American Airlines boosts fuel surcharge

updated 12:33 p.m. ET June 11, 2008

DALLAS - American Airlines raised its fuel surcharge by $20 per round trip on many routes Wednesday, just days after it failed in another attempt to raise fares.

Tim Wagner, a spokesman for American, said the surcharge applied on domestic routes except those where the carrier competes with low-fare airlines.

Airlines are facing record prices for jet fuel, which has nearly doubled in price in the past year. They have attempted about 19 fare increases this year, but many — like American's increase late last week — failed because some carriers declined to match them.

Airlines are also raising other fees. Next week, American will begin charging $15 for passengers to check a single bag. Most carriers already charge $25 for checking a second piece of luggage, and they impose fees for other services, ranging from changing tickets to toting pets on board.

American is a unit of Fort Worth-based AMR Corp., which lost $328 million in the first quarter, when its fuel expense jumped 45 percent, or $665 million more than a year earlier, wiping out an increase in revenue.

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