United Airlines today became the second legacy airline to charge coach passengers to check their first bag, mimicking American Airlines' $15 per-way fee. United said the charge goes into effect on bookings starting tomorrow for travel beginning Aug. 18.
The fee applies to travel within the United States, and to and from Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, though travelers in first or business class, those holding premier status with the carrier or the Star Alliance and those traveling on itineraries that include an international component are exempt, United said. Customers must pay the charge at kiosks or at the counter during checkin, though United said it is working on a prepayment offering.
"With record-breaking fuel prices, we must pursue new revenue opportunities, while continuing to offer competitive fares, by tailoring our products and services around what our customers value most and are willing to pay for," United executive vice president and COO John Tague said in a statement today.
United in February became the first legacy carrier to adopt a $25 fee to check a second bag
(BTNonline, Feb. 4), and its largest domestic peers in the following months matched the charge. American Airlines was the last of the legacies to adopt that fee, but quickly instituted a $15 first-bag fee
(BTNonline, May 21), which goes into effect on Monday.
United said it expects the first-bag policy to impact about one-third of its passengers and, coupled with its $25 second-bag charge, to earn the carrier $275 million annually. American also expects "several hundred million" in additional revenue through baggage fees, though it anticipates one-quarter of its customers will be subject to the first-checked-bag charge.
United today also amended its policy on overweight baggage and luggage requiring "special handling," upping charges from $100 to $125 and from $200 to $250, "depending on the item," United said.