US Airways to charge more for checked baggage at airport

US Airways says it will charge passengers an extra $5 per bag to check luggage at the airport rather than online.

US Airways says it will charge passengers an extra $5 per bag to check luggage at the airport rather than online.

US Airways charges $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second. Those choosing to pay for checking their bags at the airport will be charged an additional $5 service fee per bag.

The baggage-handling fees apply to all flights within the United States and to and from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The change applies with tickets booked on Thursday for flights beginning July 9.

Passengers can make payments by going to US Airways’ Web site and paying the baggage fees. For example, payments can be made today for flights starting on July 9.

The airline doesnโ€™t charge to check baggage for travelers with โ€œpreferredโ€ status on its frequent-flier program, trans-Atlantic flight customers, unaccompanied minors and military personnel on active duty.

Meanwhile, US Airways Group Inc. has narrowed its first-quarter net loss to $103 million, or 90 cents per diluted share. In the same period last year, the carrier lost $237 million, or $2.58 per diluted share.

Total operating revenue fell 13.5 percent to $2.46 billion in the same period, which US Airways attributes to the global recession.

US Airways says the effects of fuel hedging significantly impacted its latest results. Excluding special credits and realized losses and gains on fuel-hedging transactions, the airline (NYSE:LCC) posted operating income of $8 million and a net loss of $63 million for its first quarter 2009.

That compares with an operating loss and net loss of $287 million and $321 million, respectively, for the same period last year.

Arizona-based US Airways operates 3,200 flights per day to about 200 destinations in the Americas and Europe. It offers nonstop service to Phoenix with connections across the country from the Albuquerque International Sunport.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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