Alaska Airlines and sister carrier Horizon Air increased their fees for first-checked bags to $20, from $15, but also knocked five minutes off their baggage-service guarantee.
Passengers get a guarantee that their luggage will be at baggage claim within 20 minutes after their flight parks at the gate. Previously, the guarantee was within 25 minutes.
If the bags are delayed, the passenger can choose between 2,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles or $20 -- enough to pay for a first-checked bag -- off a future flight.
There is lots of criticism of airlines' checked bag fees and other new ancillary services because the carriers often charge money for services which previously were free.
The Alaska-Horizon bag-service guarantee is a twist on the standard way other airlnes are implementing bag fees because at least Alaska and Horizon are providing an additional service for the fee.
The two airlines also reduced unaccompanied-minor fees and increased fees for passengers who want to change their flights more than six hours before departure.