United Airlines has announced that it will charge fees for a second checked bag for many of its international flights.

Delta Airlines and Continental Airlines have increased fees for checked baggage.

Southwest Airlines has decided to let pets, like small dogs or cats, in the aircraft cabin for a one-way fee of $75, on flights starting June 17, 2009.

Virgin America, the low-cost airline based in the United States, will charge a fee of $15 for the first checked bag from May 5, 2009, thus becoming the latest airline to charge a fee for checked luggage.

AirTran Airways, the low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the United States, has decided to charge a fee of $15 for the first checked bag.

Delta Air Lines, which took over Northwest Airlines on October 29, 2008, has decided to charge a fee of $15 to check a first bag for customers flying in the United States.

Here is good news for some passengers of the United States-based Continental Airlines, the world’s fifth largest airline: Continental Airlines will waive its fee of $15 each way to check a first bag for Chase credit cardmembers and debit cardmembers.

  Continental Airlines, based in Houston, Texas, the United States, has decided to charge some passengers fee for checking in one bag at the airport.

American Airlines, based in Fort Worth, Texas, the United States, has decided to waive the longstanding fee to check a third bag for active members of the United States military.

Global airline giants such as British Airways, the national airline and flag carrier of the United Kingdom and one of the largest in Europe, and Qantas Airways, the national airline of Australia, are likely to join low-cost, rival carriers in charging passengers for baggage check-in and food in the face of exceptionally high prices of aviation fuel.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus, two major airlines of Ireland, have increased charges for luggage.

American Airlines has decided to charge a fee of $15 (£7.50) to check a bag on domestic flights, thus becoming the first major airline in the United States to charge passengers for a first checked bag.