Delta Airlines will raise fees on checked bags Wednesday for passengers as fuel prices surge in the wake of the ongoing Iran war and closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The carrier will raise prices on the first two checked bags by $10 for domestic flights, bringing the cost to $45 for the first bag and $55 on the second bag, according to CNBC. A third bag would cost $200 on the same flight, up from $150 previously.
“These updates are part of Delta’s ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics. Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members; customers traveling in First Class, Delta Premium Select and Delta One; active-duty military customers; and those with eligible co-branded Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards will continue to receive their allotment of complimentary checked bags,” a Delta spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a statement.(RELATED: Flights Are About To Get More Expensive, Trump Admin Insists It’s Temporary)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 23: Travelers walk with their luggage at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) (Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)
The company’s move follows two other airlines that have moved to increase checked bag fees to offset dramatic increases in fuel costs. JetBlue became the first company to make such a change on March 30, raising bag fees by as little as $4 but as much as $9 for peak periods, including the summer.
“As we experience rising operating costs, we regularly evaluate how to manage those costs while keeping base fares competitive and continuing to invest in the experience our customers value,” JetBlue told CNBC in a statement at the time.
United Airlines also raised fees for bags by at least $10 on April 3, though the airline said it would still allow some customers, including active military personnel, to check a bag for free. The company told The Associated Press that it was the first time in two years that it had raised its bag fees.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations, including a profanity-laced tirade on Easter Sunday through Truth Social. He has also warned that a “whole civilization will die” if a deal is not made with the United States by Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. EDT.
“I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World,” Trump wrote in part.
Americans are also experiencing soaring gas prices and interest rates as the Iran war lingers on and could get worse if tensions continue. A Goldman Sachs internal note suggested some Southeast Asian countries could run out of oil completely, while the U.S. could lose 60% of its fuel oil capacity.
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