American Airlines To Charge $25 For Second Checked Bag

FORT WORTH, TX (AP) – Pack lightly if you’re traveling on American Airlines.

The nation’s biggest airline said Monday it would join other major carriers and begin charging passengers $25 for checking a second bag to help offset rising fuel costs.

The fee will apply to travelers who buy domestic economy-class tickets on or after May 12, American said. It will also affect passengers on the American Eagle commuter line.

American’s move comes after recent similar fees at United Airlines, the nation’s No. 2 carrier, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

Fort Worth-based American didn’t say how much it expects to raise with the fee, but a much smaller carrier, JetBlue Airways, recently said it expects to generate more than $20 million this year by imposing a $20 second-bag fee.

American’s parent, AMR Corp., lost $328 million in the first three months of this year, mostly because fuel costs increased $665 million, or 45 percent, over early 2007.

American said elite members of its frequent-flier programs, including AAdvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum and AAdvantage Executive Platinum, won’t have to pay the second-bag charge. The fee also won’t apply to full-fare economy, business and first-class tickets, or international trips beyond Canada and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Based on those exceptions, American said it expects about 4 percent of its domestic customers who check more than one bag will be charged the $25 fee.

AMR shares rose 27 cents, or 3.6 percent, to $7.70 in midday trading.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)