United Airlines has confirmed that it is hiking its checked baggage fees by as much as $10 per bag in a stealth move by the Chicago-based carrier designed to try to offset the surging price of jet fuel around the world.
The price hike, confirmed by Reuters journalist David Shepardson, came just a day after JetBlue became the first U.S. airline to increase its checked baggage fees in response to economic uncertainty caused by a security situation in the Middle East.
In a statement, United said it was raising the cost to check the first and second bags for customers traveling domestically in the United States, as well as on flights to and from Mexico, Canada, and Latin America, by $10.
That will mean the maximum fee for a first checked bag will rise to $50, and the maximum fee for a second checked bag will rise to $60.
United will continue to offer a $5 discount on prepaid checked baggage fees that are paid online at least 24 hours before departure. The cost for a third checked bag will surge from $150 to $200. The changes take effect without notice on April 3.
Additionally, MileagePlus frequent flyers, United Chase credit card holders, active military passengers, and anyone traveling in a premium cabin will still be able to check a bag for free.
A spokesperson for United noted that this was the first time in two years that the carrier had hiked its checked baggage fees.
When one U.S. airline raises its checked luggage fees, expect every other carrier to follow in quick succession.
That ball started rolling on Tuesday when JetBlue announced fee increases across the board for checked baggage. The first checked bag during standard dates rises from $35 to £39, but during peak travel dates, the cost swells to $49 (up from $40).
The cost to check a second bag with JetBlue can be even more expensive than United, rising from $50 to $59 during off-peak periods, to as much as $69 during peak travel dates.
Hiking checked baggage fees has become a common method for U.S. carriers to deal with a rise in operating costs, and at this moment, every airline around the world is grappling with the surging cost of jet fuel.
Last month, United chief executive Scott Kirby warned that oil prices could peak at around $175 a barrel, and the price might not dip below $100 a barrel until 2027 at the earliest.
Kirby said the carrier would start cutting some unprofitable flights should the situation not improve dramatically, although he doesn’t plan to go as far as other airlines in Europe and Asia, which are quickly pruning their schedules to conserve fuel and reduce costs.
