eXpect delaYs Travel Delay Blog

New Branson (Missouri) Airport is now open!  (BKG)

Branson Airport (BKG), Missouri -- May 13, 2009 -- There's a new airport coming to town here in Branson, Missouri, and it is now open! The new airport is located 10 minutes from Branson's city center and will feature a number of low-cost airlines with service directly into Branson from four major hub cities: Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver. Enterprise Rent-A-Car is currently the only rental car company operating at the airport, and their offices are open from 8 AM to 3 PM. Currently AirTran Airways and Sun Country Airlines serve the airport and some special fares are available for the next day or so, and some vacation packages are also available. The terminal features a Famous Dave's Bar-B-Q restaurant and bar and a Bass Pro Shops gift shop. So if you live in the Branson area or are planning a trip there, consider the new Branson Airport when planning your travels.

To learn more, visit the Branson Airport web site.

Delta Airlines is the first of the major carriers to charge a fee for a second checked bag on international flights

May 2009 - Beginning July 1, 2009 for tickets purchased after April 22, 2009, Delta Airlines will charge a $50 fee (for those not exempt) for a second checked bag for coach passengers traveling on international flights. Prior to this change, there was no fee for up to two checked bags on International flights. Each bag must weigh 50 pounds (22.5 kg) or less and not exceed 62 inches when you total length + width + height, otherwise there will be additional fees. For coach passengers on domestic flights, the checked baggage fees are unchanged, with a $15 fee for the first checked bag and a $25 fee for the second checked bag.The first checked bag on international flights is still free, as long as it does not exceed size and weight limitations.

Read the full details on Delta Airlines checked baggage fees and restrictions.

Read about online baggage fee payment policies and the checked baggage policies of the major US airlines.

US Airways raises checked baggage fees, but tries to confuse passengers into thinking they are getting a discount

May 6, 2009 -- Here's the scoop: US Airways now charges $15 for the first checked back and $25 for the second checked bag, and you can only pay at the airport*. Starting July 9, 2009 for flights booked after April 23, 2009 that will still be the price .... if you pay on-line. However, if you pay at the airport, you can add $5 to those charges, making it $20 for the first checked bag and $30 for the second checked bag*. So you get a "discount" if you pay on-line. Let's see how this one goes over -- maybe as well as charging for non-alcoholic beverages in coach? (You'll remember that US Airways just tried this one this past year, and abandoned it soon after)  It's hard to believe that an airline would still try to squeeze more money out of its passengers in this economy, especially with the price of fuel being a fraction of what it was when the airlines instituted these fares claiming that fuel costs were the reason for them.

For full details of the US Airways baggage policy see the US Airways website: http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/traveltools/baggage/baggagepolicies.aspx

*remember those prices are for checked bags less than 50 lbs - overweight and oversized bags still have additional charges, and some passengers are still exempt from the basic bag fees