Hawaiian changes luggage charges

Hawaiian Airlines will increase its interisland checked-bag fees for non-HawaiianMiles members to $25, up from $17, on a first checked bag and to $35, up from $17, on a second checked bag.

The changes will be in effect for tickets purchased on or after March 10, Hawaiian said Friday.

Hawaiian said its first checked baggage fees for HawaiianMiles members will be lowered to $15 from $17. The fee for a second checked bag will be raised to $20 from the current $17.

It is free to become a frequent-flier member.

"This will bring the neighbor island bag fees into line with the fees for North America flights, with the exception of the fees paid by HawaiianMiles members, who will actually save money on their first checked bag," Hawaiian spokes­woman Ann Botticelli said. "We have about 1 million HawaiianMiles members in Hawaii, and about 80 percent of our neighbor island travelers check only one bag."

The state’s largest carrier also is increasing fees, regardless of frequent-flier membership, on bags that are too heavy or oversize. Excess-weight fees for bags from 51 to 70 pounds will go to $35 from the current $25 and to $70 from $50 for bags from 71 to 100 pounds. For oversize bags, the fee will go to $35 up from $25. Those fees also will go into effect for tickets issued on or after March 10.

Hawaiian generated $67.8 million from baggage fees in 2012 and through the first nine months of 2013 brought in $53.4 million, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The airline’s first and second checked-bag fees for North America travel will remain at $25 and $35, respectively. There will continue to be no fee for the first two checked bags for international travel.

Hawaiian’s fees also will apply to its new turboprop operation, ‘Ohana by Hawaiian, which will launch service to Molo­kai on March 11 and Lanai on March 18.