US Airways raises checked baggage fees, but tries to confuse passengers into thinking they are getting a discount
May 6, 2009 -- Here's the scoop: US Airways now charges $15 for the first checked back and $25 for the second checked bag, and you can only pay at the airport*. Starting July 9, 2009 for flights booked after April 23, 2009 that will still be the price .... if you pay on-line. However, if you pay at the airport, you can add $5 to those charges, making it $20 for the first checked bag and $30 for the second checked bag*. So you get a "discount" if you pay on-line. Let's see how this one goes over -- maybe as well as charging for non-alcoholic beverages in coach? (You'll remember that US Airways just tried this one this past year, and abandoned it soon after) It's hard to believe that an airline would still try to squeeze more money out of its passengers in this economy, especially with the price of fuel being a fraction of what it was when the airlines instituted these fares claiming that fuel costs were the reason for them.
For full details of the US Airways baggage policy see the US Airways website: http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/traveltools/baggage/baggagepolicies.aspx
*remember those prices are for checked bags less than 50 lbs - overweight and oversized bags still have additional charges, and some passengers are still exempt from the basic bag fees
