United to charge extra for checking 2nd bag
 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22992054/

Did anyone see this? United plans to start charging domestic customers $25 for checking a 2nd bag. Good grief! They've limited what can be carried on and now they're trying to limit how much you can check.

It won't apply to everyone...some frequent flyers exempt; silver and above Star Alliance flyers exempt.

The key will be if the public doesn't pritest..if they do, United will drop this very quickly IMO. OTOH if they get away with it the others will ALL follow suit.

I am not sure what my opinion is on this.

The only times I have checked 2 bags, the 2nd bag was actually a box that I decided to check on my flight rather than send through the mail. I've never travelled with more than 1 piece of actual checked luggage. So, if this change needs to happen so that fares don't increase, then I think it is good - those who take extra bags still can and $25 is not an outrageous fee. Seems like a decent compromise.

On the otherhand, this is another item in a long list of ways the airlines are cutting service, which does not bode well.

Since I rarely check even one bag, I think I'm glad to see the extra baggage paying its own way.

Excuse me, but what is "extra" about a second bag, Anonymous? TWO checked bags has been the standard allowance for some time and now United thinks they've figured out a way to make more money by providing LESS service than before..the typical business model these days.


Sorry, I rarely check more than one bag and I'm above the "silver" level so it won't affect me but it is an obvious ploy just as "meals for purchase" and "pay more for an aisle seat" have been.

It will happen if passengers do not protest.

As a follow on..that second bag is even LESS extra since people like you aren't checking any at all.

I will never comprehend how it is that airlines can't turn a profit when every flight I've been on in the last umpteen years has been packed, AND they charge for every little thing, AND provide less and poorer service.

(Fuel costs, union contracts... yes, I've heard the reasons, and I still don't get it.)

Bah humbug.

I don't fly United but they're obviously taking lesisure travellers for granted.

They should probably also just go ahead right now and cut their service to any resort in Colorado and Utah (or anywhere primarily dominated by ski resorts) since people will now have to pay extra just to pack warm clothing and equipment liek their ski boots. Same thing for anywhere known primarily for golf.

Not to mention the impact this will have on people travelling with small children. Good luck getting all that stuff in compliance with the new rules.

I'm thinking that the fewer bags on a flight the easier it might be to do security checks. So charge away.

Now THAT is an optimistic view!! I wish I could believe in the airlines' concern for our security, but I do not.

We rarely check more than one bag each, but I definitely resent having to pay $25 for the "privilege." Another reason not to fly "the friendly skies" any longer. We used to fly with UAL a lot, but one thing and another turned us off (like the mess we had the first time we tried to use miles) so we turned to other airlines.

Agree with Dukey, squeaky wheels get greased. Complain and maybe this (in a long line of recent excessive charges) newest way to fleece their passengers might be dropped! I hope so. Enough is enough.

This is from United website

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52481,00.html

United is announcing a new checked bag policy for customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets. Customers purchasing nonrefundable domestic economy tickets who do not have status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee. Customers who have attained Premier status or higher in Mileage Plus or who have Silver status and above with a Star Alliance partner, are exempt from this policy change. The new policy applies to tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008. Please view the Domestic baggage questions for additional details on this policy.

All customers traveling on United may check at least one free bag. The number of free bags allowed per customer will vary according to your Mileage Plus status and/or the type of ticket purchased. The tables below highlight the number of bags that customers can check free of charge:

and there is a table with allowances from 1 to 3 (three!) bags per customer weighing up to 50 or 70 lbs

Yes, all airlines are nickel and diming. Back to Greyhound????

Okay - this one hits me hard. It USED to be that when I returned overseas (from the US) I could have 2 bags per person and each bag could be 70 pounds. As of last summer (or maybe before), I was down to 2 bags at 50 pounds each. Let me tell you - after 7 years overseas - I am a PRO at "guestimating" luggage weight!!!

Usually - my DH goes back alone (lucky dog!) and takes back 1 bag (full of his stuff) and 1 ice chest full off steaks, etc.

It is up to me to bring back a years' worth of clothes, shoes, sporting equipment, food, school supplies, birthday and Xmas presents, etc for 2 teen age boys. PLUS all the stuff for me (crafts, clothes).

I am not happy!!!! :((

, , "customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets. "

ah - Faina was posting when I was.......never mind!!!!

Faina - on another note - am I right thinking you are from/ have connections with - Russia????

Interesting about he Star Alliance status - could be useful since when we go to Alaska on USAir were each planning on checking one bag plus bringing a duffle with outerwear/hiking stuff for all 4 of us. I guess we need to make sure that bag is in name of husband who has status on United so we do not get charged.

Every 100 lbs of weight = $ in extra fuel costs

Fuel cost is shooting through the roof

Airlines have a choice

1. raise fares for everybody to spreadout the fuel expense

2. charge the idiots that need 2 50lbs bags plus a 21" roller and a personal bag for their 1-2 weeks in Florida.

I vote for #2

GRC, yeah, from USSR.

Faina - we might be moving that way this summer! Very excited -but would love to get your ideas!!!! Would you be willing to give me some pointers????

"2. charge the idiots that need 2 50lbs bags plus a 21" roller and a personal bag for their 1-2 weeks in Florida."

Not for FL, but this was my in-laws for a 2 week trip to Europe last year. They had an expensive awakening when they got to Europe - 1 cab for them and 1 cab for the luggage every time they went to or from an airport, and charges for excess luggage for internal European flights.

Grcxx:

[email protected]

moving to San Francisco or moving to russia? :)

"It is up to me to bring back a years' worth of clothes, shoes, sporting equipment, food, school supplies, birthday and Xmas presents, etc for 2 teen age boys. PLUS all the stuff for me (crafts, clothes). "

Do you live in a place that DHL hasn't found yet?

Don't think for a second other airlines won't follow suit - "one is now the new two". The question now is: When will they start charging for every bag? (I give it two years)

"charge the idiots that need 2 50lbs bags plus a 21" roller and a personal bag for their 1-2 weeks in Florida."

Um, as someone else posted, those "idiots" are basically, everyone who skis. I will add everyone who needs to travel with a laptop, everyone who travels with a child (will this include my carseat?), etc. We can't ALL be idiots.

I guess anyone going on a ski or hiking / backpacking trip will not be flying united.

Its off my list thats for sure and united was a major carrier between my city and denver.

<I guess anyone going on a ski or hiking / backpacking trip will not be flying united.>

I can fit all my hiking/backpacking stuff in a duffel that weighs under 50 lbs, plus some extra clothes for the couple days I'm not backpacking. Then I've still got a carry-on for extra stuff. It's not that difficult.

I'm still trying to figure out who goes skiing in Florida.

<i>Um, as someone else posted, those &quot;idiots&quot; are basically, everyone who skis. I will add everyone who needs to travel with a laptop, everyone who travels with a child (will this include my carseat?), etc. We can't ALL be idiots.</i>

We're talking about checked in bags. A 21&quot; roller plus a laptop bag plus a 50 lbs bag checked in is free.

I don't know about child seats but I would guess that's on top of a laptop bag and a 21&quot; roller that you are still allowed to carry on.

What's the deal with skiing/backpacking/ etc? If you're going on vacation and you need a lot of stuff so you pay $25. Compared to the price of the vacation it's hardly a deal breaker. (And I KNOW if you can afford to ski $25 one way or the other is no biggie.)

We just got back from skiing and our family of 4 checked 7 bags. We might have gotten away with 6, but my husband flew out a few days early and did some business so he also needed work clothes, etc. for those extra days.

For most vacations, we usually get away with 2 suitcases for our family, but my kids are getting bigger and we need more. I think the situation of someone checking 2 bags and all that other stuff to go to Florida is quite exaggerated.

We paid $100 more per ticket this year to fly to Utah than last year. It's not like the ticket prices are staying the same and the extras are being added on - everything's going up and I'm tired of being nickeled and dimed when service is in the toilet.

OK, all you quaffers of kool-aid (hey, just pay it, it's only $25): first of all, whose side are you on, anyway?? Second, what happens when they lose the $25 second bag? Heads will be exploding up and down the baggage claim area. See, in return for fees, people tend to expect service...

i hope continental is far far behind this. i rarely check in more than one luggage but when I do, I would hate having to pay the extra $25....

That is outrageous! When I go on fun trips (to Europe or something for pleasure, as opposed to seeing family for holidays), I leave with one bag but always come back with two, for souvenirs. People are already cutting back on travel given the looming recession and falling dollar, now they do this?

I hope Continental doesn't follow suit...

Anonymous - &quot;Do you live in a place that DHL hasn't found yet?&quot;

Sorta. Kinda. Out in the middle of nowhere......relying on regular mail is &quot;iffy&quot; as there is no guarantee you will actually get your stuff and some places actually refuse to ship here because theft in the customs office is high. DHL is available but outrageously expensive. There is a post service I use, but I save it for light weight stuff since the charges amount to about $13 per pound (in addition to whatever other shipping I pay.).

So - yes - I can get things, but it is very difficult and very expensive.

We have been skiing several times, hiking several times. We have never brought more than 1 bag pp. We usually bring on only 2 carry ons.
I think they should start charging everytime someone goes to the bathroom. Maybe they should sell the magazines and barf bags. And it should cost you a dollar if you happen to use the pager or light. LOL.

spiro - you clearly dont have your own skis which are one bag in and of themselves and who knows - may be bags requiring special handling (which they may charge $100 for). Dont even start talking about a boot bag on top of it.

I wouldnt mind this move if the tickets were cheaper to account for it in the long run, but UAL is not a low cost no-frills airline.

Nobody is talking about the other side affect - now everyone will be traying to take on more larger bags and finding room overhead is going to be tougher = longer to seat people = delayed flights and more cramped flights. YUK.

I know you can fit a lot into a large duffle or huge suitcase, but shoudl every have to go plop down a 200 for a new suitcase.

Face it, this stinks for the traveling consumer, no matter how u look at it.

&gt;&gt;&gt; what happens when they lose the $25 second bag? Heads will be exploding up and down the baggage claim area. See, in return for fees, people tend to expect service... &lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;

No kidding.

But I bet UPS could ship that bag (or its contents) for less than $25. AND they won't lose it.

I feel bad for leisure travelers who won't be expecting this new rule when they show up at the airport. Who has time to read the fine points of the contract of carriage every week to see what they've changed?

The effect of this will be more &quot;idiots&quot; trying to haul more stuff onto the passenger part of the plane. Can't wait.

AAFrequentFlier -- I see you don't travel with children. Here's how it works. The carseat gets checked below. That's one bag. Now, I have one bag for myself and one bag for my kids. I carryon a purse (still considered 1 personal item) and I'm allowed 1 additional carryon that is usually filled with toys, books, snacks and other things to keep my darling child from kicking the back of your seat!

&lt;&lt;And I KNOW if you can afford to ski $25 one way or the other is no biggie.)

So, if you can afford to do something, you should be charged extra for stuff and not complain?

It's not $25, it's $50 roundtrip on top of an already expensive ticket.

From the FAQs:

&quot;When traveling with a child, checking car seats and strollers will continue to be free.&quot;

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52519,00.html