Air France and KLM join rush to charge for second bag overseas

Want to check a second bag to Europe on Air France or KLM?  Hand over $50, s’il vous plait.

These European airlines, both owned by Air France-KLM  Group, are the latest to charge for what used to be free on overseas flights. In recent months, British Airways, American Airlines and United Airlines have all announced fees for coach fliers to check a second bag between the U.S. and Europe. Although at least one carrier, Air New Zealand, still gives second bags a free ride, the list is dwindling.

In the case of Air France and KLM, the $50 second-bag fee will apply to tickets issued Nov. 1 or later.  If you’re flying after Nov. 1 but buy your ticket before that date, you’ll still get two bags for free, an Air France-KLM spokeswoman explained. Like other airlines, they will exempt high-mileage frequent fliers, customers flying in first and business class and some others from the fee. For details, see the airlines’ joint news release.

I’m still waiting to hear back from the spokeswoman on why Air France and KLM changed their baggage  policies, which include doubling the fee, from $50 to $100 each way, for checked bags that weigh between 50 and 70 pounds.

But as I noted in a story last month, airlines say they need more revenue to counter losses from fuel costs, lower fares and falling demand.

Gee, do you think more of us would fly to Europe if we weren’t dinged for fuel surcharges, taxes and assorted fees that can add hundreds to each ticket? For a helpful rundown of who charges what, check the chart offered up by SmarterTravel. At least then you might not need the fainting couches that my colleague Christopher Reynolds recommends for Los Angeles International Airport.

—Jane Engle, assistant Los Angles Times Travel editor

Photo: Air France A318 jet. Credit: Air France

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 6:33 pm by Jane Engle and is filed under Airline travel, Business Travel, Europe, France, Frequent Flier, Global, Luxury Travel, News, Tips & Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.