American Follows Continental, Jacks Up Checked-Bag Fee by $5

American Airlines is adding $5 to the fees it charges coach passengers to check a bag on domestic flights, effective with tickets bought on Aug. 14.

Checking the first bag will cost $20, rather than $15, and the second bag will be $30, rather than $25.

Last year, U.S. airlines pocketed over $1.5 billion in checked-bag fees. In the first quarter of this year alone, the take was $550 million.

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