Business Travel Tips

US Airways announced it would charge customers checking luggage at the airport an extra $5 per bag.
If customers prepay their baggage fees by checking in online they can avoid the extra $5 charge.

The new fee doesn’t apply to transatlantic travel and to passengers with preferred status on its frequent-flier program.

JetBlue announced that it will add nonstop service between Boston and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI).

The low-cost-carrier said it will start the service on September 9, 2009, with introductory fares starting at $39 each way.
JetBlue will provide four daily round-trip flights on the route.

Two more low-cost-carriers – AirTran and Southwest Airlines – already fly – or plan to start nonstop service – on the same route.
That means a intense competition between the low-cost carriers is going to start on Boston – Baltimore/Washington route.

US Airways has resumed flying on the Charlotte to Paris’ Charles De Gaulle Airport route.

The airline currently serves through non-stop service from Charlotte two more top Europe destinations: London’s Gatwick Airport and Frankfurt International Airport. It also codeshares with Lufthansa, Star Alliance member, the Charlotte-to-Munich service.

US Airways plans to launch its first-ever service to South America this fall with daily non-stop service between Charlotte and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Beginning July 1, 2009, Delta Air Lines will start charging passengers flying on international flights a $50 fee for checking a second bag.

Elite-level frequent fliers and active military personnel will be exempt from the fee.

The airline expects to generate more than $100 million annually from the new fee.

Delta already charges for first and second bags for domestic flights.

Other airlines seem to follow United by adopting a new policy of charging over-sized passengers for two seats.

US Airways announced they may charge over-sized passengers for another seat, unless they are able to accomodate them on later flights.

Southwest Airlines said customers who will occupy more than one seat be required to pay for that seat. The airline also added it will offer the seat at a discount and refund the fare if the flight is not completely full.

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, a civil rights organization, says United should change its policy regarding overweight passengers. because it would be discriminatory.