FEE ALERT: United & US Airways Raise Bag Fees (except online)

May 15, 2009 | Posted in: Airline Fees, Bags, US Airways, United

If you pay your bag fees at the airport, you’re going to pay more – when you fly United Airlines or US Airways. Both airlines are upping fees by $5 – new prices will be $20 for the first checked bag and $30 for the second. However, if you pay the fee on the airline’s website, you pay the “old” price of $15/$25. United’s policy kicks in for travel starting June 10, and US Airways starts July 9. I love how the airlines are characterizing this change as a way to save: on United’s website, the jaunty text reads, “Prepay & save!” while US Airways touts its new “lower fee online!” Okay, this won’t affect most of us – but it will affect what is being called the infrequent leisure traveler – especially the non-techies among us. Which means, next time Grandma comes out for a visit, I think YOU had better make the reservations for her (and my apologies to all computer-savvy Grandmas and Grandpas out there — I know your numbers are growing).

3 Responses to “FEE ALERT: United & US Airways Raise Bag Fees (except online)”

1. United & US Airways will charge extra to check bags at airport | Travel On The Dollar says:

   May 18, 2009 at 4:01 pm

   [...] checked baggage [United] Checking bags? Pay online. It’s worth it! [US Airways] FEE ALERT: United & US Airways Raise Bag Fees (except online) [Rick Seaney] United asks the question: “When is a fee increase not a fee increase?” [...]
2. David says:

   May 25, 2009 at 5:29 pm

   What other underhanded ways will these scumbag bean counters go to while gouging their customers? If they keep coming up with asinine fees, instead of managing more efficiently, they will mis- manage theirselves out of business. I refuse to even consider ANY of these fee gouging airlines. The open road is looking better every day. Thank God for Southwest airlines, they know how to run an airline!
3. USA Road Trip Planner says:

   June 30, 2009 at 1:51 pm

   I am a “techie” but have no time to both pack AND optimize the fees. So, I take 3 days worth of clothes and shop when I am there.