Air Canada, WestJet are latest to raise bag fees

Canadian carriers WestJet Airlines and Air Canada this month have hiked baggage fees on their cheapest tickets. WestJet increased the fee for a first checked bag to $30 Canadian dollars from $25 and a second checked bag to $50 Canadian dollars from $35. WestJet spokeswoman Lauren Stewart said the airline is not responding to JetBlue, noting that the carrier had previously said it was looking at offsetting costs and increasing bag fees. Still, the carrier did not have any notice on its website about increased fees on flights outside Canada until Tuesday, a day after JetBlue unveiled its higher fees. Air Canada's new fees apply to tickets purchased on or after Aug. 21 for travel Oct. 5 and beyond. The airline's baggage fees vary by route and type of ticket. On flights between Canada and the United States, the first checked bag will now be $31.50 to $34.50 Canadian dollars for basic and standard fares, up from $26.25 to $28.75. The second checked bag on those flights will be $52.50 to $57.50 Canadian dollars, up from $36.75 to $40.25<br/>