I know a lot of folk who will be forking over $25 more dollars to fly since all the major airlines have now instituted that service fee for the second checked bag. Here is a secret that the major media seems to have missed — the fee isn’t for anyone.
I found an American Airlines list of people who do not have to pay the fee. Some are obvious such as those with First or Business Class tickets, but the fact that passengers with tickets purchased prior to May 12, 2008, don’t have to pay will be a complete surprise to most passengers.
Take note. IF TICKETS WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO MAY 12, 2008, THE PASSENGER IS EXEMPT FROM THE CHARGE. Check out these exemptions.
This is from an American Airlines FAQ page–
Not all customers will be charged a service fee to check a second bag. Exemptions include:
*Customers who purchase First and Business Class tickets
*Customers who purchase tickets in Y, B, and H fare class inventories
*AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum, and Gold members
*ConciergeKey members
*oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby members
*Customers flying in the same reservation record (not applicable to group bookings) as an AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum, or Gold member, oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire, or Ruby member, or ConciergeKey member regardless of fare type
*Customers who buy a ticket before May 12, 2008 or who fly before May 12, 2008
*Customers originating on AA codeshare flights not operated by American Airlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection on a ticket purchased through American
*Customers connecting to an American flight from another airline, including AA codeshare flights operated by another airline
* Customers traveling on an international itinerary, e.g. points beyond U.S., Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada
*Customers traveling on Government fares
*Military personnel on active duty
*Anytime AAdvantage Award tickets, First and Business Class Award tickets, or First and Business Class upgrades confirmed prior to check-in
Tags: airlines, american airlines, excess baggage charge, luggage, travel
May 15, 2008 at 11:22 pm
[...] » Travel Insurance Blog wrote an interesting post today on Avoid the $25 excess baggage chargeHere’s a quick excerpt*Customers connecting to an American flight from another airline, including AA codeshare flights operated by another airline… [...]
May 16, 2008 at 2:42 pm
[...] date is important, as reported by Cheap Charlie in his blog American Airlines exempts anyone who purchased their airline tickets prior to May 12, [...]
June 18, 2008 at 4:48 pm
As this is being submitted on 18/June/08, and as we all know, all those old polices are out the window, and we now have to pay for the first and second bags, I wonder if those persons who bought their tickets before that “drop Dead” date of May 12, 2008 can still check two bags for “Free”
Does anyone know?
June 18, 2008 at 5:37 pm
The answer is yes. This means that right now, though the $15 first-bag-fee is in effect and the $25 second-bag-fee is in effect, few are affected, since most are flying with advanced purchase tickets.
With the new United and US Airways plans, tickets bought June 13 or later are subject to the $15 first-bag-fee when it comes into effect later in the year.