked baggage. Please refer to this list for a summary of each carrier’s
policies. Click on the link to go to the carriers’ website for full detailed information.

Air Canada: Air Canada said today that it will implement changes to its checked baggage policy on flights within Canada, and between Canada and the U.S. including Hawaii, effective May 15, 2008 for travel on or after July 15, 2008. Under the new policy, customers who purchase Tango and Tango Plus tickets may check one bag at no charge and a second bag for a $25 service fee. Tango and Tango Plus customers will continue to have the choice of customizing their fare
including obtaining a discount when traveling without checked luggage. There is no change in the checked bag policy for customers purchasing Latitude and Executive Class tickets. As well, Air Canada Elite, Super Elite and Prestige members in addition to Star Alliance Gold and Silver members maintain their current baggage allowance when purchasing Tango and Tango Plus fares.
http://www.aircanada.com/en/news/080425.html?src=hp_wn

Alaska Airlines: The baggage rules and fees noted below apply to tickets purchased on or after May 1, 2008, for travel on or after July 1, 2008. Free baggage allowance consists of 1 checked bag per ticketed passenger. Baggage can be a maximum of 62 linear inches (length + width + height) and may weigh up to 50 pounds. Excess baggage charges apply to additional pieces,
overweight pieces between 51 and 100 pounds and oversized pieces of luggage. Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip).
http://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/help/faqs/CheckedBaggage.asp

American Airlines: Customers who purchase domestic economy class tickets on or after May 12, 2008 but before June 15, 2008 may check one bag for free and check a second bag for $25 each way. Customers who purchase domestic economy class tickets on or after June 15, 2008 will be charged $15 each way for the first checked bag and $25 each way for the second checked bag. Our carry-on policy of one personal item (such as a purse or laptop bag) plus one bag remains in place. Updated Checked Bag Policies

Continental Airlines: Continental Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy for certain Economy fare tickets that were purchased on or after April 5 for travel on or after May 5, 2008. This policy applies to travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
Note: OnePass Elite members, SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members, Tickets issued on Y class of service, Continental Airlines Presidential Plus credit card holders, active military traveling on orders are not impacted by this policy change.
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/checkbag.aspx

Delta Airlines: Delta has announced a new checked baggage policy for domestic tickets traveling on or after May 1, 2008.This policy applies to domestic travel.
Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
The fee will be charged to passengers if their itinerary includes segments after May 1 regardless of when the tickets were purchased.
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/baggage_allowance/index.jsp#checked
Note: SkyMiles Elite, and First/Business Class passengers are not impacted by this policy change.

Jet Blue: Each customer may bring two bags free of charge until June 1, 2008. On or after June 1st each customer may bring only one
bag free of charge. Please note: Customers who booked their reservation prior to May 1, 2008, may continue to bring two bags free of charge. Second Bag Fee (Effective June 1, 2008)
Customers who booked their flight on or after May 1, 2008, will be charged an additional $20 fee for checking a second bag on flights on or after June 1, 2008. 3rd + Baggage Customers checking three or more bags on their flight will be charged a $75 fee per bag if they booked on or after May 1, 2008.
http://help.jetblue.com/SRVS/CGIBIN/
webisapi.dll/,/?St=76,E=0000000000015217217,K=357,Sxi=12,Case=obj(634)
Checked baggage

Northwest Airlines Announced a new checked baggage policy for those traveling within North America on or after May 5, 2008. This policy applies to tickets issued on/after March 29 for travel within North America on/after May 5. Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). For customers checking in three or more bags, the carrier will assess a fee of $100 per bag each-way. The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage. Note: Silver, Gold and Platinum WorldPerks® Elite customers, SkyTeam Elite customers, and those booked in first or full fare classes (Y or B) will not be impacted by this policy change. http://www.nwa.com/travel/luggage/checked.html#domestic

Spirit Airlines: All customers are allowed one free carry-on bag effective June 10, 2008, fees for bags paid in advance online at www.spiritair.com are $10.00 each way for the first bag only. The fee for Bag 2 is $20.00 each way, and items 3 – 5 are $100.00 per item each way. When paying at the airport, fees for the first and second bags are $20.00 per bag each way. (Customers will receive a 50% discount for the first bag when purchased online).
https://www.spiritair.com/welcome.aspx?pg=SalesInformation&number=334

United Airlines: United has published a new checked baggage policy for customers who purchase Economy tickets for travel exclusively within the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. Customers purchasing any domestic Economy ticket and who do not have premium status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for $25.00. Customers who have attained Premier Associate status or higher in Mileage Plus or Silver status and above with a Star Alliance partner are exempt from this policy change. This new policy applies to tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52481,00.html

US Airways: New baggage policy for tickets purchased on or after February 26 for travel on or after May 5,2008. The new policy applies to all flights within the United States, to/from Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 USD fee ($50 USD round-trip). The fee may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage. Note: Dividend Miles Preferred members (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Chairman’s Preferred), confirmed First Class and Envoy passengers (at time of check-in), Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members, active military personnel in uniform with ID, unaccompanied minors, or passengers checking personal assistive devices are not impacted by this change.
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/traveltools/baggage/baggagepolicies.aspx