I don't care about the exact details of your trips. Your own description makes it clear that they combine personal transportation and freight. What's wrong with paying for both?

I fly all over the world. I may start with Nairobi, make stops in Kabul, Baghdad, London and that's in December/January. I carry very expensive photo equipment and 2 laptops. I still never had a reason to check 2 bags. YMMV.

My husband & I are flying United this Sunday to DEN for a ski/board trip. While we are not bringing "gear" we do have the snow clothing, etc. Being that we bought these tickets over 6 months ago I do not think the x-tra bag check applies, however, we are each checking 1 bag & each rolling on 1 smaller bag, along with a backpack on each back (carrying on 1 roll-on pc & backpack is ok, right?)

This will be the 1st time in years that I am actually checking a bag of luggage, but it would effect my airline decision in the future.

I NOTICE HOW SELFISHLY MOST PEOPLE HAVE RESPONDED TO THE EXTRA CHARGE. (I NEVER CHECK MORE THAN ONE BAG; TOO BAD FOR THE IDIOTS WITH 2 BAGS) NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT THE OTHER PASSENGERS FOR FOR WHATEVER REASON (NOT YOUR BUSINESS) MUCH CHECK 2 BAGS.
AIRLINES HAVE BEEN CUTTING BACK ON EVERY SERVICE IMAGINABLE AND NOW THIS! SOMEONE, HAS TO STOP THE EROSION OF ALL SERVICES BEFORE WE HAVE TO START LOADING OUR OWN BAGS ON THE PLANE. AS IT IS, FLYING HAS ALREADY BECOME A NIGHTMARE EXPERIENCE WHICH I DO BECAUSE I HAVE TO, BUT IT HAS BECOME A DREADED EXPERIENCE. FLYING, THESE DAYS, HAS ALL THE THE AMBIENCE OF A GREYHOUND BUS WITH WINGS!!

julesj66, how big is your "smaller bag"? If its more than a purse / computer bag, you cannot carry it plus another bag.

Seems to me that if someone is moving (which includes moving to and from school 2100 miles away), then that person's baggage is likely beyond the normal luggage category and should be shipped anyway.

A tempest in a teapot.

LOL EricH. Good point.

I'll just say again, if it saves me money I'm for it -- and hey, my kid fly fishes all over the place and brings LOTS of stuff. When I see him leaving I think it looks like he is moving! If he pays for freight so be it.

Now, hmmm, interestingly, if he's going on a float plane trip, where there are strict weight requirements, he manages to bring less stuff fly fishing...

To all of you who feel "put upon" (and I don't necessarily like the policy, but I recognize that this is a business, and as such, it's goal is to make money)....if Macy's charges for gift wrapping, you either choose to pay for the service, or you manage to get the gift wrapped some other way or place. Maybe (in fact, probably) years ago, Macy's wrapped gifts for free. And maybe (in fact, I know for certain), today they wrap gifts for free for certain customers, but not for all of them. You can choose to shop at Macy's or not. If it's important to you to have free gift wrapping, you shop elsewhere. Why is this different?

Well, I have never flown United if I remember right, so it doesn't affect me, but unlike walking across the street from Macy's and choosing another store with policies you like better, many rely on United because their schedules or routings are better for them. It's often difficult enough finding fares, schedules, and routes that all work for you, without having to "eliminate" airlines because you don't like their policies.

I'm just still a little confused why they would prefer people to bring one huge 50 pound bag instead of two 25 pound ones. It just seems sort of odd to me.

<i>I'm just still a little confused why they would prefer people to bring one huge 50 pound bag instead of two 25 pound ones. It just seems sort of odd to me. </i>

Because people don't bring two 25 pound ones. They bring two huge 50 pound bags.

Not necessarily. And aren't they charging the fee if you DO bring two 25 pound suitcases, but not if you bring one 50 pound one? My point is I could understand charging more for excess luggage over 50 pounds, but why are two small suitcases more expensive than one large heavy one?

What are they going to charge for next, using the bathroom? Or how about charging for the seat in the waiting area?
It's the carry on luggage that's out of hand.

If United claims the fee for a second suitcase is due to weight versus fuel costs, they had better look at the weight of passengers. That's the weight increase in the past decade. And, it is just plain wrong for an obese person to take 1 and a half seats, be unable to lower the armrest and deny an adjoining passenger a fully paid for seat! Plus the other issue is, what additional paying baggage can United now carry in the hold? More of those unscreened packages and freight ----creating greater security risks for the passengers??!! By May 5th I'll use up my United miles and cut up my credit card that creates them.

tchoiniere:

Just to clarify, I am checking 1 bag. I am going to carry on a small backpack on my back and roll on a Samsonite that fits overhead. I'm allowed 2 carry-on's right? Those are my 2 carry-on's.

I'm trying to stay away from this thread b/c I find myself rolling my eyes at the &quot;I am so perfect b/c I travel with nothing&quot; attitude. And I notice it's often from business travelers. My husband never takes this attitude b/c he knows you pack differently for a business trip than you do for a family vacation when you've got 2 or 3 kids with you. And this issue doesn't even apply to us b/c my husband is platinum on a Star Alliance carrier.

My family is underweight compared to the average family. Maybe we can get a weight credit for our suitcases?

And I truly dont understand the expect to charge more money, give no more service attitude. Even if I saw an increase in pleasant behavior from airline employees I'd be happy.

P.S. I don't think gift wrapping and carrying suitcases on an airplane is an apples to apples comparision of service type options. I've always seen gift wrapping as a nice, but never necessary, perk. Bringing luggage on a plane has never been seen as a perk or privilege to me. Maybe providing a lunch or dinner might be seen as something comparable to me, but not charging $50 roundtrip for a piece of luggage.

And I agree that people just don't have the option of choosing airlines all the time. You are often stuck with the predominant carrier at your airport unless you want a multi-stop flight with few options re: flight times. That's the problem - the airlines know you will fly them if you want non-stop flight A (v. another airlines flight B with multiple stops) even if they treat you like dirt.

&quot;Hello, thank you for using United.&quot;

&quot;I'd like to know the price for a ticket from A to B, please, nonrefudable domestic coach.&quot;

&quot;I'll have to ask a few questions for added service charges. Will you be checking luggage?'

&quot;Yes, 2 bags.&quot;

&quot;Any carry-ons, they're extra too, now.&quot;

&quot;Just my carryone suitcase and my luch.&quot;

&quot;Lunch is extra.&quot;

&quot;It's my OWN lunch.&quot;

&quot;Yes, that will be $5 for each item in the lunch bag. Napkins don't count, though. Now, will you be wanting in flight entertainment?&quot;

&quot;Yes.&quot;

&quot;How many channnels? They are charged separately.&quot;

!

&quot;Oh, will you want the bathroom with or without toilet paper?&quot;

!

&quot;I assume you want a seatbelt, too, so I'll add that in.&quot;

!

&quot;Well, if you want a seatbelt, that means you want the seat section, not standing room, so I'll just add that surcharge.&quot;

!

&quot;Will you be breathing during the flight? Good, I'll just add the air surcharge.&quot;

!

&quot;Do you want landed or in-air deboarding? You save $25 if we just drop you out ... er ... off.&quot;

!!!

&quot;I NOTICE HOW SELFISHLY MOST PEOPLE HAVE RESPONDED TO THE EXTRA CHARGE.&quot;

I agree. United's research shows that a quarter of their passengers check more than one bag and would be affected by this. Those selfish whiners should suck it up and pay for their extra bag(s) instead of making everyone else pay for them when the airlines increase fares even more to cover costs.

Weasel - I don't know what airline you fly, but airfares have gone up.

We paid $100 more per ticket this year than last year on Delta to SLC.

Karens, read what I wrote. I said &quot;instead of making everyone else pay for them when the airlines increase fares even more to cover costs.&quot; Key phrase being &quot;increase fares even more&quot;, meaning more than they've already increased. I'm quite well aware of the fact that fares have gone up. I don't want to pay more to cover the 25% who must haul extra luggage - let them pay for that themselves.