UAL to Charge $25 for 2nd Bag
This is bad news for my mom who packs several Molly Brown size steamer trunk suitcases for a week in Colorado.
As of May 5th United Airlines will be charging $25 for your second piece of checked baggage. However if you travel more than 25k miles a year you’re exempt from the fee.
Even though “a la carte” pricing can be beneficial in some cases, I see more negatives with this in that carry on only travelers will be slowed at checkpoints by those squeezing more luggage onto planes in order to avoid fees. More carry-ons equals less space for my tiny little messenger bag – all that I need for a weekend jaunt.
Also their “special handling” fee for large or fragile items moves up from $100 to $200.
Rocky Mountain News story.
Since airlines can’t squeeze too much money out of tickets (that’s too obvious), they’ve been attacking luggage and carry ons.
I wonder what their explanation is?
The only small consolation for skiers flying United to Colorado this winter is that the surcharge will apply after the ski season is over. Current airline policies count one ski/snowboard bag and one boot bag as one piece of luggage. If United continues this policy into the 2008-09 ski season, charging 25 bucks for each actual piece, that would add $50 each way, per person, to the cost of a ski trip. If could be a boon for equipment-rental businesses in ski country if visitors decide not to bring their own gear.
Claire @ http://travel-babel.blogspot.com
Also according to the Daily Camera international flights beyond Canada will be allowed a second bag sans fee.
However after arriving the U.S. and clearing customs I wonder if some re-checking their bags will face ill-informed check-in agents demanding $25 for their onward domestic flight?
Why or why don’t we have transit lounges at our international gateway airports…
United Airlines U-A-L just announced it will charge $25 for a second piece of luggage for domestice travel unless you have an above average level on your frequent flyer club membership. I am a 62 year old woman with an 87 year old husband and we always travel with 4 suitcases, all the size of a carry on because I cannot, nor will I, lift the 50 pound bags that I would need to carry if I could only fly with one bag per passenger. I believe this action is discriminatory. I have sent similar message to AAPD ad AARP. I can appreciate a corporation wanting to “get healthy” but not at the cost of the senior citizens and persons with disabilities of this country. On TSA – can you imagine the impact at TSA as everyone flying United tries to carry on more than the one bag allowed.
Hi Joan. Interesting angle.
Why should you be charged more because you prefer a few small/medium sized totes rathing than schlepping around a giant Samsonite?
And I’d bet if you duct taped together your four small bags they would take up less space than some large suitcases. What would happen if you brought a cardboard box to check-in, tucked all four inside, and checked THAT? Ridiculous I know, but it’s a solution to an asisine rule.
The fee thresholds should be based on weight, which unlike bulk, is the true factor of fuel consumption.
If you receive any notes back please follow up or post a link. I’d love to see a response.