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Airlines in US collect record baggage fees

Recent reports state that airlines in the US have collected more than $6 billion in baggage, as well as reservation change fees from passengers in 2012. This has resulted in the highest amount of fees since they become common five years back.

However, commuters should not expect a break anytime soon. Such fees collected from the passengers, like charges for boarding early or picking prime seats, have helped the airlines to return to profitability. Back in 2008, airlines started charging for the first checked suitcase and since then the fees have gone up.

Typically, an airline charges $25 each way for the first checked bag, $35 for the second checked bag and the rates vary with various overweight or oversized bags. The only condition that remains is that the government requires the airlines to report revenue from baggage and change fees. This summer, it is possible that the passengers will have to shell out some extra money.

In recent times, Delta, American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways raised the fee for changing a domestic flight reservation from $150 to $200. This fee, along with many others, was introduced in order to offset the rising fuel costs, which amount to most of the operational costs.

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