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Air travel is changing. Do any airlines allow for carry-on bags anymore? Sure, most do, but it could cost you. And what about checked luggage? With airlines like Southwest ending their free checked bag policy May 28, one carrier is cashing in on the moment.
Southwest Airlines announced it would end its free checked bag policy, with a few exceptions. According to the Austin-American Statesman, passengers may qualify for one to two free checked bags, depending on which tiered package they purchased upon booking. Starting May 28, (the day Southwest's free checked bag perk ends) Frontier Airlines will run a free checked bag promotion through Aug. 18 as part of its "Your New Love" initiative, the Detroit Free Press reported. (Just use the code FREEBAG when you book.)
There are five passenger airlines that fly out of Westchester County Airport, each with their own rules when it comes to carry-on bags, checked luggage and personal items. Do any offer all three perks for free? Read on to learn more about each airline's policies.
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American Airlines
American Airlines offers a variety of flights out of Westchester to destinations such as Chicago and Miami. They offer space for carry-on, personal and checked bags on all domestic flights, with limitations.
Are carry-on bags free on American Airlines? Yes. Passengers can also bring a personal item, free-of-charge.
Is there a fee to check a bag? Yes. As of Nov. 13, 2024, your first checked bag on an American Airlines flight to destinations out of Westchester will cost you $40. Your second checked bag will cost $45.
What is the size allowed for personal items? Personal items should not exceed 18 by 14 by 8 inches and should be able to fit under the seat in front of you on the airplane.
What is the maximum size for carry-ons? Carry-on bags should be able to fit either below the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin, and may not exceed 22 by 14 by 9 inches. You will be asked to prove the size of the bag by fitting it into a "sizer" at the airport. Carry-ons that exceed limitations will need to be checked.
Is there a size limit for checked luggage? Checked luggage dimensions must not exceed 62 inches. Bag allowance for passengers allows for a 50-pound checked bag (the fee for exceeding the 50-pound limit is $30, if your bag is over 53 pounds, its $100). For Business and First Class passengers, the allowance is two bags at 70 pounds. Luggage exceeding 70 pounds in weight will incur a $200 fee. American Airlines cannot accept bags over 100 pounds.
Good to know: Carry-ons also include soft garment bags (not exceeding 51 inches) and musical instruments that can fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.
The following necessities don't count as a personal item or carry-on, according to the American Airlines website:
Diaper bags (you can have one per child)
Breast pump
Small, soft-sided cooler of breast milk
Child safety seats and strollers
Medical or mobility devices
Learn more about American Airline's policies at aa.com.
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BermudAir
BermudAir allows passengers one carry-on bag, plus a "small personal item."
Are carry-on bags free on BermudAir? Yes. Personal items are also free.
Is there a fee to check a bag? It depends on your fare. The fee for checked bags up to 50 pounds for Economy Light passengers is $35 ahead of time, or $40 at the airport; all other fares include a free checked bag up to 50 pounds. To check a second bag, it costs $55 no matter your fare.
What is the size allowed for personal items? Personal items must not exceed 18 by 11 by 11 inches and should fit below the seat in front of you. Examples include handbags, laptops, small backpacks and camera bags.
What is the maximum size for carry-ons? Carry-on bags must not exceed 23 by 14 by 10 inches (including wheels and handles on wheeled bags) and cannot be heavier than 22 pounds. Depending on size and plane capacity, BermudaAir may check your carry-on plane-side. Carry-ons that do not fit in overhead bins or beneath seats must be checked "into the hold at no additional cost," the BermudAir website says.
Is there a size limit for checked luggage? Checked luggage dimensions must not exceed 62 inches. Bags weighing above 50 pounds, but no heavier than 70 pounds, will incur a $10 fee. BermudAir is unable to accept luggage heavier than 70 pounds.
Good to know: Travelers with children can bring up to two pieces of child equipment free of charge, including a stroller and/or car seat or booster (to be checked plane-side only) and a baby bag of up to 11 pounds for infants.
Learn more about BermudAir's policies at help.flybermudair.com.
Breeze Airways
Breeze Airways is a budget carrier flying to a variety of destinations, mostly seasonal, out of Westchester. Popular locales include Daytona Beach, Florida; Raleigh, North Carolina; Portland, Maine and more. The difference between Breeze and other airlines is that the carrier has multiple policies on carry-on bags, depending on which fare tier, called a "bundle," you purchase.
There are five tiers: "No Flex Fare," "Nice Bundle," "Nicer Bundle" and "Nicest Bundle." Each tier includes a free personal item, but the fee for a carry-ons and checked bags vary.
Are carry-on bags free on Breeze? It depends on which bundle you've purchased. "Carry-on bags are available for individual purchase or may be included in applicable bundles," the Breeze website says. The Nice, Nicer and Nicest tiers all include a single carry-on bag with purchase.
Is there a fee to check a bag? Again, it depends on your bundle. The Nicer Bundle and Nicest Bundle include a checked bag.
What is the size allowed for personal items? Personal items must not exceed 17 by 13 by 8 inches and should fit below the seat in front of you. Examples include purses, briefcases, laptop bags and small backpacks.
What is the maximum size for carry-ons? Carry-on bags must not exceed 22 by 14 by 9 inches (including wheels and handles on wheeled bags) and cannot be heavier than 35 pounds.
Is there a size limit for checked luggage? Checked bags on Breeze cannot exceed dimensions of 62 inches and must weigh less than or up to 50 pounds. Bags that exceed these limitations are subject to additional fees.
Good to know: Pet carriers count as a personal item, but still must fit under the seat in front of you. A single stroller, car seat or booster seat per child may be checked at the gate for no extra cost. You may bring a car seat on board the plane if you purchased an individual seat for your child, but note that some car seats may not fit in airplane seats.
Learn more about Breeze's policies at flybreeze.com.
Delta Air Lines
Legacy domestic carrier Delta Air Lines flies to Detroit and Atlanta out of Westchester. Read on for useful info from the airline about carry-on and personal items.
Are carry-on bags free on Delta Air Lines? Yes. Delta allows for a free carry-on and personal item for passengers.
Is there a fee to check a bag? Yes. According to Delta's website, your can check a bag for $35. To check a second bag, its $45.
What is the size allowed for personal items? Personal items must be able to fit below the seat in front of you. Delta provided examples such as a purse, small back pack or diaper bag as a comparison for size.
What is the maximum size for carry-ons? Carry-on bags must not exceed 22 by 14 by 9 inches (including wheels and handles on wheeled bags).
Is there a size limit for checked luggage? Bags may not exceed 62 inches. Weight allowances vary by cabin, with most setting the limitation at 50 pounds.
Good to know: Items such as umbrellas, child care items and more can be carried on at no cost, in addition to personal and carry-on items.
Learn more about Delta's policies at delta.com/us/en/baggage/overview.
JetBlue
Airline jetBlue offers numerous flights out of Westchester to popular destinations such as San Juan, Puerto Rico, Orlando and Tampa, Florida, among others.
Are carry-on bags free on jetBlue? Yes. "All fares include a carry-on bag (space permitting) that fits in the overhead bin," as well as a personal item, the airline's website says.
Is there a fee to check a bag? Yes, although it depends on multiple factors, including your fare and the time of year you are traveling. See bag allowances on the jetBlue website.
What is the size allowed for personal items? Personal items must be able to fit "all the way" under the seat in front of you. They cannot exceed 17 by 13 by 8 inches.
What is the maximum size for carry-ons? Carry-on bags must not exceed 22 by 14 by 9 inches (including wheels and handles on wheeled bags).
Is there a size limit for checked luggage? Checked bags may not exceed dimensions of 62 inches or weigh more than 50 pounds. Luggage that exceeds those guidelines will incur additional fees.
Good to know: "Tripods, selfie sticks and other telescopic devices that do not fit in a carry-on or checked bag can count as a personal item, as long as it meets carry-on size requirements," jetBlue's website says.
Learn more about jetBlue's policies at jetblue.com/at-the-airport.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Do airlines at Westchester Airport have free checked bags, carry-ons?
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