Virgin America Raises Bag Fees to $25

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

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Virgin America hiked its bag fees by $5 today, to $25. Unlike other carriers that charge for all checked bags, Virgin America has a single fee across the board—$25 each for bags 1 through 10.

The fee affects all tickets booked on or beyond February 12 (today) for travel on or after March 1. Travelers who book and travel between now and March 1 will still pay the old fee.

As usual, not all customers will feel the pinch. First-class passengers don’t have to pay for the first or second bag, and Main Cabin Select customers and passengers with refundable tickets are spared the second-bag fee.

Virgin America allows passenger to pay their bag fee online, but does not use the two-tiered pricing system popular with many legacy lines.

As always, check our Ultimate Guide to Airline Fees to keep track of what each carrier is charging.

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