Most fliers to pay $15 to check a bag

TONY DEJAK
AP

Continental Airlines announced Thursday that it will eliminate the only nonstop flight from Charleston International Airport to Cleveland, beginning in September. The airline is matching its competition to cut expenses by reducing seat capacity.

Many travelers who fly US Airways or United Airlines from Charleston had better pack an extra $15 if they plan to check even one bag.

The two carriers announced Thursday that they will soon start charging the fee for the first piece of checked luggage for most of their coach ticket holders. The precedent for the new service charge was set about three weeks ago by American Airlines, which also serves Charleston International Airport.

Separately, Continental Airlines said Thursday it will eliminate in September the only nonstop flight between Charleston and Cleveland under a plan to reduce seat capacity and cut expenses.

The underlying culprit: oil prices.

US Airways President Scott Kirby said his company's fuel costs are up sharply, now averaging $299 per passenger, while domestic fares are roughly the same as they were eight years ago.

"We simply must adapt to the current environment and transform our business by generating new sources of revenue and adding fees to better offset our costs," Kirby said in a statement.

Tempe, Ariz.-based US Airways also said it plans to reduce its domestic seat capacity by as much as 8 percent in the fourth quarter, shrink the size of its fleet and slash 1,700 jobs. It also is returning 10 planes, canceling leases on two more and planning to park more through 2010.

With 21 daily flights between the Lowcountry and four cities, US Airways is the No. 2 carrier at Charleston International, handling about a quarter of the airport's passenger volume so far this year.

The impact of the carrier's retrenchment on its flights to Charlotte, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., was unclear Thursday.

Aside from the $15 that most US Airways passengers will be charged to stow their first bag, free soft drinks in the coach section are on the way out.

Passengers in the back of the company's planes will be charged $2 for a nonalcoholic beverage starting Aug. 1.

UAL Corp.'s United said its fee for a first checked bag applies to tickets bought today for domestic flights on Aug. 18 or later. The charge does not apply at either United or US Airways to certain frequent travelers and those who fly in first class or business class.

Chicago-based United also is increasing the fee to check three or more bags, overweight bags or items that require special handling to $125 from $100, or to $250 from $200, depending on the item.

"With record-breaking fuel prices, we must pursue new revenue opportunities while continuing to offer competitive fares by tailoring our products and services around what our customers value most and are willing to pay for," said John Tague, United's chief operating officer.

Through its United Express affiliate, United shuttles passengers about eight times daily between Charleston and Chicago and the Washington, D.C., area.

Houston-based Continental, which also is taking a hard look at its rising fuel costs, said Thursday it will drop its once-daily flight between Charleston and Cleveland as of Sept. 3, the close of the peak summer travel season.

Savannah also is losing its Cleveland service the same day.

The cuts are part of a plan that Continental announced last week to cut capacity by 11 percent.

The carrier currently offers an average of about seven flights a day between Charleston and Houston, Newark and Cleveland.

The Associated Press and Kyle Stock of The Post and Courier contributed to this report.