I would prefer they enforce the carry on limit...1 bag and 1 purse/briefcase....that's it. Anything else shoudl be checked or tossed.

A poor decision by United. BA did this a year ago in the UK and it is viewed as blatant profiteering

Did everybody who is huffing and puffing againsts UA's new baggage policy remember to write them with the same protest?

US Air is doing a 'study' on the issue. Since they are partners w/United I am sure their 'study' mostly involves whether or not UNited gets away w/it without too much stink. That being said, we have two children & rarely check any bags. The exception usually being a pack'n'play when they were younger (depending on accomodations). I guess I've checked some wine as well, but that was going home. What are you people taking on vacation ? lol

I agree, this is heinous. The only times we fly United it to ski in the West (because I do not like their service now and use them only when I have to) and this will make it quite expensive. We each have skis in addition to our one checked bag of clothing. And it has ALWAYS been airline practice to allow two bags. They eliminate services and charge more. Economics 101 gone wild?

For those of you that think this is okay, think again. It's a no-brainer that this unfairly penalizes people who are traveling to a destination for which they MUST travel with two bags. People have listed the more common types (skiers, golfers), but don't forget us scuba divers. Obviously, we don't travel with our tanks and weights, but we need a second bag to carry all our other gear (wetsuit, buoyancy vest, etc.). I grant the fact that United and all other airlines face a very difficult issue with higher fuel costs, but charging for a second bag is not fair to all customers, even though on the surface it might seem so.

Regardless of how many people complain, if they only have 2% of passengers checking an extra bag then they'll keep the policy. And remember, this is only "nonrefundable domestic economy" tickets, so business/first class and refundable tickets are still allowed to check two bags.

Yep, it's "nonrefundable domestic enconomy" NOW. Does anyone remember the story of the camel in the tent?

This is just another example of "nickel and diming" and people are getting sick and tired of it. $50 roundtrip is an excessive amount for checking an additonal bag - maybe $10.00. The CRJ and other smaller aircraft that are being used for many flights do not allow for a garment bag to be stored as carryon. Is it really fair to charge $50 to someone flying on a short trip to a wedding or a funeral so that they can take formal clothes in a garment bag? Bad business practice - United Airlines - we will fly on another airline that has more common sense.

I wonder what their policy will be regarding checking skis and boots? We travel with ours frequently, between California and Colorado. We try to fly Frontier and Southwest, whenever possible.

Southwest still allows three checked pieces, I think. And Frontier allows two checked pieces, and they consider a ski bag AND a boot bag as one checked piece. Very reasonable. We avoid United whenever possible, because they have had such a stranglehold on the Denver airport since it was built.

I usually check two pieces of luggage, because it's much easier for me to travel with two smaller pieces, rather than one big one.

I agree that people will now try to carry on more luggage. I hope this experiment fails.
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# Baggage Allowance: Beginning January 29, 2008, Southwest will allow two (2) checked pieces of baggage per ticketed Customer. Size and weight limitations apply.
# Excess Baggage: Effective January 29, 2008, you may check a third bag for a charge of $25. Your 4th through 9th bag or item will incur a charge of $50 per piece, and any bag or item thereafter will be $110 per piece.

http://southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html

Thanks, AAFF. We have our students flying Southwest for their ski breaks, so that's good to know. I'll call them about their ski and boot bag policy. I knew the three bag policy would die soon!
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I weigh way below national average. Following their rationale for additional weight of a second piece of luggage, shouldn't I be entitle to some kind of discount? AND are those souls who claim they never check in a second piece of luggage the same ones who are loaded down like refugees and are overloading the overhead bins with oversize carryons, computers, totes and who knows whats? Wow! what a sentence!

I don't think this policy will drastically cut down on what people pack - it will mean stuff being lugged onto the plane.

I would greatly prefer to be the lasst one on the plane, but I always board as soon as I can so I have a place to put my carry-on.

And the carry-on situation seems to make so many people so miserable - moving other people's stuff from the overhead, etc.

It really cheeses me off when they ask me to pay for something I use.

I won't be traveling on United.. I am hoping that Icelandair, my prefered airline to Europe won't be charging like that too....

I'm a United mileage person, but my other half and I are already looking at alternate flights because we golf in the summer, ski in the winter, and love to shop. We already pay extra from Hawaii to get anywhere but $25 per bag more? Because yes, we always have to check two bags with our equipment and clothing. Way to go United, you're going to lose a bunch of us leisure travelers.

But, guess they can more easily charge for extra luggage. Since this is related to weight and fuel costs, can you imagine if they made each person step on a scale to pay by weight?

I think it is rediculus. The airlines are going to make it so that only the upper classes will be able to fly anymore. We just returned from a trip to Hawaii on American Airlines. The attendants made 2 passes down the isle with drinks for an 8 hr flight. No snacks, peanuts, pretzels,nothing. The seats were so close together I am not a tall person but my knees were touching the seat in front of me. Miserable trip. Will do a lot of research to find a better airline. (If possible) We just had 1 bag to check but still think its not right. It's amazing that the airlines don't think service is important anymore only the bottom line.

It's amazing that the airlines don't think service is important anymore only the bottom line.

In their defense, they're public corporations. If better service makes them more money, they'll do it. If better service doesn't make them more money, they won't. End of story.

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

I think it's absolutely hilarious how many of the 'I never ever ever ever to the billionth power check a second bag' even CARE what we idiots that pack two bags, take a laptop bag and a roller bag do!

I always make sure to show up early to check in, most times I walk right up because there's no one at the counter, so you can't say it's because I'm holding you up in check-in. And I always try to be the last on planes where both carry-ons go on board so that I'm not holding others up hoisting my bag into that ridiculous space they call an overhead bin.

However, I have a good reason for taking that many bags; though it's not skiing, hiking, camping, or golfing. It's called being a student who goes to school 2100 miles from home. It's called, when I do fly, I'm flying home to be there for 6+ weeks in the summer, or nearly a month in the winter.

Now, if any of you holier than thou art 1 bag checkers can successfully pack 6 weeks of clothing/toiletries for a climate completely different from the one you are flying in from AND pack to be prepared for weather changes at your destination AND bring back to school the inevitable things from home AND any souvenirs from vacation with the family....I'd like to see it.