Virgin America to charge $15 for first checked bag from May 5, 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.

This fee only applies to those passengers flying in the main cabin with non-refundable tickets. First-Class passengers can carry two checked bags free of charge and those with fully refundable tickets can bring one checked bag free. At present, the privately held Virgin America, which started operations in 2007, does not charge for one bag.

The fee for the first bag is a part of the new fee structure that Virgin America announced on March 19, 2009.

According to the new fee scheme, the airline has reduced its fee for changes or cancellations made online, from $75 to $50.

The good news for Virgin America’s passengers is that the airline has also changed its baggage fee structure to a flat rate for all checked items – passengers who book travel on or after May 5, 2009, will be charged $15 for each checked bag. That is, $15 will be charged for a first checked bag and $15 for the second through the 10th checked bag.

Virgin America had earlier charged $25 for a second checked bag and $50 for the third checked bag and subsequent bags.

The carrier, which had suffered losses in the first three quarters of 2008, has maintained the limits of the weight of the first checked bag at 70 pounds.
According to the new baggage-fee structure, Virgin America’s passengers in the First Class can continue to carry up to two checked bags free of charge. And, passengers in the premium Main Cabin Select service or those who buy Fully Refundable Main Cabin fares will continue to enjoy the facility of one checked bag free of charge.

In a statement, Virgin America also declared that that it would, by June 2009, become the first United States-based airline to provide in-flight internet on every flight.

Meanwhile, Virgin America had signed a three-year agreement with Amadeus, the global travel global distribution system, which would distribute full content to users of Amadeus worldwide.

According to a press release from Amadeus, passengers can access and book fares and inventory that Virgin America makes available to the public through its internal reservation system and its consumer website as well as through third-party websites.