Extra bags on NWA will carry new fees

Bringing a second suitcase on a Northwest Airlines flight? Make sure you bring your wallet, too -- because it's about to get lighter.

Northwest said Friday that it will, for the first time, charge an extra $25 to people flying coach class who take along a second suitcase in checked baggage. The surcharge begins May 5, but does not affect passengers who bought tickets before today. The fee applies to flights in North America, and will be charged each way on round-trip flights.

Passengers will still be allowed one free carry-on bag in addition to the suitcase they check.

Soaring jet-fuel costs are the reason for the second-suitcase fee, analysts say. Northwest is the latest airline to charge extra for a second suitcase, following the lead of United Airlines, US Airways and Southwest Airlines.

In addition to the new charge for a second suitcase, Northwest will increase its charge for a third bag to $100, from $80, and will raise the surcharge for bags weighing more than 50 pounds to $50, from $25.

The surcharges apply not only to Northwest passengers but also to Northwest Airlink customers flying on Mesaba, Pinnacle or Compass airlines.

But not everyone will have to pay the new second-suitcase fee. Members of Northwest's WorldPerks Elite frequent-flier program who pay full fare can check two bags for free; first-class passengers can still check three.

The second-suitcase fee is the latest example of formerly free amenities for Northwest coach-class passengers that are either no longer free or have been discontinued.

Seat choices were once routine, but it now costs $5 to $35 extra on domestic flights to request a seat on an aisle or a seat with extra legroom.

Food, once included in the ticket price, now costs $5 for a sandwich and $2 for a snack.

And pillows and newsstand magazines, once taken for granted, have been discontinued.

In addition, Northwest has experimented in Seattle with charging $2 a bag to have skycaps check luggage at the curb, but it hasn't instituted that fee systemwide.

Steve Alexander • 612-673-4553