Delta Air Lines has announced it will begin charging $15 to passengers for their first checked bag and $25 for a second checked bag on domestic flights.
This new fee is in effect for new bookings for travel Dec. 5 or later. People with advance bookings made prior to Wednesday will not have to pay the first-bag fee, regardless of dates of travel. Previously, Delta had no fee for a first checked bag, but did charge $50 for a second checked bag. When Delta added a fee for checking a second bag, it cited rising fuel costs. However, following the recent drop in oil prices, Delta this time cited a competitive motivation.

Travel during Thanksgiving and the Christmas season - both business and leisure - offers unique challenges. During these peak travel periods, airports are crowded and airline personnel are busy helping families and other less experienced travelers. Here's a few tips to help ease upcoming travel.

Arrive for Travel Early
Plan for crowded parking lots and busy departure drop-off areas. Check-in and security lines will be longer and move slower than usual. Giving yourself extra time will help you to be more relaxed. In case your flight is overbooked an early check-in will usually limit the chance of not being bumped.

Organization 3-1-1
Organize your carry-on baggage for security inspection. Use the TSA's 3-1-1 guidelines: -- All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in (3) three-ounce or smaller containers. -- All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in (1) one quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. -- Remove the (1) one plastic, zip-top bag from carry-on and place it in a bin for X-ray screening.

Pack Smart
Make sure you know the current baggage limits for your air carrier and pack accordingly. Airlines are constantly changing fees and adding rules governing allowable checked and carry-on baggage. Keep in mind that carriers often have different rules for domestic and international baggage.

Know Your Airports
Visit the websites of airports you'll be using for your travel. Review any maps and terminal diagrams to familiarize yourself with each airport's layout. Print the diagrams and carry them with your other travel documents. A little preparation can make navigating around a big airport easier – especially if you find yourself in a hurry.

In the 13 years average domestic airfares have been tracked, they reached their highest level in the second quarter of 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). In dollar and cents, that translates into the average domestic airfare climbing to $351.86.

"Dramatically increased fares combined with fewer flights make it more vital than ever to book travel in advance to capture lower fares and available seats," said Jay Ellenby, President and CEO of Safe Harbors Travel Group, Inc.

Ellenby said that despite recent predictions, business travel has not decreased as a result of economic conditions. However, travelers have become hesitant to book trips in advance, which has led to additional and unnecessary higher costs for air travel at some companies. "It is better for business travelers to book travel as far in advance as practical to capture the best prices."

"It is then the job of the travel management company and their systems to track and recover funds from any unused tickets should any cancellations or changes take place," said Ellenby.

For example, based on information from the BTS, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) saw its average domestic fare climb more than 9 percent to $289.92, from last year’s $265.23. BWI ranks number 83 of the airports with the highest average airfare for the second quarter.

Other airports in the region broke the top 20 of the highest fares for the second quarter, including Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Northern Virginia at number 11 with the average domestic flight costing $434.67 and Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA), at number 15, was up 17 percent over last year to $419.18.  

Lead by a substantial drop in leisure travelers, both hotel occupancy and room rates have dropped, on a nationwide average, more than 6 percent in recent weeks. Many hotel operators are not only targeting weekend customers, but also business travelers with midweek rate reductions and other promotions.
Pricing leverage is definitely shifting from hotel operators to business buyers. We believe that the reduction in leisure travel will persist into 2009 and is likely to assist in negotiating more advantageous business rate contracts.