Delta, Northwest To Align Fees, Policies
Delta Air Lines plans to initiate a $15 fee for coach passengers to check their first bag, while adopting Northwest Airlines' Coach Choice program, which offers coveted economy seats to passengers for a fee, the carrier announced today. Delta said it initiated those changes—while also eliminating or reducing some other fees—to make offerings more consistent with its newly cemented merger partner.
Among legacy carriers, Delta this year had been the lone holdout in charging a fee to check a first bag, opting instead to double its second-bag fee to $50 in July. The new baggage policy, effective for travelers on both Delta and Northwest on Dec. 5, reduces Delta's second-bag charge to $25, but includes the Northwest-adopted $15 first-bag fee for domestic travel. For travelers already booked on Delta or Northwest, the old rules apply.
"The increase in bags being carried on board Delta aircraft this year tells us that customers are not differentiating Delta as the only major airline not charging for a first checked bag," said Delta executive vice president and COO Steve Gorman in a statement. "
Delta last week adopted Northwest's Coach Choice offering, which offers preferred coach assignments such as bulkhead and exit row seats for $5 to $25 "based on distance traveled and seat location."
Meanwhile, the merged entity is eliminating fuel surcharges on award tickets booked by members of Delta's SkyMiles and Northwest's Worldperks loyalty programs. Delta and Northwest earlier this year introduced those fees, ranging from $25 to $100, "in response to unprecedented fuel costs."
Beginning Thursday, Delta also will shave $5 from its $25 charge for phone reservations, making it consistent with Northwest's $20 fee. The carriers also plan to scrap Delta's $3 curbside checkin fee, consistent with Northwest's policy.
Delta said the two carriers largely would maintain separate Web sites, reservation systems and loyalty programs as they continue to integrate operations over the next year or two.