For tickets bought Feb. 22 and afterward, American will do away with the standby option for its nonelite passengers. If you want to change to another flight at the airport, you'll pay $50 – or you won't change your flight.

American spokesman Tim Smith said the carrier isn't just trying to bring in fees with the change. American is trying to improve its operations as well. "It's not the average standby list, but you get one of those Friday afternoon scenarios when you have more than 100 people standing by for a flight out of a business market," he said.

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He added: "There is certainly revenue involved here, too, but the other is a realistic part of the decision."

Business and international travel, which had been a relative bright spot until then, dropped precipitously. Fuel costs have also been difficult to manage, as carriers first struggled to pay record high prices last summer and now have to contend with extraordinarily volatile prices. And the credit markets, which the airlines have turned to in previous tough times, are particularly reluctant to lend now, giving some carriers little choice but to pay high interest rates.

For the time being, analysts agree that the airlines, by cutting routes and employees, grounding planes and imposing fees, can weather the downturn. In fact, when the latest round of capacity cuts takes effect in September, the number of seats on domestic flights will drop to 66.5 million — the lowest September figure since 1984, according to OAG Aviation, which tracks flight schedules.

But if conditions continue to deteriorate, analysts say, some airlines may not survive. "There are too many airlines and too much capacity and really no pricing power," said Hunter Keay, an airline analyst at Stifel Nicolaus in Baltimore. "This is as bad a crisis as the industry's ever seen."

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For travelers, this means that airlines will continue to cut flights in the fall — not by eliminating service outright as they did last year but by reducing the frequency and using smaller planes on certain routes. Passengers may also see new fees.

US Airways' retreat from the fee also may show that there is a limit to how far cash-strapped carriers can push travelers who have suffered fee after fee for items and services that once were complimentary.

Starting March 1, US Airways will no longer charge for in-flight soda, juice, tea, water and coffee. But the airline said it remains committed to its so-called "a la carte" model, which is now common throughout the industry.

"US Airways was the only large network carrier to charge for drinks, and that put us at a disadvantage," Chief Executive Doug Parker said in a statement.

Effective immediately, for travel on or after Dec. 5, customers flying within the United States will be charged $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second checked bag when traveling domestically, consistent with Northwest's existing policies. Customers who purchased Delta tickets on or before Nov. 5, 2008, and who are traveling on or after Dec. 5, 2008, will be charged $50 for a second bag, but will be permitted to check their first bag without charge pursuant to Delta's previous policy. All customers flying in First or Business Class, including SkyMiles Medallion members and WorldPerks Elite members, will receive up to three checked bags, up to 70 pounds each, for free. SkyMiles Medallion members and WorldPerks Elite members flying in Coach Class will receive up to two checked bags, up to 70 pounds each, for free. All customers traveling in full fare (Y) Coach Class, as well as customers traveling internationally will receive up to two checked bags, up to 50 pounds each, for free. U. S. Military personnel on active duty with travel orders will continue to be able to check up to 10 pieces of luggage on Delta- and Northwest-operated mainline flights or up to four pieces of luggage on Delta Connection flights, up to a maximum of 100 pounds each, free of charge.

American, the nation's largest carrier, said Wednesday the fee for the first checked bag starts June 15 and that it would raise other fees for services ranging from reservation help to oversized bags. The other fees will mostly range from $5 to $50 per service, the airline said.

Last month American announced it would join other carriers in charging $25 for second bags checked for some passengers, but it wasn't immediately clear how Wednesday's announcement would affect that.

The planned fee on the first checked bag immediately ran into resistance. Delta Air Lines Inc. spokeswoman Betsy Talton said the Atlanta-based airline is considering all of its options in light of $130-a-barrel oil, but doesn't plan to match the $15 fee American announced.

American plans to cut domestic flight capacity by 11 percent to 12 percent in the fourth quarter. American had previously expected fourth-quarter capacity to fall 4.6 percent from the same period in 2007.