Delta's baggage fee to be applied retroactively
As we've reported before, Delta will begin charging a fee for checking more than one piece of luggage starting on May 5. But the twist at Delta is that the fee, $25 per additional piece of luggage, is being applied retroactively. Delta is waving the fee for passengers who booked their tickets between February 4 and April 4, but if you booked on Delta before then -- as many have -- be prepared to pony up some cash at the check-in counter.
Though it remained quiet on the fee a little more than a month ago, Delta is now finally announcing the fee on its Web site. Not surprisingly, however, it doesn't mention that it will be retroactively applied.
Traveler "Jason" is angry about this. He tells the Consumerist that he and his wife booked on Delta in January and are planning on checking two bags each. They now face paying an additional $100 for those extra bags on the round trip flight.
"If I would have known that when I booked, I may have thought twice about Delta," he tells the Web site.
Funny, I'd think whether I really needed four suitcases for a vacation. But hey, that's just me.
Filed under: Airlines, Consumer Activism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
May 2nd 2008 @ 8:37AM
jack said...
Wouldn't the passenger booking before 4 Feb have entered into a contract of carriage stating 2 checked bags for free?
It seems that Delta is trying to wiggle out of their agreements, while at the same time admitting they can't charge this fee for anyone booking after 4 Feb until 4 April.
Oh, well, Delta has always been known for putting the customer last.
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May 2nd 2008 @ 11:05AM
Gargamello said...
Um no Jack it's not really about contracts and legalese, it's about the major oil companies cashing in on the rest of society because they can.
Exxon yesterday reported $11 billion in income for the last quarter, its best earnings ever. Airlines wouldn't have to jack up their rates and fees if they weren't held hostage by the oil majors.
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200805011723DOWJONESDJONLINE000917_FORTUNE5.htm
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May 2nd 2008 @ 1:53PM
Beanie said...
I hate when people say, "Well why are they taking 4 bags?" Am I supposed to leave my personal golf clubs at home and rent them at the course? Or are you supposed to leave your skis behind on a skiing trip? Can't exactly fit either of those into an overhead bin.
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May 4th 2008 @ 7:05AM
jeff.gadling said...
Beanie,
Given this new fee, it'd be nearly a wash if you left those personal golf clubs at home and rented at the course. You can usually get a set for around $35 a day (O.K., maybe more like $50 in places like Vegas and the Grand Strand). But that seems a good trade off for not having to lug them around yourself, and you are likely to get a better set than the one you're playing right now. Of course, for multiple rounds, this might not make so much sense, cost-wise...
May 3rd 2008 @ 12:59PM
Caitlin (Roaming Tales) said...
They might have good reasons for taking four bags. But that's not really the point, is it? Even they only take one bag each, that's still an extra $50 they hadn't planned on.
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May 4th 2008 @ 7:05AM
jeff.gadling said...
Caitlin,
No it's not. The fee is for a second checked bag. Each person gets one checked bag gratis. So, if the couple in question somehow whittled down their vacation needs into two suitcases, that would be allowed - one each. The $100 extra they have to lay out is for the round-trip of that 3rd and 4th bag.
May 4th 2008 @ 7:22AM
Caitlin (Roaming Tales) said...
@Jeff: Thanks for clarifiying that. I still don't think they should change these things retrospectively though - and if it's about fuel costs then it should be about weight rather than numbers of bags.
@Gargamello: I'm the last person to defend Big Oil but I don't think exploitation is what we're seeing here. Russia has reached peak oil and there is good evidence to suggest that Saudi Arabia has too. In the past when oil prices have gone up, they've increased production. This time they haven't, which suggests that they can't. We are all going to have to adjust to a world with less oil washing about. It'll hurt the US because your society is built around the car and you have enjoyed ridiculously cheap fuel for years so the adjustment will be quite difficult.
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May 4th 2008 @ 9:03AM
Shirley Chaplin said...
Let's face it, some people like to take the kitchen sink, so to speak. My longest trip to date has been 22 days and I only took one bag. There are laundromats etc. If you want to take a bunch of bags have them sent ahead.
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May 4th 2008 @ 6:14PM
Sylvia said...
I hope I'm misunderstanding the snobbery here! Are you really saying that it's ok to up prices in arrears because "they shouldn't be taking so many bags anyway."
Last I noticed, it wasn't part of the airlines job to condemn people's packing habits. I'm a bit surprised at the attitude that flying on a commercial jet is OK but packing more than one bag is somehow a waste - huh?
The issue is clear - is it reasonable to make the fee change restrospectively. At the moment, the discussion seems to be focused around blaming the victim for deserving it.
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May 23rd 2008 @ 12:16AM
Sharon said...
Amen! I think a lot of you have completely missed the point!
There was an agreement in place at the time the tickets were purchased and Delta now has financial problems (who doesn't right now) and so they're expecting they're passengers to bear the load. What's the point of booking early if the airlines can adjust the rates after the fact?
I'm one of those who purchased before February and worked hard to secure the best rate for my son and I only to find out that we're subject to another $100.00 in baggage fees. It's not Delta's business what we take with us. (It was alright with them in January when I purchased). My employer has been experiencing financial difficulties since January including salary freezes and lay-offs, would Delta consider reducing the price of my existing tickets to offset this?
Hear the issue! If service providers are permitted to do this, where will it end? What if I order a meal at one price and then the chef discovers that the price of foods in the entree went up and adjusts the pricing before the meal gets to the table - Same thing!
Pleeeeeease!!!!!
May 8th 2008 @ 6:25AM
Bill (Virginia Beach, VA) said...
OH, I get it...DELTA has destroyed/damaged (2) of my luggage (2x) within 2 months and NOW these A$$HOLES want to charge $25 per bag? Delta has the worst customer service and baggage claim office and it's time to FLY another airline OTHER than DELTA!
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May 9th 2008 @ 11:21AM
Trevor in VA said...
Ummmmm......just get a really HUGE friggin' bag, put it all in there; I've seen rolloing duffels that would carry a body or two. What's the difference?
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May 13th 2008 @ 3:00AM
Jason said...
Problem with one HUGE bag, is Delta charges if over 50# and also if over 62" in H+W+D. That charge could be $230 for the FIRST bag!
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