Continental Airlines Changes Baggage Policy
POSTED: Monday, May 5, 2008
UPDATED: 1:39 pm CDT May 5,
2008
HOUSTON -- Some
Continental Airlines passengers will have to pay a new fee starting Monday if they want to check more than one piece of luggage, KPRC Local 2 reported.
The Houston-based airline has implemented a $25 service fee for a second checked bag for some economy-class travelers.
The airline said the new policy is an attempt to help defray rising fuel costs.
OnePass Elite, SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members are exempt from the fee and are allowed to check two bags at no charge. Continental Airlines Presidential Plus credit card holders, active military personnel traveling on orders and any customer traveling on a Y-class ticket are also exempt from the fee. Companions of travelers meeting the exemption qualifications are also allowed to take two bags without paying the fee if they are traveling on the same reservation.
The new policy applies for flights within the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada for all tickets purchased on or after April 5.
The fee will be charged on both the departing and return flight, so a roundtrip flight would cost a total $50 to take a second bag. A third bag would cost an additional $100 per flight.
The airline also charges a $100 fee if any checked bags do not meet their
size and weight guidelines.
There is no change in the airline's checked bag policy for first class and BusinessFirst travelers or the carry-on policy.
Most of the other major carriers are also charging travelers extra to take a second bag.
U.S. Airways,
Delta,
Northwest and
United are also currently charging $25 for a second bag, while
Air Canada,
AirTran and
JetBlue will begin implementing fees soon.
Dallas-based
Southwest Airlines does not charge a fee for a second piece of luggage.
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