American Airlines, the nation’s No. 2 carrier, has decided to charge passengers for checking their second bags. The airline has announced that starting from May 2, it will be charging $25 for checking each second bag of a passenger.

HonoluluAdvertiser.com reports that the airline expects four percent of its domestic customers who check more than one bag be charged a fee of $25.

Airlines are under immense pressure to shore up balance sheets with the price of fuel reaching unheard of levels. Oil futures hit another record near $120 a barrel on Monday. Gas prices hit a record above $3.60 a gallon. American’s parent, AMR Corp., lost $328 million in the first three months of this year, mostly because fuel costs increased $665 million, or 45 percent, over early 2007.

According to GADLING, this change in the company’s policy comes amidst rising fuel prices and first quarter losses for many of the major airlines.

If the trend continues, passengers could be waving goodbye to many services that were once complimentary like curbside check-in and advance seat assignments. Most travelers — at least those that aren’t traveling in Business class - are already used to paying for meals, and in the case of Air Canada, even customer service. I’d say the days of the friendly skies are coming to a close.

Photo: © pict_u_re

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