Baggage Allowance
Many airlines are charging additional fees for checked baggage. This information is specific to those carriers under the City Program contract. It is intended to provide information and protect travelers under the contracted fares.
As of November 13, 2009 the following is the most up-to-date list of airline checked baggage fees.
| Airline |
Commercial
Bag Fee -
1st Bag |
Exceptions |
| AirTran |
$15
|
Reservations made after 11/12/08, and travel beginning 12/05/08 or later, the commercial baggage fee of $15 will also be assessed to government travelers.
Military members on contract fares with identification are exempt from the commercial baggage fee.
|
| Alaska |
$15
|
Effective 7/01/2009, the commercial baggage fee of $15 will be assessed for the first checked bag. Active duty military and their family members traveling on orders are exempt. |
American -Domestic flights only
|
$15
|
Effective 7/24/09 (Domestic Flights Only) - Non-military government employees traveling on any government fare are no longer exempt from the commercial fee to check a first bag. Only those individuals who present an active duty military ID will be eligible for a waiver.
AA bag policy |
| Delta Airlines |
$15
$20 if checked at the airport and not online at delta.com
|
Effective immediately, for travel on or after 12/05/08 - Government travelers are no longer exempt from the commercial fee to check a first bag on domestic flights.
U.S. Military personnel on active duty with travel orders will be able to check up to 10 pieces of luggage on Delta-operated mainline flights and Northwest flights or up to four pieces of luggage on Delta Connection flights, up to a maximum of 100 pounds each, free of charge.
|
| Mesa/go! |
$10
|
Effective 8/10/08 - Government/Military members traveling on contract fares are exempt from the commercial fee to check a first bag. Government/
Military members on Go! commercial fares may be subject to first checked baggage fees.
|
| Midwest |
$15
|
Effective 10/21/08 - Baggage fees are waived for active duty military personnel. Government travelers are not exempt from commercial baggage fees.
|
|
United
|
$20
$25 if checked at the airport and not online at united.com
|
Effective 05/14/08 - Exceptions apply to 1K, Premier Executive, Premier Associate, military and dependents with identification and travel orders.
Effective 05/14/09 -- Customers may take advantage of a reduced fee of $20 and avoid long lines during the summer travel season by utilizing online baggage check-in at united.com. Additional information about discounted baggage check-in can be found in the United Airlines attachment below.
|
| US Airways |
$20
$25 if checked at the airport and not online
$20/$70/$15
|
Effective 10/01/08 - Government travelers are not exempt from the commercial fee to check a first bag.
The following individuals are exempt from the commercial baggage fee: All Dividend Miles Preferred members (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Chairman's Preferred), passengers traveling to and from Europe; or to and from Asia; Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members, unaccompanied minors; passengers checking personal assistive devices; confirmed First Class and Envoy passengers at time of check-in; and active U.S. military personnel with ID (first through third bag up to 100 lbs/45kg each free of charge).
Effective 07/09/09 - Government and commercial travelers will be assessed a fee of $20 for the first bag under 50 pounds. A fee of $70 will be assessed for the first bag weighing between 51 and 70 pounds. The online fee for the first bag will be $20.
|
|
Virgin America
|
$15
|
Effective 3/19/09 - Government employees are exempt from the commercial fee to check a 1st and 2nd bag. Government and DoD travelers on Virgin America commercial fares may be suject to checked baggage fees.
|
| Airline |
Commercial
Bag Fee - Additional Bags |
Exceptions |
| Air Tran Airways |
$25
|
Effective 11/12/08 - The second checked baggage fee is $25. The second bag fee applies to all government passengers using government contract fares. Additional checked bags are $50 each.
Military members on contract fares with identification are exempt from the commercial baggage fee.
|
| Alaska Airlines |
$25
|
Effective 7/1/08 - Government travelers are not exempt from the commercial baggage fee of $25 for a second checked bag.
Effective immediately, baggage fees are waived for active members of the U.S military and their family members traveling on orders for up to three pieces of checked luggage per person. Each bag may be up to 50 pounds and up to 115 linear inches, while military duffel bags or other similar type bags may be up to 70 pounds.
|
|
American -Domestic flights only
International flights
|
$25
$50
|
Effective 9/14/09 there will be an increase of $20 for a second checked bag to $50 for tickets to Belgium, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland. Government and DoD members traveling on any government fare are no longer exempt from the commercial fee to check a second bag.
Effective 8/13/08 - The fee for a 3rd checked bag is waived for active members of U.S. military. If family members are specifically mentioned in the military person's travel orders, then those family members will also be allowed the same military baggage allowance. Prior to this policy, military personnel had to pay the $100 fee for the 3rd bag and then fill out a form for reimbursement.
|
| Delta Airlines - Domestic |
$25
$30 if checked at the airport and not online at delta.com
|
Effective April 21, 2009, Government travelers are not exempt from the commercial excess baggage fee of $50 for a second bag for international travel. There is no charge for the first bag on international itineraries.
Military members on active duty with order are exempt from the commercial baggage fee.
|
|
Frontier Airlines
|
$30
|
Effective 10/01/09 - Government travelers are exempt from the of $20 1st bag and $30 second baggage fees . Military members on orders are exempt from the $20 and $30 second bag commercial fees but both Government and military will be subject to fees for any bag that is overweight (greater than 50 lbs.).
|
| Jet Blue |
$30
|
Effective on/after October 1, 2009 Government travelers are exempt from a commercial baggage fee for the first (1st) checked bag. A checked bag fee of $30 will be assessed for the second (2nd) bag. Charges for excess, oversize and overweight bags will be assess and collected at the airport upon check-in. No charge for military personnel for the second bag if they are on active duty. JetBlue bag policy |
| Mesa/go! |
$17
|
Effective 7/15/08 - Government/Military members traveling on contract fares are exempt from the commercial fee to check a second bag. However, Government/Military members on go! commercial fares may be subject to second checked baggage fees.
|
| Midwest |
$25
|
Effective 10/21/08- Government travelers are not exempt from the commercial baggage fee of $25 for each additional bag.
|
| United Airlines |
$30
$35 if checked at the airport and not online
|
Effective 05/15/2008 - Exceptions apply to 1K, Premier Executive, Premier Associate, military and dependents with identification and travel orders.
Travelers may take advantage of a discounted fee of $25 for a second bag by utilizing online check-in for baggage at united.com. Details can be found in the United Airlines attachment below.
|
| United Airlines |
$50
|
Effective 11/10/08 - Additional baggage fee increase. Exceptions apply to 1K, Premier Executive, Premier Associate, military and dependents with identification and travel orders.
United is implementing a second bag fee in certain international markets for tickets purchased or or after Sept.30, 2009 for travel on or after Dec. 15, 2009. Please refer to file below for full details.
|
| US Airways |
$30
$35 if checked at the airport and not online
$30/$80/$25
|
Effective 10/01/08 - Government travelers are not exempt from the commercial baggage fee of $25 for the 2nd bag. The commercial bag fee for the 3rd - 9th bag will be $100 per bag.
Effective 07/01/09 - The fee for commercial and government travelers for a 2nd bag will be $30. The fee for a 2nd bag weighing between 51 and 70 pounds will be $80. The online fee for a 2nd bag is $30. The baggage fee will be $35 if checked at the airport instead of online.
|
|
Virgin America
|
$15
|
Effective 3/19/09 - Government employees are exempt from the commercial fee to check a 1st and 2nd bag. Government and DoD travelers on Virgin America commercial fares may be suject to checked baggage fees.
|
The most current information on baggage allowance policies may be obtained by checking with your agency's Travel Management Center or Commercial Travel Office or with the individual airline. A listing of contract airline websites is available under Travel Links.
Domestic
Many airline now charge a fee for the first checked bag.
International
Most airlines have implemented changes in the baggage weight allowance for coach class for international travel. The free coach class baggage allowance is 50 pounds per paying passenger. Passengers in coach class may take more than 50 pounds, but for an additional fee.
Uniformed military travelers
Many airlines permit an exception to baggage allowance policies for uniformed military personnel on orders who may check the following luggage free of a fee:
- Two duffel bags;
- Sea bags; or
- B-4 bags up to 70 pounds /115 linear inches.
Federal Travel Regulation (FTR)
Federal Travel Regulation 301.12.2 identifies excess baggage as a miscellaneous expense. You should verify your agency’s policy and procedures regarding miscellaneous expense policy on excess baggage fees.
The following Federal Travel Regulation excerpt is applicable to payment of baggage expenses when the respective agency determines the miscellaneous expense is in interest of the government.
§301-12.2 What baggage expenses may my agency pay?
Your agency may reimburse expenses related to baggage as follows:
(a) Transportation charges for authorized excess;
(b) Necessary charges for transferring baggage;
(c) Necessary charges for storage of baggage when such charges are the result of official business;
(d) Charges for checking baggage; and
(e) Charges or tips at transportation terminals for handling Government property carried by the traveler.
Last Reviewed 11/19/2009