Delta to Adopt Northwest’s Baggage Fee

Purple sky planeNow that Delta and Northwest have officially merged into one mega-airline, it should not come as a surprise that company officials plan to align checked baggage fees – for consistency’s sake, of course.

Prior to the merger Delta allowed one checked bag for free, and charged $50 for a second.

Northwest charged $15 for the first and $25 for the second.

Now both brands will charge $15 and $25, respectively, for flights on or after December 5, 2008.

Travelers who bought their tickets on or before Wednesday, November 5, 2008 are exempt from the new rule.

The company also announced plans to eliminate certain fees that were instituted earlier this year during the fuel price spike. Delta fliers will no longer be charged to redeem SkyMiles and WorldPerks award tickets, and the fee to make a reservation with an agent will be reduced from $25 to $20. Curbside check-in fees of $3 will also go away.

After a stock-swap deal that was approved by the Justice Department last week, Delta acquired Northwest Airlines, thus creating the largest air carrier in the world in terms of traffic.

Over the next couple of years the two airlines will gradually be merged into one single airline with the Delta name.

By Karen Elowitt for PeterGreenberg.com.

Links: Associated Press, USA Today, Consumerist

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