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 Most U.S. carriers already have instituted a $25 charge for checking a second bag
-- part of a potpourri of new fees that reflect a struggling airline industry passing along record fuel prices to passengers in the form of higher fares, fuel surcharges and service charges.
As of July 1, Southwest Airlines will be the only U.S. carrier that permits two checked bags for free, according to air travel expert Tom Parsons, who expects still more service fees to come.
"The major airlines are truly a la carte now -- you don't get anything free any more," said Parsons, chief executive of the travel Web site Bestfares.com. "You get a tin can in the air, and anything else you pay as you go."
He expects the legacy carriers to follow the lead of discount carrier Spirit Airlines, which now charges extra for seat reservations
-- $5 for middle seats, $10 for window and aisle seats and $15 for exit-row seats. Other airlines also have begun charging for window or aisle seats.
UAL Corp.'s United said its baggage fee goes into place with customers who buy tickets beginning Friday for domestic flights of Aug. 18 or later. It does not apply to customers flying in first or business class or those who have premier status with United or Star Alliance, and first and second bags will still be free for itineraries that include international flights, aside from Canada.
The Chicago-based carrier also is increasing the fee to check three or more bags, overweight bags or items that require special handling to $125 from $100, or to $250 from $200, depending on the item.
"With record-breaking fuel prices, we must pursue new revenue opportunities while continuing to offer competitive fares by tailoring our products and services around what our customers value most and are willing to pay for," said John Tague, United's chief operating officer.
United estimates the potential revenue from baggage handling service fees at about $275 million a year. It expects the new $15 service fee to apply to one in every three customers.
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 US Airways' new fee takes place for tickets booked on or after July 9.
The Tempe, Ariz.-based carrier also said it would cut domestic flights, shrink the size of its fleet, slash 1,700 jobs and add a fee for nonalcoholic drinks during flights.
"We must write a new playbook for running a profitable airline in this new and challenging environment," US Airways Chairman and Chief Executive Doug Parker said in a statement.
Separately, the steady rise of fuel surcharges continued with United, Continental Airlines Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc., US Airways Group Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. all matching the $20 increase in fuel surcharges initiated by American on most of its domestic routes Wednesday.
UAL shares tumbled 91 cents, or 12.6 percent, to $6.31 in Thursday trading after crude oil prices reversed course and finished higher. US Airways shares sank 51 cents, or 15.9 percent, to $2.69 after dropping as low as $2.39
-- their lowest level in the company's three years out of bankruptcy.
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On the Net:
http://www.united.com/
[Associated Press; By DAVE CARPENTER]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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