Continental adds single-bag charge

HOUSTON, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Continental Airlines has joined most other major U.S. carriers by charging economy-class passengers $15 for checking a single bag.

The charge takes effect Oct. 7 for passengers who purchased tickets from Saturday onward, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Passengers who purchase full-fare economy tickets, and military personnel and their families flying under service orders, are exempt.

The charge applies on domestic flights and flights from the United States to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada.

Continental has been charging $25 to check a second bag since April. But the airline let other large carriers, including U.S. Airways, American, Northwest and United, test the single-bag charge before it followed suit.

Delta, which charges $50 for checking a second bag, is the only holdout among the largest airlines.