American joins peers with second bag fee

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 29 (UPI) -- American Airlines Inc. joined its peers by saying it would begin charging passengers for checking a second bag.

The $25 fee would apply to tickets bought on or after May 12, The Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday.

Premium members of the carrier's frequent-flier program and passengers who buy full-price tickets would not get hit with the extra fee.

American joins United Airlines Inc., US Airways, Inc, Northwest Airlines Inc., Continental Airlines Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc., which have already announced the second bag surcharge.

American estimated the fee, which would not be assessed for international fights, would apply to about 4 percent of its domestic passengers.