Continental adds fee for checking first-bag

Continental Airlines, the nation's fourth-largest airline, will join other carriers in charging some economy-class passengers a $15 fee for checking a first bag. The policy applies to tickets purchased as of Friday, Sept. 5 for travel after October 7 in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.

The fee will not apply to first and business-class passengers or elite members of its frequent flier program. Continental already charges $25 for checking a second bag. See www.continental.com for more details.

The airline also announced cuts in its OnePass frequent flier program for 2009.

• OnePass members will earn only actual miles flown rather than a minimum of 500 miles per flight on tickets purchased after Nov. 15 of this year.

• Elite mileage bonuses will decrease for Platinum and Silver members for tickets purchased after Nov. 15. Platinum bonuses will fall from 125 percent to 100 percent. Silver bonuses will drop from 50 percent to 25 percent.

Continental follows American Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways Group Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. in charging passengers to check one bag.

Seattle-based Alaska Airlines charges a $25 fee for checking a second bag, but doesn't charge for the first one. Delta Air Lines allows a free first bag, but charges $50 for checking a second.

Despite falling fuel prices, airlines are still battling losses. Jet fuel, the industry's largest expense, has fallen 23 percent since a record high of $4.36 a gallon on July 3, but the price today is 49 percent higher than a year ago.

For a list of all airline fees, see www.smartertravel.com.

Carol Pucci: 206-464-3701 .