www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I just received an e-mail from USAIRWAYS. Starting May 5th, the airline starts charging $25 extra for a second checked bag. Dividend Miles preferred members are exempt from this rule.

Peace,

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

You beat me but here is most of the email.

Today, US Airways announced a change to our baggage policy. Beginning May 5, 2008, we’ll charge $25 for a second checked bag. The new fee applies to travel on or after May 5 for tickets purchased on or after February 26, 2008.

We’re making these changes to offset record fuel prices and rising airline related expenses. We simply must make changes to the way we do business to provide all of you with the high level of service that you’ve come to expect from US Airways. Also, we’re doing all we can to keep fares low. With this policy change, we’re able to give you the choice to avoid the fee and pack fewer items. With fewer bags to process, we save both money and fuel and can pass that savings on to you.

Dividend Miles Preferred members are exempt from the fee, and we’re also waiving the fee for:

* Confirmed First Class and Envoy passengers
* Passengers with Star Alliance Silver or Gold status
* Active military personnel in uniform and with ID
* Unaccompanied minors
* Passengers checking personal assistive devices

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[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]

Yeah...I got the email too. I'm sure we'll be seeing more and more of this sort of thing...with all the airlines. I can understand why. When you can fly from Washington DC to San Jose Costa, Rica for a R/T TOTAL price in the $300 range .......you know that has to be a losing proposition for the airline.

Zebra

I have done that flight many a time. I'm doing it in June. Used miles, but love clearing customs in Charlotte versus Dulles.

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[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]

As with most airline fare increases, new surcharges, options to purchase an inflight meal or snack, etc. it starts with one airline announcing the change and seeing if others follow. If they do the charge is made permanent and if they do not the charge is dropped.

United announced the $25.00 charge for a second checked bag a few weeks ago and now US Air has implemented the charge. It would seem that the other airlines will soon join in.

The United announcement indicated it was for domestic flights and would not apply to most International routes. The US Air announcement, as reported in this thread, makes no mention if the fares applies to both or just domestic flights. Does anyone know?

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

ID - I'm a little fuzzy on the answer for that. Their website is vague on that point. Here are the links and you can see if you can figure out their corporate double speak.

[url=http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/FAQs/newpolicy.aspx?c=eml_bagpolicy_dm_00360_02262008#exemptions]FAQ on baggage
[/url]
Baggage Policy

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[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]

From the FAQ on baggage:



That is bad news since they have included International travel it would seem that most airlines who adopt the charge will also include International travel and United will most likely also.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

It shouldn't have much effect on me, as I check one fair sized bag and have one carry-on.

I'm always amazed by some guys who arrive in San Jose with the intention of staying for weeks or possibly a month.....and they had everything packed in one carry-on.

Spanky, I like going thru customs at Charlotte as well. I think Charlotte is a nice airport. It seems like no matter where you go in that airport, the people are all extremely nice....must be that "southern hospitality."

I spent one night sleeping [or at least trying to ] on the floor, under an escalator at Charlotte Airport. I missed my connecting flight to Dulles after we encountered a severe thunderstorm and couldn't land for quite awhile. A nice tico family, who was in the same dilemma, offered to share their space under the escalator with me.

Zebra

Unfortunately it will have an impact on many expatriates. Many of us, when we go to the States, take a suitcase with our clothes and stuff, inside a slightly larger suitcase so that we have a completely empty suitcase to fill up with clothes and small appliances we purchase at about half of the cost in CR. Having to pay $25.00 for that bag will cut into the savings

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I flew Taca last trip and cleared at Dulles since we laid over in San Salvador. Talk about suck! 2 freaking windows for our flight. If it wasn't the fear of a body cavity search I would have went ballistic.

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[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]