• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » Travel » United Airlines Reduces Free Checked Baggage Allowance for Star Alliance Gold and Silver Members
Travel

United Airlines Reduces Free Checked Baggage Allowance for Star Alliance Gold and Silver Members

Matthew Klint Posted onOctober 22, 2013December 9, 2016 Leave a Comment

United Airlines has quietly reduced domestic checked baggage allowances for both Star Alliance Gold and Silver members, clandestinely updating its baggage policy with a posthumous disclaimer.

united-airlines-increased-baggage-fees-2013-01

 

Holders of Star Gold status outside of the Mileage Plus program who once enjoyed up to three free checked bags weighing up to 70lbs each now may only check a single bag without cost on domestic itineraries, weighing up to 50lbs. Star Alliance Silver members no longer will receive one free checked bag on domestic itineraries, further gutting the value of Silver status.

united-airlines-increased-baggage-fees-2013-09   

united-airlines-increased-baggage-fees-2013-10

When United announced new elite qualification requirements that included minimum revenue thresholds on tickets issued by United, I penned a story arguing that United’s actions constituted a direct attack on Star Alliance. This latest move bolsters my contention that United is undermining the Alliance that it helped to establish in 1997.

Why is United doing this? Put simply, because it can. And extra baggage fees add up fast.

The problem is not that a slim subset of the flying public crediting 20,000 miles to Aegean Airlines each year in order to achieve Star Alliance Gold status is ruining it for everyone. Instead, the problem (if you call it that) is the recovering economy, in which reduced capacity and increased demand have led to more people paying for the pleasure of chasing fewer seats. 

With a management decision that United’s massive strength will take precedence over the wider Star Alliance partnership, the financial benefits of a 26-member Alliance can now be realized without having to provide the level of benefits that have characterized the last 15 years. The Star Alliance logo itself, and the allure of redeeming miles on other carriers, lounge access, and making seamless connections on a single ticket, is the enduring legacy of Star Alliance. Other benefits like priority check-in, baggage handling, and boarding have been and will continue to be marginalized. Indeed, we have heard rumors that even lounge access and partner award redemptions are not immune from cutbacks. United’s joint venture partners are also not excluded from this stealth baggage policy change.

united-star-alliance-gold-baggage-benefits

Two things to note. First, United is not violating a Star Alliance rule by making this change–Star Gold policy only require Star Gold members to be permitted one additional checked bag at no cost. Since United does not allow free checked bags on domestic itineraries, no rules have been broken. Nevertheless, this is a significant cutback in a long-term benefit. Second, this policy change does not apply to United’s own premier members. For example, a Premier Gold member still can check three bags weighing 70lbs each at no charge on domestic and international itineraries:

united-airlines-increased-baggage-fees-2013-08

Life goes on, but if you are a Star Alliance Gold member outside the Mileage Plus program, keep in mind that your checked baggage allowances have been reduced on United.

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article United Airlines Customer Service Shines at JFK After Mishap
Next Article American Express Transfer Bonuses

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Ritz-carlton yacht collection ilma

    Questions (And Answers) About Ritz-Carlton Yachts “Struggles”

    July 6, 2025
  • Model Dumped Business Class Boyfriend

    Business Class Or Bust: Model Refuses To Fly Coach, Gets Dumped

    July 4, 2025
  • a blue passport on a black surface

    All The Patriotic Quotes In Your U.S. Passport

    July 4, 2025

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for July

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • a woman standing at a counter in a coffee shop
    Great Coffee In Basel, Switzerland July 8, 2025
  • TSA Shoe Requirement
    TSA Ends Shoe Removal Requirement At Airport Checkpoints July 7, 2025
  • Cowboy Bomb Alaska Airlines
    “I Have A Bomb Under My Hat!” Cowboy Pulls Stupid Stunt On Alaska Airlines Flight July 7, 2025
  • a group of people standing in a line with luggage
    Delta’s Swanky JFK Lounge Can’t Handle Summer Crowds… July 7, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Favorite Airline Commercials
    My 10 Favorite Airline Commercials June 15, 2025
  • a blue passport on a black surface
    All The Patriotic Quotes In Your U.S. Passport July 4, 2025
  • Qantas Lounge Review Hong Kong
    Review: Qantas Lounge Hong Kong (HKG) June 14, 2025
  • a row of seats in an airplane
    If You Abuse Company Travel Policy, Expect To Be Fired! June 16, 2025

Archives

July 2025
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Jun    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.