US Airways, which flies between Durango and Phoenix, on Wednesday joined United Airlines in introducing the second-bag charge starting May 5. United, which operates United Express between Durango and Denver, announced its policy change Feb. 4.

The new US Airways policy applies to domestic flights and flights to and from Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, the airline said. About 8 percent of its passengers check two or more bags, the airline said.

"We're making these changes to offset record fuel prices and rising airline-related prices," US Airways said in its announcement. "We must make changes to provide a high level of service. We're able to give the choice to avoid the fee and pack fewer items. With fewer bags to process, we save both money and fuel and can pass along savings."

US Airways passengers exempt from the second-bag charge include first-class tickets or Star Alliance Silver or Gold status, active military personnel in uniform with identification, unaccompanied minors and people checking personal assistive devices.

Otherwise, all other US Airways passengers can check one bag free. The second piece of checked luggage will cost $25, and bags three through nine will cost $100 each. Only one carry-on will be permitted.

At the Durango-La Plata County Airport on Wednesday, United ticket agent Michele Victor welcomed the new fees because she will have fewer bags to lift and the planes will be lighter. Also, "the fees are a positive encouragement for people to travel lightly, which is the only way to travel in life," she said.

Arboles resident Ann Shepherdson was traveling to Grandbury, Texas, to help fight a fire for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Although the BIA pays for her work-related travel, "anytime fees go up there's a ripple effect," she said.

Ron Dent, director of the airport, thinks the second-bag charge is modeled on the European a-la-carte approach to airline fares - travelers pay for the services they use. One example is the elimination of in-flight meals, he said. Instead of getting a meal on the plane, passengers eat before they board, take a box lunch or get by on a courtesy bag of Corn Nuts.

"I think this could be an industry trend," Dent said. "Airlines are struggling as fuel prices increase. Fares aren't elastic, so airlines can maintain fares by charging for extra service."

Plans for the other airlines at the airport:

• Susan Elliott, a spokeswoman for Delta in Atlanta, limited herself to say: "We've made no announcement." But Tanya Chojnacky, the station manager for Delta and other airlines at Durango-La Plata County Airport, said Delta would follow the lead of United and US Airways. Delta flies between Durango and Salt Lake City.

• Frontier Airlines, which will begin three daily flights to Denver beginning May 15, has no plans on the extra-baggage charge, said Joe Hodas, a spokesman in Denver for Frontier.

• Southwest Charter, which flies between Durango and Dallas-Fort Worth, won't be affected this season, spokesman Tyler Silvernail said from his office in Tamarron. The charter flights will end in March, Silvernail said. "I can't say what will happen next season," Silvernail said. "Our contract is year-to-year."

United Airlines cited customer choice, flexibility and low fares for charging for a second checked bag.

Customers who buy nonrefundable domestic economy tickets will pay $25 for a second bag, United said. Each additional piece of checked luggage, up to four, will cost $100 each. The airline's most frequent fliers, those with Mileage Plus or Star Alliance status, can check two bags free.

The second-bag charge applies per passenger, US Airways said. Four members of a family traveling together can check four bags free. Each second bag triggers the fee.

Herald staff Photographer Yodit Gidey contributed to this report.