Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

New DAL to Charge for First Bag

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web

Furloughed80

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2003
Posts
409
November 5, 2008, 10:34 am
Delta to Charge for First Checked Bag

Posted by WSJ Staff
After a long holdout, Delta has finally joined the pack.
The Atlanta-based carrier announced today that it would add a $15 fee on first-checked bags and cut its second-bag fee from $50 to $25, among other changes, saying the moves are part of a push for “the alignment of policies and fees for customers traveling on Delta- and Northwest-operated flights as the airline works to ensure a seamless and consistent customer experience during the integration of the two carriers.”
“The increase in bags being carried on board Delta aircraft this year tells us that customers are not differentiating Delta as the only major airline not charging for a first checked bag,” said Steve Gorman, Delta’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in a statement.
You’ll remember that Continental, another latecomer to first-bag fees, decided to hop on board the first-bag bandwagon after previously saying that the carrier’s ability to avoid the fee depended on customer reaction. In May, American Airlines became the first airline to include a fee, a $15 charge, for the first piece of luggage. That move has since been mirrored by carriers including United, US Airways and Northwest.
While it had resisted first-bag fees until now, Delta did not shy away from charging fliers to check their second bags. In making its announcement on cutting second-bag fees — from $50 to $25 — Delta said customers who bought their tickets on or before Nov. 5, and are traveling on or after Dec. 5, will still have to pay $50 for a second bag. (Though they won’t have to pay for their first bag, as was the case under Delta’s previous policy.)
As part of its announcement Wednesday, Delta also said it would immediately eliminate the $25-$100 fuel surcharges assessed for SkyMiles and WorldPerks award ticket travel originating from the U.S. and Canada. Delta also said it would begin selling upgrades to “coach choice seats” on some flights for between $5 and $25 — based where the seat is and how far a traveler is going. Elite Delta fliers such as SkyMiles Medallion members, WorldPerks Elite members, SkyTeam Elite can upgrade to a “coach choice” seat at no extra charge when checking in online or at a kiosk within 24 hours of the flight, Delta said

.....................................
 
While giving NWA credit for their financial performance, Delta's copying of their fee structure and "surprise" factor is going to result in harm to the new Delta brand.

Even for the business travelers who expense their tickets, this is another line item they have to add to their expense reports, an additional hassle.

And anyone want to guess on the fights that will break out planeside an RJ where passengers' carry on bags are limited by the small overhead bins?

Is Southwest the sole hold out?

This reminds me of some of the Asian airlines. To be the cheapest they list their tickets at the equivalent of $5 or $20, or free. Then the taxes are $200 and the luggage fee $50 and a drink $4. By the time your travel is complete you paid the same fare you paid 6 months ago, but there is a lot more hassle, a lot more chances to get your credit card ripped off and a lot more pulling out your wallet when you just want to fly from A to B with the least hassle.

At least Delta waited until everyone else had already made this standard. Maybe the passengers will expect this fee.
 
Last edited:
Really, FIN. As with most customers, they will complain, state that they will never fly Delta again, and then whine about it to whomever they can get on their cell phone. Get on the airplane, whine some more, take it out on the Flight Attendants,
and then get off. Forget about it, book a ticket again, and do it all over.
 
Yes, but when customers complained about this practice on other airlines, it sure was nice to say "Delta doesn't do that sort of thing." I hope they forget what I said.

This is the sort of thing that results in the employees at my side business selecting AirTran over Delta. They admit Delta offers a better product, but they feel AirTran treats them better. AirTran does kiss up to them, somehow the Agents know they are always flying on last minute full fare tickets and they buy on average 6 round trips a month.

~~~^~~~
 
Last edited:
Nice does not pay the bills. I bet that this is the first step before the start to lower airfares with the lowering of crude prices.
They want to get their money from somewhere.Plus it allows DAL's fares to then show up closer to the top of a travel search engine. Any way to get fees out of the ticket price helps that cause. Like of like SWA charging by the leg.
 
Well on Orbitz, Travelocity and the like - customers do sort by cheapest fare. If Delta is $15 more (but everyone else just charges at the airport) it makes sense for Delta to match the crowd and have their fares match what everyone else is doing.

Still, RJ's don't do carry on bags well.
 
No kidding, and lets hope that the prospect of 100 less 50 seater's this time next year holds true.
 
Really, FIN. As with most customers, they will complain, state that they will never fly Delta again, and then whine about it to whomever they can get on their cell phone. Get on the airplane, whine some more, take it out on the Flight Attendants,
and then get off. Forget about it, book a ticket again, and do it all over.


Welcome to the new Ryanair I mean Delta. Good goes around, I think the CEO deserves a 13.6 million dollar bonus, oh wait nevermind.
 
Jeez ladies, quit the fee drama. All Delta did was align the fee policies of NWA and DAL. Some fees were dropped, some were decreased and only 1 new one was added for DL operated flights which is the first checked bag.
 

Latest resources

Back
Top