New Baggage Fees on Air Transat

Remember last spring when Air Transat announced it was going to increase the number of seats on its Airbus 330 jets in order to save money? At the time the airline said that it was also looking to increase revenues from passengers on ancillary services.

But, said a company spokesperson, the airline has no baggage fees and no plans to introduce any fees.

Apparently those plans have changed.

Last November, the airline quietly introduced a $25 baggage fee for passengers travelling in Economy Class to the United States.And now the airline is rolling out an “improved baggage allowance policy" that allows the carrier to “align itself with the current practices of the industry.”

In other words, get ready for more baggage fees.

The new fees aren't necessarily unexpected. The carrier has had a rough year. In February it narrowly averted a strike with its pilot union. Then it reported a “disappointing” second quarter. And it remains in negotiations with its flight attendant union. So it’s probably not unexpected that the carrier’s baggage handling now comes with financial restrictions.

Understanding the new fee schedule requires a small degree of patience and possibly some experience in contract law. Here are the main elements:

• Economy Class passengers on flights to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America and the United States will be charged a $25 fee—per flight segment—on the first piece of baggage.

• Economy Class passengers to Europe will continue to received one free checked bag.

• Economy Class passengers who have booked all-inclusive packages to the South (Mexico, the Caribbean and South and Central America) will still receive one free piece of checked baggage.

• Economy Class who upgrade to an Options Plus package will receive an additional piece of checked baggage. (So travellers to the South or Europe will have two free checked bags.) Option Plus features also includes advance seat selection, priority check-in and boarding, and on other on-board “extras.”

• Club Class passengers will also see their baggage allowance increase. Those travelling to the South, the United States or within Canada will be allowed two free pieces of checked baggage. As will travellers to Europe. But Club Class passengers also enjoy increased weight limits.

• In Economy Class, the baggage limit is 23 kg for each bag, while in Club Class the limit is 25 kg for each bag on all flights to the South, the United States or within Canada. Club Class passengers to Europe enjoy a baggage limit of 32 kg each.

Got it?

It is worth mentioning that Air Transat is increasing the weight limit on the standard Economy Class baggage to 23 kg; formrerly 20 kg, so you can have more space to bring home extra souvenirs from your holiday getaway.

Per Flight Segment

It is also worth highlighting a tiny three-word phrase in the new policy, that could wreak havoc with your holiday budget: Per flight segment.

Passengers need to pay careful attention when booking connecting flights or they could end up being hit with double checked baggage fees. It's also important to remember that a direct flight is NOT the same thing as a non-stop flight. A direct flight can have multiple segments, so watch out for double baggage fees on those routes as well.

To see the new baggage policy in its entirety, visit www.airtransat.com.

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