Overview of Baggage Fees

[acamato]

I cannot take credit for this. I got it from a PADI Instructor News email...








General information:

• The fees, size, and weight restrictions listed below apply to checked baggage only.
• Fees are one-way. To get the total fees for your trip, double the dollar amount listed.
• As a general rule, bags under 62 linear inches are not considered over-sized.
• As a general rule, bags weighing 50 lbs or less are not considered over-weight.
• Bags over 100 lbs and/or larger than 115 linear inches are not allowed. Some airlines limit the weight to 80 pounds.
• The fees below assumes you are NOT bringing a tank. Please visit the individual airline websites for the fees associated with bring a scuba tank on an airplane (they start at $100 each way).
• Linear inches are calculated by adding the length + width + depth of an object.

Alaska Airlines

Weight Limits and Fees
Up to 50 lbs - free.
51-100 lbs - $50 fee per piece

Size Limits and Fees
Up to 63 linear inches - free*
63-80 inches: $50 fee.
81-115 inches: $75 fee

*Scuba equipment may exceed 62 linear inches, but must be no more than 115 linear inches.

Note: If a bag is both oversize and overweight, the higher fee is charged.

Additional information on traveling with scuba gear on Alaska Airlines.

American Airlines

Flights within the US, Canada, USVI and Puerto Rico
$15 for the first checked piece.
$25 for the second checked piece.
$100 per piece for the 3rd, 4th and 5th checked bags

International Travel (excluding Canada, Brazil, Europe and Asia)
Two checked bags at no charge. Limit 62 linear inches and 50lbs

Checked Bag Weight Limits
Up to 50 lbs- free
51-70 lbs - $50 per piece.
70-100 lbs - $100 fee per piece

Size Limits and Fees
Up to 62 inches – free
62-115 inches - $150 fee per piece.

Continental Airlines

Economy Class within the US, Canada, USVI and Puerto Rico
$15 for the first checked piece.
$25 for the second checked piece.

Economy Class between the US, Puerto Rico, USVI, Canada South America, Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico (excludes Brazil)
1 checked bag free (weight and size restrictions apply)
2nd bag - $25 (weight and size restrictions apply)

Economy Class travel to Europe, Micronesia, Middle East and Asia
2 checked bags no charge (weight and size restrictions apply)

First Class, BusinessFirst and International Business Class
3 checked bags no charge (weight and size restrictions apply)

General information on Continental Airlines baggage policies and fees

Delta and Northwest Airlines

Travel within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico
$15 for the first checked piece
$25 for the second checked piece
$125 for the third checked piece

Travel outside the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico
First checked piece - free
$50 for the second checked piece
$200 for the third checked piece

Weight Limits and Fees
Up to 50 lbs- free
51-70 lbs - $90 per piece (domestic), $150 per piece (international)
71-100 lbs - $175 per piece (domestic), $300 per piece (international)

Size Limits and Fees
Up to 62 inches – free
62-80 inches - $175 fee per piece.
Baggage measuring more than 80 inches will not be accepted as checked baggage.

You'll be charged an excess baggage fee each time you go over any one of the allowances. For example, if you have an extra piece of baggage that goes over the weight limit and the size limit, then you'll be charged 3 times:

* once for the extra bag,
* once for going over the size limit, and
* once for going over the weight limit.

Additional information on bringing your dive gear on a Delta or Northwest Airlines flight.

Hawaiian Airlines

Scuba diving equipment will not be included in determining the free baggage allowance and will always be subject to the following charges:

Between any two points within State of Hawaii: $25.00 USD
Between the Continental USA and Hawaii: $100.00 USD
Between points within the Continental USA: $100.00 USD

NOTE: Excess weight charges will be assessed in addition to applicable charges for excess pieces and/or oversized baggage.

Maximum weight for Scuba Equipment is 50 lbs. Items exceeding 50 lbs but not more than 70 lbs will be subject to a charge of $25.00 excess weight charge.


Weight Limits and Fees
50 lbs. but not more than 70lbs:
within the State of Hawaii - $25.00 per piece.
within the Continental US or between the Continental US and Hawaii -$50.00 USD per piece.

Size Limits and Fees
within the State of Hawaii - $25.00 per piece.
within the Continental US or between the Continental US and Hawaii -$100 per piece

Items larger than 80” and/or heavier than 70 lbs will not be accepted as checked baggage.

Additional information on traveling with scuba equipment on Hawaiian Airlines.

U.S. Airways

Checked Baggage Fees
First bag - $20 (up to 50 lbs), $70 (51-70 lbs), $120 (71-100 lbs)
Second bag - $30 (up to 50 lbs), $80 (51-70 lbs), $130 (71-100 lbs)
Third – Ninth bag - $100 (up to 50 lbs), $150 (51-70 lbs), $200 (71-100 lbs)

Size Limits and Fees
Less than 62 inches – free
62-80 inches - $100

Additional Information on bringing scuba diving equipment on US Airways
If the scuba tank is not included, scuba equipment will be accepted as part of the normal baggage allowance in lieu of a piece of baggage. Items are subject to overweight and oversize fees if over 50 lbs or 62 inches.

United Airlines

For Travel within the US and Canada
First bag: $15 ($20 if paid at airport)
Second bag: $25 ($30 if paid at airport)

Oversized (more than 62 linear inches) $175 fee per peice
Overweight (more than 50 lbs) $125 fee per peice

International Travel (excluding Brazil)
First two checked bags - free (size and weight restrictions apply)

Oversized (more than 62 linear inches)
$175 between North America and Caribbean, Central America, Mexico
$200 per bag between Australia/Asia/New Zealand via the Pacific, Europe, South America
$250 per bag between north america and Africa, Asia via the Atlantic Middle East

Overweight
Weight limits 50 lbs per piece for economy class and 70 lbs business / first class. For heavier bags, the following fees apply:

Between North America and Caribbean, Central America, Mexico $125 (up to 100 lbs)
Between Australia/Asia/New Zealand via the Pacific, Europe, South America (51-70 lbs) - $150.

Oversized baggage charges are applied in addition to any charges that may be assessed for overweight and/or excess baggage.

[UofTOrange]

I found the "not bringing a tank part interesting". Why would you ever need to bring a tank? Just curious, is it for people that dive doubles with a specific setup or something?

[chinacat46]

Thanks for the info I fly tomorrow on AA from Denver to Grenada and didn't think I was gonna have to pay for my bag and this confirms that.

[PTAaron]

Great info!
We're flying to Jamaica next week - I'm not sure what airline we are on though... wife booked it all.

[Smoochy]

Continental used to allow up to 70lbs for any checked bag (within the size limits) that contained strictly scuba gear. Can anyone confirm that this still applies?

Link to Continental's Sports page It doesn't say anything about the weight limit they are using now, it just states that if it weighs over 50lbs and DOES contain other objects besides scuba gear, you will have to pay the fee... is it safe to assume that the weight limit is still 70lbs then??

[openhelix]

Originally Posted by Smoochy

Continental used to allow up to 70lbs for any checked bag (within the size limits) that contained strictly scuba gear. Can anyone confirm that this still applies?

Link to Continental's Sports page It doesn't say anything about the weight limit they are using now, it just states that if it weighs over 50lbs and DOES contain other objects besides scuba gear, you will have to pay the fee... is it safe to assume that the weight limit is still 70lbs then??

I'm flying continental this summer as well so I called. The rep said 50 lbs regardless. No 70# exception for scuba gear. Other than that, she basically read me the info from the page:

Scuba Equipment

Continental does accept one dive bag containing equipment used in the scuba-diving sport as checked baggage. Scuba equipment in addition to the baggage allowance will be assessed at the excess baggage charge applicable in the market for a single piece.
Dive bags weighing over 50lbs (23kg) that contain other items in addition to or in place of appropriate dive equipment will be subject to the applicable overweight fee.
Dive bags measuring over 62 linear inches (157 cm) that contain other items in addition to or in place of dive equipment will be subject to the applicable oversize charge.
If applicable, the first ($15) or second bag fee ($25) applies to scuba equipment.
An empty dive tank will not be included in determining the Free Baggage Allowance and will be subject to a $100 service charge (each way).
An empty dive tank or up to 3 rebreather tanks will not be included in determining the Free Baggage Allowance and will be subject to a service charge of $100. The empty dive/rebreather tank must have the regulator valve completely disconnected form the tank. The tank must not be sealed (i.e. the tank has an open end). The tank must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection by a TSA Security Screener.
Note: for Rebreather Equipment: Soda lime that is 4% Sodium Hydroxide or less will be accepted in checked baggage. Soda lime that is 4.1% Sodium Hydroxide will not be accepted in checked baggage.
An item of SCUBA equipment consists of one empty SCUBA tank, up to 3 rebreather tanks or one dive bag containing equipment used in the scuba-diving sport. The empty scuba/rebreather tank and a separate dive bag containing SCUBA equipment will be charged as two separate pieces.
Continental is not liable for damage to Scuba diving equipment.
Excess Valuation may not be purchased for Scuba diving equipment.

[cruzan]

Yep, anymore you have to check the rules for every trip. One of the reasons that I bought my husband his new BP/wing is that it fits into his normal carry on. He can carry all of his basic equipment in his normal carry on except his fins.

[68raggtop]

Also keep in mind that the Airlines seem to think that Mexico and Canada are not international flights (at least last year when I checked).

[Travelnsj]

I would be happy to pay those fees if I were just going somewhere to dive!....but I do get pived when the Indonesian airlines get ya for anything over 15kg!

[wmcyow]

Here is the same info for the 2 major Canadian Airlines....

Air Canada

Maximum number of bags: 2
Maximum weight per bag: 23 kg (50lb)
Maximum linear dimensions per bag** 158cm 62 cms
(length + width + height)

Excess Baggage

Overweight Over 23kg up to 32kg (50lb - 70lb)
Oversized* Between 160cm and 292cm (63in - 115in)

$75 CAD/USD† per bag

If a bag is both overweight and oversized, the charge is applied only once.

Additional baggage
More than 2 bags $100 CAD/USD per bag

Scuba diving equipment

Each of the following is considered an individual item when packed separately: empty scuba tank, air supply regulator, pressure gauge, tank harness, face mask, pair of diving fins, snorkel, knife, spear gun, air pistol and safety vest.

All equipment must be securely packed in a rigid and/or hard shell container specifically designed for shipping

Westjet

Excess Charges

Extra Piece $75
A maximum of two excess pieces will be accepted on a space-available basis only per fare paying guest.

Overweight
More than 23 kgs (50 lbs) but not over 45 kgs (100 lbs)*
$40 Per item

Oversize **
(length+width+height) 158 cm - 200cm (62 in - 80 in)
$40 Per item

Scuba Gear

Restricted conditions apply
One set of scuba gear is accepted but all applicable excess fees will be charged per set per direction (extra piece, overweight or oversize).
Cylinders containing compressed air or a special gas mixture are prohibited
WestJet only accepts empty/emptied cylinders (pressure gauge must read zero).
Tank valve must be open.
Diving lamps must be disconnected, with the terminals taped over to prevent accidental functioning during transport.