Look Who Made My No Fly List

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United Adds $25 Fee for 2nd Bag
 
United to Charge Non-Frequent Fliers $25 to Check 2nd Suitcase

Comment: Good policy or corporate suicide?

CHICAGO (AP) -- United Airlines will begin charging passengers $25 to check in a second piece of luggage for domestic travel if they are not part of its most-frequent-flier programs, the airline said Monday.
 
The charge will generate more than $100 million in revenue and cost savings each year, UAL Corp. said. The change takes effect May 5 and applies to tickets purchased on or after Monday.

Travelers would have to log at least 25,000 miles in a year on United to ensure they can check their second bag for free.

Airlines want to charge more for not only checked baggage but assigned seats and other services. Investors have urged airlines to pass on the higher costs of fuel to passengers through ticket-price increases or similar surcharges.

United's customer research showed a quarter of its customers check a second bag, Chief Revenue Officer John Tague said in a statement. The new policy will allow customers with many bags to continue bringing them for a fee and "enables us to offer competitive fares to everyone," Tague said.

Customers who have "Premier" status or higher within United's Mileage Plus program, or "Silver" status or higher within its Star Alliance program still will be able to check in a second bag for free. The new charge applies to those who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets.

United will charge all customers $100 per bag for up to four additional bags. Previous charges ranged from $85 to $125 per bag. The cost to check items that require special handling because they are large, overweight or fragile will now be either $100 or $200, depending on the item.

New fees apply to trips within the U.S. and or those that include Canada, San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. Customers whose itineraries include other international flights still will be able to check the second bag for free. The cost to check more than two bags, or items that are overweight or require special handling, on such trips will vary by destination.

UAL shares fell $2.38, or 5.8 percent, to $38.76 in morning trading.

[Katonsdad]

Just imagine how many carry ons will be on the plane now .
If you do not get on first there wont be any room for the last boarders , 

Will need to consider sending extra clothes via UPS rather than give extra to the
airlines

Katonsdad

[Chicken Little]

Time to turn in my Chase Mileage Plus Visa and say bye bye to United.    Most of the time when we fly we have scuba and photography equipment and we get dinged for being over the weight limit, now they want another $100 on top of that?  No way.

[Deanne]

Forget that extra carry-on idea! I heard on the news that only one carry-on is going to be allowed. I didn't hear if that's for a particular airline or for all of them.

[livecam]

When planning a flight just go to sidestep.com and ignore United.  Works for me.

[KT0930]

I don't think I've flown 25,000 miles in my life, much less in one year. Good thing I fly out of Atlanta and almost always take Delta. Good-bye, United!

[Sluff]

A lot of times when I travel, especially by motorcycle I will send my bags by UPS or equivalent. Shipping extra weight helps gas mileage and saves a lot of headaches. When I fly I take one small duffel bag as carry on.

[livecam]

I don't think I've flown 25,000 miles in my life, much less in one year. Good thing I fly out of Atlanta and almost always take Delta. Good-bye, United!

What this is, is a test.  United is trying it and hoping the other airlines follow suit.  If everyone votes with their feet and tells them to forget it this will soon stop.  Until then I'm with you..no flying United.

[thegrammalady]

united used to be my favorite airline, not so much any more. i used them last year because my brother-in-law gave me frequent flier miles. and then i gave up my seat and got a free ticket. if i have a choice i use alaska. much more customer friendly.