American final legacy carrier to add $25 second bag fee

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

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Well, folks, it’s all over except the crying.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen airline after airline heap fees upon travelers checking a second bag. Several low-cost carriers did it, including JetBlue and AirTran, and all of the legacy lines were in on the game as well—except one.

That lone holdout, American, is now adding a fee of its own, effective May 12. Passengers will have to cough up $25 each way for a second checked bag, with a few exceptions made, mostly for elite frequent flyers and first- or business-class passengers.

Travelers can now expect an extra charge for a second checked bag on just about every major airline in the country. Southwest is the only member of this group that doesn’t levy such a fee, though it does collect $25 for a third checked bag and $50 thereafter. Southwest is also the only airline to post a first-quarter profit this year, thanks largely to fuel hedging moves that have saved the carrier millions.

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