Baggage Policy Changes

The following carriers have made changes to their checked baggage policies. Click on the airline below for further details.
To stay updated with the current baggage policy as it is today, please visit the airlines website.

Air Canada:

Air Canada has announced a new checked baggage policy for tickets issued on or after May 15 for travel on or after July 15, 2008. For those traveling before July 15, 2008 or have booked before May 15, 2008, the baggage allowance of 2 bags per person would still apply.

• Under the new policy, customers who purchase tickets on Air Canada which carry a cancellation penalty, may check one bag at no charge and a second bag for a $25 service fee. The fees are assessed each way and may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
• This policy applies for travel within Canada and between Canada and continental U.S. including Hawaii.
• Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on carrier's Web site.

AirTran Airways:

AirTran Airways has announced a new checked baggage policy effective May 15, 2008.

• Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $10 USD fee if paid through AirTran Airways' Online Check-in or $20 if paid at the airport, then $50 USD per bag thereafter. The fees are assessed each way and may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of the baggage.
• Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on carrier's Web site.
  
  Note: Military personnel may check one duffel/sea bag in place of a 61-inch bag.

American Airlines:

American Airlines has announced a new checked baggage policy effective for tickets purchased on or after June 15.

• This policy applies for travel within the U.S. the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada.
• Customers may check one bag for a $15 USD fee ($30 USD round-trip) 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.
• Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy, including exceptions, posted on the carrier's Web site.

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.
• Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on the carrier's Web site.
  
  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.

Delta:

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.

Note: SkyMiles Elite, and First/Business Class passengers are not impacted by this policy change.

Frontier:

Please be advised of the following baggage fee changes that Frontier has implemented effective Jun 10.

• Customers who purchase tickets for travel on or after June 10th will be charged a $25 fee for a second checked bag.
• Customers who have already purchased tickets before that date will not be affected. Our EarlyReturns® Summit and Ascent members and active duty military personnel will be exempt from this fee.
• The policy for pets traveling in the aircraft cabin will be discontinued effective June 10, but all existing reservations will be honored.
• Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on the carrier's Web site.

JetBlue:

JetBlue has announced a new checked baggage policy that will take effect June 1, 2008.

• This new policy applies to customers traveling on/after June 1, 2008.
• Customers may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $20 USD fee ($40 USD round-trip). Subsequent bags will be assessed at $50 USD per bag. The fees may be higher depending on weight and dimensions of each baggage.

Northwest Airlines:

Northwest Airlines has 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.
• Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on Northwest Airlines' Web site.
  
  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.

United:

United has announced a new checked baggage policy for nonrefundable domestic economy tickets that were purchased on or after February 4 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.
• Click here for complete details regarding the new baggage policy posted on United's Web site.
  
  Note: Customers with Mileage Plus Premier status or greater, Star Alliance Silver status or greater, government fares, military fares, standard Award Tickets, first and business class award tickets, or first and business class upgrades granted prior to check-in are not impacted by this policy change.

US Airways:

US Airways has announced a 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.
• Click here for complete details regarding the baggage policy posted on US Airways' Web site.
  
  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.

Florida Imposes Restrictions on Sellers of Travel

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has advised members that Florida Governor Charlie Crist has signed into law SB 1310 which, effective July 1, significantly increases registration fees, security bonds and potential fines for firms selling trips to any nation that has been designated by the State Department as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Under the new law, if an agent located anywhere in the country sells travel to a Florida resident with any one of the five designated countries as a destination, he/she must certify in advance of the sale and pay an increased registration fee ranging from $1,000 and $2,500.

Presently, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Sudan and North Korea are the only countries designated by the State Department as terrorism sponsors. Today, ASTA noted, President Bush announced his intention to remove North Korea from the terrorism sponsor list within 45 days.

The agent must also post a security bond ranging from $100,000 and $250,000. Agents who fail to comply could face a $10,000 fine and a third-degree felony conviction. A single transaction involving travel to Iran, Syria, Cuba, Sudan or North Korea can constitute a violation.

In the past, agencies have been generally exempt from Florida's registration requirements if they have been ARC accredited for the past three consecutive years. But under the new amendments to Florida's Seller of Travel law, agents lose that exemption if they sell travel to at least one of the countries on the State Department's list.

ASTA has strongly objected to SB 1310 as an unfair restraint on citizens' freedom to travel. ASTA also believes that it is in direct conflict with federal law. When the legislation becomes effective next week, it will restrict travel which the federal government deems as authorized and perfectly legal. ASTA had urged Governor Crist to veto SB 1310, pointing out that it violates a total of four provisions of the U.S. Constitution.

United To Lay Off Pilots, Cut Domestic Service

United Airlines said that it will lay off 950 pilots due to plans to reduce domestic flights in the face of skyrocketing fuel prices. That will affect about 15 percent of pilots. United issued a statement that said: "As we reduce the size of our fleet and take actions companywide to enable United to compete in an environment of record fuel prices, we must take the difficult, but necessary step to reduce the number of people we have to run our business; and today, we notified our pilots about expected furloughs. We continue discussions with ALPA and all of our unions on ways to mitigate involuntary furloughs, and we are working to notify all of our employee groups about furloughs as soon as we know the impact of our capacity reductions." The carrier said that it is continuing talks with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and other unions on ways to ease the layoffs of company pilots.

American, American Eagle Cut Chicago, LGA Service

American Airlines and its regional affiliate, American Eagle, announced additional details of their capacity reductions for the fourth quarter of 2008. The reductions are in line with American's previously announced (May 21) plans of cutting fourth quarter domestic capacity by 11 to 12 percent and regional affiliate capacity by 10 to 11 percent versus fourth quarter 2007 levels. The changes are being instituted to reduce costs and create a more sustainable supply-and-demand balance in today's high fuel-cost environment. The reductions involve additional schedule changes taking effect in November. Previously announced (May 27) reductions will take effect in September. American is reducing flights at most of its principal operations. This announcement, combined with the previously announced round of schedule reductions, means American will close its operations entirely at three of its airports, while Eagle will close five of its airports, out of a combined total of 250 airports for both. The airports/cities being closed are: American - Oakland, Calif. (previously announced); London Stansted (previously announced); and Barranquilla, Colombia; American Eagle - Albany, New York; Providence, R.I.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Samana, Dominican Republic (previously announced); and San Luis Obispo, Calif. American Eagle will also close its maintenance base in San Luis Obispo. American plans to reduce its departures in Chicago by 28 flights with American Eagle reducing 34 departures. In St. Louis, American will reduce departures by 8 flights with American Eagle and AmericanConnection reducing 35 departures. American will reduce 19 departures at Dallas/Fort Worth along with 23 American Eagle flight reductions. The company also has decided to eliminate five AA flights and 37 American Eagle jet departures at LaGuardia Airport. In addition to the expected cost savings, these changes, coupled with appropriate government action, could allow the airport to operate with less chronic disruption and improve customer experience at one of the nation's most congested airports.

Carnival's 130,000-Ton Carnival Dream to Feature Innovations

Carnival Cruise Lines' new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream -- the largest "Fun Ship" ever constructed -- is slated to debut Sept. 21, 2009 with an array of innovations. The vessel will operate an inaugural schedule in Europe and the Caribbean. Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, the 3,646-passenger ship will be a new class of vessel for the line. Unique features of the Carnival Dream include The Piazza, an indoor/outdoor café and live music venue; elaborate children's facilities, including expansive play areas and a Carnival WaterWorks aqua park; scenic whirlpools that extend over the ship's beam; and new stateroom categories, including those specifically catering to families. "We've taken everything we've learned about shipbuilding and incorporated it into the magnificent Carnival Dream," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO.

Carnival Dream's inaugural voyage is a 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia) visiting Naples, Livorno and Venice (two-day call), Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Messina, Sicily; Monaco; and Barcelona, Spain. Two additional 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises will be offered on Oct. 3 and Oct. 15, 2009. The ship will then operate a 16-day transatlantic crossing departing Civitavecchia Oct. 27 and arriving New York Nov. 12, 2009. Ports of call include Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Malaga, Spain; Las Palmas, Canary Islands; and King's Wharf, Bermuda (overnight call). From New York, Carnival Dream will operate two eight-day Bahamas/Florida cruises departing Nov. 15 and Nov. 23, 2009. These voyages include a call at Port Canaveral, followed by visits to Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas.

Following its New York departures, Carnival Dream will reposition to Port Canaveral Dec. 5, 2009 for year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises. Carnival Dream will depart every Saturday on alternating weeklong cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Eastern Caribbean cruises will call at Nassau, St. Thomas/St. John, and St. Maarten. Western Caribbean voyages will visit Cozumel, Belize, Costa Maya and Nassau. Carnival Dream will assume this route from the Carnival Glory, which will redeploy to Miami to operate year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises beginning Oct. 3, 2009.

One of the ship's innovations is called the Piazza, which is designed to be a comfortable oasis during the day and a bustling entertainment complex at night. It will feature a bandstand and a large circular dance floor. A floor-to-ceiling curved glass wall will separate the indoor and outdoor seating areas. Guests at The Piazza can also enjoy full bar service, along with an espresso bar offering gelato and baked goods, along with high-speed Internet access. Carnival Dream will also have a half-mile, open-air promenade encircling the ship on Promenade Deck 5. Along the promenade, four scenic whirlpools cantilever out over the sea. Higher up, Lido Deck 10 will offer a tropical, resort-style main pool complete with a Seaside Theatre LED screen and a Serenity adults-only retreat.

A variety of lounges, bars and nightspots -- including a new dance club concept offering indoor/outdoor access-will be accessible via an 11-deck-high atrium whose ground level will offer a cantilevered bandstand atop a dance floor. Other features include a 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa, Carnival's largest and most elaborate health and wellness center to date. Several new types of staterooms will be introduced. The line's first "cove" balcony staterooms -- located closer to the water line -- will offer sea views at a value price. New deluxe ocean-view staterooms will feature two bathrooms. In addition to twin beds that convert to a king, the two-bathroom configuration will include one full bathroom and a second bathroom featuring a junior tub with shower and sink.

Some staterooms will accommodate five guests, making them ideal for families. Additionally, there will be a selection of balcony staterooms and suites. Additionally, adjacent to the Cloud 9 Spa will be 65 spa staterooms and suites which will offer exclusive amenities and privileges. All Carnival Dream staterooms will feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, duvets and high-quality linens and pillows. Carnival Dream's family-friendly amenities will include separate, purpose-built facilities for the line's three children's programs: Camp Carnival for kids ages 2-11, Circle C for 12- to 14-year-olds, and Club O2 for teens ages 15 to 17, along with a full schedule of morning-until-night activities catering to each age group. Also fun for children will be Carnival WaterWorks, an aqua park offering water slides and water spray apparatus, and a two-level miniature golf course. Reservations will be accepted for all Carnival Dream's cruises starting July 1.

BTC Calls Impact of Fuel on Aviation Crippling for U.S. Economy

The skyrocketing price of aviation fuel will have devastating implications far beyond new surcharges for checked bags and in-flight beverage services, according to a new study prepared by the Business Travel Coalition (BTC). Not only are U.S. airlines and their passengers facing their darkest future, but fast-approaching airline liquidations will cripple the U.S. economy, which depends on affordable, frequent intercity air transportation. Massive job losses, supply chain disruption, declining business activity, shrinking tax revenues, weakened American competitiveness, devastated communities, and reduced tourism are just some of the predictable results from airline liquidations that could happen as early as the second half of 2008 as a direct result of unsustainable fuel prices.

The paper, entitled "Beyond the Airlines' $2 Can of Coke: Catastrophic Impact on the U.S. Economy from Oil-price Trauma in the Airline Industry," expands on the analysis released on June 13, 2008 by AirlineForecasts, LLC and BTC and points to the real news about the airlines' fuel problems: how multiple liquidations at legacy U.S. airlines -- now a serious possibility -- would have a wide-ranging impact on many facets of the U.S. economy. The report will be presented and discussed during a U.S. House Small Business Committee hearing scheduled by Chairwoman, Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) for Thursday, June 26. "The airline industry stimulates so much economic activity -- much more than many people currently understand," said BTC Chairman Kevin Mitchell. "Airline networks are an integral part of the transport grid that supports the U.S. economy, and without immediate action to bring down fuel costs, we face the economic equivalent of a major blackout later this year or early next. Unlike in a blackout, however, the cabin lights may never come back on for many U.S. airlines."

FareCompare Reports Airlines Hike Fares

On Saturday night, American Airlines raised base airfare prices by $20 roundtrip on about one-third of city pairs that would normally constitute a system wide fare hike (for them), according to Rick Seaney, CEO of FareCompare.com, an airfare monitoring website. Later that evening, Seaney reported that Continental, Delta and United all quickly matched the $20 roundtrip increase across the bulk of their respective route systems – for good measure Air Canada and Midwest Airlines decided to come along for the ride. He said that Northwest Airlines and US Airways had not yet matched.

Seaney said that the number of city pairs American increased was just more than what he would normally chalk up to an "elevated level" of catch up activity, but he noted American raised prices this past Saturday by $30 to 60 roundtrip on just under one-quarter of their city pairs (including overlap with Southwest), with little matching activity by other legacy airlines. Seaney said that neither of these "micro-hikes" added up to what he would call a full blown system-wide airfare hike attempt (66 percent or more routes) but said that "it is getting close and marks a definite departure from previous fare hike activity. Seaney said that as a result of this and previous fare hikes, the domestic fuel surcharge that at the beginning of the year had been $20 roundtrip chugged with almost weekly increases up to $130 roundtrip on most non low-cost airline routes (this hike is a base airfare hike).