Delta to adopt new luggage fee

From July 1, travellers on international flights aboard Delta Air Lines will have to pay a US$50 luggage fee if they check in a second bag.

Passengers flying on First Class, Business Class and full-fare Y-class Economy won’t have to pay the fee. Active duty military on orders are also exempted.

Each bag has a weight and size restriction of 22.5kg and 62 inches (when you total length, width and height) respectively.

Delta is the first major US airline to charge extra to check in a second bag on international flights, which is expected to bring in US$100 million.

The carrier, which already charges to check in bags on US domestic flights since November, is under pressure to raise revenues after posting a net loss of US$794 million year-on-year in the first quarter of 2009.

Airline experts said other US carriers may follow Delta’s lead and they also speculated that other revenue-boosting measures might be in the offing if the economy does not improve. One of these measures could be a new charge for advanced seat assignment for certain exit row, aisle and window seats.

“People will pay for a little more comfort,” an airline expert was quoted saying in a US news report. “Offering an option where you can pay premium to sit in a specific location or seat in a coach section, I think, is the way of the future.”

For more details, visit www.delta.com.

Joshua Tan and Gigi Onag