Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Lauren M. Wolf said the agency had already planned to hire new part-time screeners to cope with the busy vacation season. She wouldn't comment on whether American's new bag charges would lead to more checkpoint delays.
But airports that American serves that have a single security checkpoint for all airlines, such as Nashville, Tenn., and Denver, could experience major backups, Glading said.
"You're going to see wait times expand," said Richard D. Gritta, a transportation finance professor at the University of Portland in Oregon.
"It's going to be a mess if people try to carry everything on."
Airlines might start charging passengers for carry-ons, as European low-fare carrier Ryanair does, Gritta added.
Kate Hanni, who heads a grass roots group called the Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights, said she would lobby Congress to help protect customers against additional bag charges.
"It's part of all their unbundling of costs so they can deceive the passenger into thinking they're paying less for a ticket," Hanni said.
"We'd rather have all the fees under one roof."
laura.mccandlish@baltsun.com
NO LONGER FREE
Here's a summary of what what the six largest airlines operating at BWI charge for checked bags on one-way flights:
*Southwest Airlines: $25 for third bag.
*AirTran Airways: $10 for second bag, $50 for third bag.
*Delta: $25 for second bag, $80 for third bag.
*US Airways: $25 for second bag, $100 for third bag.
*United: $25 for second bag, $100 for third bag.
*American: $15 for first bag (starting June 15), $25 for second bag, and $100 for third bag.
ONLINE
Get travel news and tips at baltimoresun.com
whatsthedeal
