Delta raises fees for mileage tickets, children flying alone

Prepare to pay more if you're flying soon as the nation's airlines, struggling with higher fuel costs, boost fees for everything from letting children fly alone to booking frequent-flier travel on the phone or checking a second piece of luggage.

Delta Air Lines, the nation's third-largest carrier, is the latest to hit customers with a long list of new fees. Delta's are effective today.

The airline boosted its unaccompanied-minor fee — the charge to transport a child between the ages of 5-14 flying alone — from $50 to $100 each way on a nonstop flight, the same it has been charging for connecting flights.

Frequent fliers will be charged a $25 "handling fee" for award tickets booked over the phone with a Delta representative that include a segment on a partner airline, such as Alaska or Northwest. That's on top of an increase from $20 to $25 for booking any type of ticket on the telephone.

Delta, based in Atlanta, also said it will boost the charge from $75 to $100 for taking a pet in the cabin, and will raise the cost of taking an oversized bag from $100 to $150.

Northwest, United Airlines and Delta announced earlier that they would begin charging some domestic passengers $25 each way to check a second bag.

Northwest's fee for children traveling alone on connecting flights also goes up to $100 for tickets issued after today.

Alaska Airlines, the biggest carrier serving the Seattle-Tacoma area, so far does not charge extra for checking a second bag. Its fees for transporting children are $30 for nonstop travel and $60 for connecting flights.

Northwest and Delta revived merger talks recently as oil prices have soared, putting pressure on the airlines to consolidate to cut costs.

Carol Pucci: 206-464-3701 or cpucci@seattletimes.com.