The charge for checking a bag has made it to all six legacy carriers. Delta Air Lines (DAL) announced today that effective Dec. 5 it will assess a $15 fee to “align” itself with Northwest Airlines, which it acquired last week. The actual wording of the release is an exercise in public-relations contortion, worth a glance: “Delta Aligns Policies and Fees to Offer Consistency for Customers Traveling on Delta- and Northwest-Operated Flights.”
Interestingly, Delta says its cabins have been filling up with suitcases and that it concluded it had not reaped any benefit from being the sole holdout on charging to check. “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,” Steve Gorman, Delta’s chief operating officer, said in the release. “As we align customer policies and fees to simplify the travel experience for our customers throughout the merger, Delta is adopting proven practices from both Delta and Northwest that have been broadly accepted in the marketplace.”
However, it’s not all gloomy news. Delta is also cutting the $25-$100 fuel surcharge on tickets from SkyMiles and WorldPerks mileage redemption, bowing to the reality of falling oil prices and the quirk that a “free” ticket from earned miles was no longer free. The fee for calling a reservations agent falls from $25 to $20, and Delta is dropping its $3 fee for curbside check-in. Northwest did not have that fee. The airline is also adopting Northwest’s “choice coach seat” structure, allowing purchase of less-onerous seats such as exit rows and bulkheads for $5-$25
Interestingly, Delta says its cabins have been filling up with suitcases and that it concluded it had not reaped any benefit from being the sole holdout on charging to check. “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,” Steve Gorman, Delta’s chief operating officer, said in the release. “As we align customer policies and fees to simplify the travel experience for our customers throughout the merger, Delta is adopting proven practices from both Delta and Northwest that have been broadly accepted in the marketplace.”
However, it’s not all gloomy news. Delta is also cutting the $25-$100 fuel surcharge on tickets from SkyMiles and WorldPerks mileage redemption, bowing to the reality of falling oil prices and the quirk that a “free” ticket from earned miles was no longer free. The fee for calling a reservations agent falls from $25 to $20, and Delta is dropping its $3 fee for curbside check-in. Northwest did not have that fee. The airline is also adopting Northwest’s “choice coach seat” structure, allowing purchase of less-onerous seats such as exit rows and bulkheads for $5-$25
http://.businessweek.com/lifestyle/travelers_check/archives/2008/11/delta_adopts_fi.html
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