Continental Adopts Second Checked Bag Fee, AA Holds Out

Continental Airlines will charge coach customers $25 to check a second bag for travel beginning May 5. American Airlines remains the only legacy carrier yet to impose a similar fee, noting today that it "has not changed its checked bag policy."

Continental announced the policy change on Friday, effective immediately for bookings, to "help defray rising fuel costs." The carrier said the fee applies to coach customers traveling within the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. Like Delta Air Lines, Northwest, US Airways and United, Continental said it would exempt elite frequent flyer members from the charge.