DEL.ICIO.USDelta announces new fees
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Delta Air Lines will begin charging $15 for passengers for their first checked bag and $25 for a second checked bag on domestic flights, the Atlanta-based airline announced Wednesday.
But it’s also dropping a fuel surcharge for frequent flier award tickets, as well as a $3 fee for curbside check-in.
The new first-checked-bag fee goes into effect immediately for new bookings for travel Dec. 5 or later. People with advance bookings made prior to Wednesday will not have to pay the first-bag fee, regardless of dates of travel..
Until now, Delta had no fee for a first checked bag and charged $50 for a second checked bag. Delta had been one of the only major airlines not charging for a first checked bag.
“Customers are not differentiating Delta as the only major airline not charging a first checked bag,” Delta’s chief operating officer Steve Gorman said in a written statement.
Delta made the move as it changed some fees to match Northwest Airlines. Delta and Northwest closed their merger last week, creating the world’s largest airline. Northwest already charges for the first checked bag.
First class and business class passengers will be exempt from Delta’s fees for the first three bags up to 70 pounds each, while SkyMiles Medallion members and WorldPerks elite members in coach class will be exempt from fees for the first two checked bags up to 70 pounds each. International travelers and those who paid full “Y” coach class fares can check two bags up to 50 pounds each for free.
Delta said most of Northwest’s other baggage policies and fees will be aligned to Delta’s structure as of Dec. 5.
In other fee changes to match Northwest, Delta said it will eliminate its $3 fee for curbside check in effective Dec. 5; cut fees for phone reservations to $20 from $25, effective Nov. 6; and eliminate fuel surcharges for frequent flier award tickets.
Delta last week began charging $5 to $25 extra for certain window, aisle and exit row seats it now calls “coach choice.” Those fees are unchanged.
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Comments
By Dave
Dec 5, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
Airlines charge these revenue generating fees because they can. Mergers, acquisitions, and bankruptcies have reduced competition to an unhealthy level for consumers. It's a supply and demand issue. Why do you think they have grounded so many plans and reduced routs? With fewer and fewer options for consumers, they have no choice. Blame the Bush Administration for allowing this to happen. I would not be surprised if they started charging fees for restroom use and carry-on baggage next. Bottom line, It is all about profit. Wall Street motivates them to do it; large profit=BIG BONSUES for Executives! The only way to reverse this trend is to introduce more competition.
By david wayne osedach
Nov 7, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
Now that crude prices are hovering around $65./bbl airlines should start re-thinking their various sur-charges. And dropping them. They were not in effect before $150./bbl insanity.
By whatsinaname
Nov 6, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
Delta and Northwest combined to make the largest airline company in the world.
Soon this business will fail creating the largest former airline company in the world.
By Mel
Nov 6, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
I'm so glad I don't have to fly often. What a joke! The first bag absolutely should be at no cost. All this will do is make people carry on oversized luggage, which is dangerous and slows the entire process. Please, someone, help Southwest get in Atlanta.
By Jeff
Nov 6, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
It wasn't so long ago that airlines were encouraging passengers to check bags. So many people already carry-on it takes forever to exit the plane. It also takes longer to board the plane. For a company that needs to work on fewer delays, this certainly seem counterproductive.
By DeltaSux
Nov 6, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
Just goes to further prove that Delta cares nothing about the occassional (aka FAMILY) traveler. Families get screwed - business travelers fly for free!
AirTran - Please expand flights out of ATL!!!!!!!!!
By Jhack
Nov 6, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
As a Platinum Member, I would like to scalp my two checked bags limit for $15 bucks each.
By DP
Nov 6, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
Delta never even tried a serious marketing campaign to highlight the concept that they were the only major airline that didn't charge these ridiculous nickel-and-dime type fees. It shows a total lack of understanding of the customer's perception and experience when they fly. Delta Executive V.P. Steve Gorman says that there has been an ý...increase in bags being carried on board Delta aircraft this year (telling) us that customers are not differentiating Delta as the only major airline not charging for a first checked bag,ý and "that (fees for a first bag) ...have been broadly accepted in the marketplace.ý What a load of elephant dung! Mr. Gorman has not worked at a Delta ticket counter nor has he worked at a Delta gate. He is merely justifying Delta's poor decision in the face of their complete failure to market the competitive advantage of being the only major airline to allow one checked bag for free. Iýve worked for Delta for 16 years and I am embarrassed by this decision. Imagine how CE Woolman, the founder of Delta Air Lines would feel if he were alive today to see what the unimaginative executives currently running his airline are doing to it.
By DP
Nov 6, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
Delta never even tried a serious marketing campaign to highlight the concept that they were the only major airline that didn't charge these ridiculous nickel-and-dime type fees. It shows a total lack of understanding of the customer's perception and experience when they fly. Delta Executive V.P. Steve Gorman says that there has been an ý...increase in bags being carried on board Delta aircraft this year (telling) us that customers are not differentiating Delta as the only major airline not charging for a first checked bag,ý and "that (fees for a first bag) ...have been broadly accepted in the marketplace.ý What a load of elephant dung! Mr. Gorman has not worked at a Delta ticket counter nor has he worked at a Delta gate. He is merely justifying Delta's poor decision in the face of their complete failure to market the competitive advantage of being the only major airline to allow one checked bag for free. Iýve worked for Delta for 16 years and I am embarrassed by this decision. Imagine how CE Woolman, the founder of Delta Air Lines would feel if he were alive today to see what the unimaginative executives currently running his airline are doing to it.
By LD
Nov 6, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
I am currently a Platinum Medallion member. It sounds like there are less reasons to fly Delta now other than easy connections in Atlanta.
I bet if you added only $3-5 to every ticket they would actually make the same amount of revenue as these bag fees, since some people don't even check luggage. Consider the cost of managing all these fees, arguing with customers about the fees, delays in security lines and at the gate, etc.
It doesn't take a great deal of imagination to realize that everyone is going to max out their carry-on luggage (most will now bring rollerboards), which won't all fit into the interior storage space. So, Delta will have to check your bag for free at the gate anyway, and there will be tons of commensurate delays associated with all the bags being brought into the cabin! I feel bad for the flight attendants, who already have to contend with fleets of people that have only two digits in their IQ score.
And the most obvious stroke of idiocy: Delta could have used the no bag fees to market themselves as a breath of fresh air when compared with the other big airlines.
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