I just got this message from USAirways:

Save time and money when you check in online. Beginning July 9, 2009, you'll be able to pay for checked bags when you check in online – $15 for your first checked bag and $25 for your second. For customers who choose to pay for checked bags at the airport, there will be an additional $5 service fee, so save a few when you check in online!

I guess this is how they are making up for lost revenue from returning to free soft drinks onboard.

It sounds mostly like they're trying to cut down wait times in line at the airport, as people fumble for credit cards or cash to pay the baggage fees and agents have to make change; if it's done in advance online, then the airport check-in can move faster. I hate the baggage fee in general, but this particular change doesn't bother me too much. I don't always check in online, if I know I have good seats I can't really improve on by checking in early; this policy change would get me to check in online every time.

-- Eric

I wonder how long this will last...or more precise...what will they charge for next?
Lynn

When I took USAirways last month, only middle seats were available. Aisle and Windows were reserved for premium customers. If a non-premium customer wanted an aisle or window there was an additional fee of, I think, $30.

Good heavens, is this standard proceedure on all airlines in the USA? Or only on smaller airlines?
I don't believe we had to pay anything extra for our checked luggage or aisle seats in March on West Jet from Miami.
I like checking in on line and getting Boarding passes....it cuts down on another line at the airport.

Many (most?) US airlines now hold back some seat assignments and sell them for a small premium, typically from $10 to $30 per flight. These seats are frequently window and aisle seats in the front of the plane (the first 4-8 rows) and exit row seats. Each airline has its own rules for these seats -- some hold them for their premium frequent flier members, some sell them to anyone, and typically they're sold only at the time online check-in opens, starting 24 hours before the flight.

What can often happen now is what apparently happened to sedona: as seats are booked, the non-premium window and aisle seats all get claimed, so what's left for those booking late are middle seats or the seats with a premium charge. No airline is charging a fee for *all* window and aisle seats... at least yet! ;) If you book your flights well in advance, you can always select window or aisle seats without a fee.

-- Eric