New T&E Expense Item for Business Travelers: Extra Bags on Airlines

If you are a business traveler used to traveling with more than one carry-on bags or overweight luggage, prepared to include a new travel and entertainment (T&E) expense item in your expense report – extra bags.

Starting on May 5, United Airlines will start charging $25 for the second carry on bag to counter the increased fuel prices. The extra fee will be charged for domestic passengers with non-refundable tickets.

UA says 25% of its passengers have a second bag. The surcharge is supposed to earn the airline $100 million a year if, that is, the traveling public agree to pay it and not switch to other airlines.

You can still travel with United without paying that extra fee if you have a first-class ticket, hold a Star Alliance club membership, or fly overseas. Or if you are frequent flyer logging 25,000 miles a year you can also bring in a second bag aboard for free.

If you have an overweight bag between 51-70 lbs United will charge another extra $50. For bags between 71-100 lbs yet another $50 will be necessary.

But United is not alone in this new trend to force business managers travel light. Many other airlines either already do charge for extra and overweight bags or will start doing so soon.

Four airlines (Aloha, Continental, Hawaiian and Northwest) do not allow any bags over 70 lbs. Period.

Northwest is charging $125 for a bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds.

Southwest, the major discount carrier, is now accepting only two (instead of the previous three) free carry on bags and charging $25 for anything extra. For overweight bags it´s also charging $25-$50 extra, depending on the weight.

Here is a list of airlines operating in the United States that charge amounts varying between $10 (Spirit) and $100 (Continental) for the second bag:

AirTran, Alaska, Aloha, America West, American, ATA, Continental, Delta , Frontier , Hawaiian , JetBlue , Midwest , Northwest , Southwest , Spirit, United, US Airways

Always check with your travel or ticket agent about such extra charges in order to avoid any surprises when you are checking your credit-card statement.

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(PHOTO CREDIT: Wikipedia Public Domain Photo)