United Airlines has introduced a holiday surcharge for checked baggage to five destinations in Latin America. While only temporary in nature, the move marks a step toward dynamically-priced baggage fees, a two-edged sword for consumers.
United Airlines Raises Checked Baggage Fees In Holiday Trial
First noted by Zach Griff, the increase in baggage fees impacts flights to:
- Bogota (BOG)
- Lima (LIM)
- Panama City (PTY)
- Quito (UIO)
- San Jose (SJO)
Currently, the first checked bag was free and the second checked bag cost between $40-100 (the exact price depended upon the market).
But starting next month, the first bag will be $30, the second will be $100, and the third bag (and any subsequent bags) will be $200.
The rate increase applies only for tickets purchased November 20, 2020 or later and only for travel between December 1, 2020 and January 15, 2021.
How To Avoid The Bag Fee
There are a couple ways you can avoid the bag fee, which include:
- Buying a business class ticket (two bags fly free, up to 70 pounds each)
- Sign-up for a United co-branded credit card:
- United Explorer Card – on checked bag
- United Club Infinite Card – two checked bags
Star Alliance Gold members still enjoy at least one free bag as well.
Do check the price of business class tickets if you are checking a lot of baggage. Lately, the difference in price between the two cabins has been the lowest I’ve seen it. If you’re checking a couple bags and business class is only about $150 more, I would certainly upgrade.
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Dynamic Pricing Coming?
I do tend to think the dynamic pricing of checked baggage is the next frontier legacy airlines will tackle, especially as the removal of change fees has and will continue to create a reduction in ancillary revenue.
I’m not going to speculate now what that model would look like, beyond charging more for bags during periods of high demand (and less during periods of low demand), but the key will be transparency.
Consumers hate fees, but the key is transparency–not only on united.com, but on any third-party website that sells United tickets. Consumers should know precisely what they will have to pay for checked baggage without having to dig through fine print or navigate to other web pages when purchasing a ticket.
CONCLUSION
United Airlines will trial seasonal baggage fees in Latin America, something American Airlines has also done in the past. The move not only recognizes a revenue opportunity, but may offer a model for checked baggage surcharges across the network at some point in the future.
Airfares on routes with insufficient competition should be regulated.
An argument against regulation is that there is no incentive for airlines to provide good service. No one can argue that there is any good service in economy class.
Even economy for fares now you are free to choose only middle seats. Aisle and window you have to pay extra. This is not a choice and i think airlines are hiding the full cost of a ticket when they show the price. Similarly united charges for second luggage piece while many airlines allow 2 free. This added $100 gets disclosed later.
We need fair fare disclosure. Provide me with a fare that lets me choose any seat in economy class, with full mileage accrual and 2 bags of free luggage. This will allow me to compare fares across airlines. You can then customize it later by adding fare classes.
Matthew,
Spend a little time on United’s bag calculator and see the incredible prices on 3rd bags and beyond during the winter months for your third bag and beyond. Many destinations (SAL, HAV, TGU, etc) have a $500 per bag charge for your third bag plus even more if they are overweight. You could have bags that cost a whopping $1000 a piece! Try an itinerary like IAH-SAL in December:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/changed-bag-rules-optional-services.aspx
Service went downhill once airlines were deregulated, Just look at the old pictures of happy people flying.
United and others will never ever stop figuring out ways to extract money from customers. I hope the day comes when hyperloop becomes the norm for travel.
The article is just false information. They already have fee. For first checked baggage. And it is not convenient. Eventually, you realize you could’ve buy more convenient tickets, and do not appreciate airline way of getting extra money out if you.
Sorry, but the first checked bag fee is new for the destinations I listed above.
More baggage fees!!!
United started and the rest will follow.
They want to squeeze every penny out of travelers. I guess the want to make up for the lost revenue one way or the other.
Like they said they couldn’t help to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine unless they get another stimulus. Then want? They are going to change for shipping on top of that?
Let the military, UPS, FEDEX or the Postal Office take care of the vaccine distribution.
Airlines only can do from airport to airport, while the others are from door to door.
I remember when you bought the airline ticket, it included everything. Baggage, food, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks was included. Just pay for alcohol unless you were flying 1st. class.
Also little after the Pandemic started, fuel prices are down. Why they can reflect that on your ticket.
@Michael really you going to trust the post office with delivery of vaccines
Maybe ups and fedex but right now the having problems to
Also tell me how much cost a ticket from California to new York 20 years ago? And about last year how much cost probably cost less $,
( i say last year because now is irrelevant)
Every company to squeeze more money from the costumer look at cable companies phone about garbage companies the have a monopoly and so on
Life is to short enjoy before is to late
Ciao