United raises baggage fees as jet fuel costs climb and introduces tiered premium fares

Key Points:

• United Airlines will increase checked baggage fees by $10 starting Friday, raising the first checked bag fee to $45 and the second to $55 for flights within the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Latin America, citing rising jet fuel costs due to the Middle East conflict.
• The airline's CEO Scott Kirby reported that higher fuel prices have added approximately $400 million to operating costs since the war began, a trend echoed by Delta and American Airlines.
• Some passengers, including credit card holders, loyalty members, military personnel, and premium cabin travelers, will still receive a free first checked bag, while last-minute bag check-ins will incur an additional $5 fee.
• United is also introducing a new tiered pricing structure for premium cabin seats on select long-haul and transcontinental flights, offering different fare levels with varying perks and flexibility to better align with customer preferences.
• The baggage fee hike follows similar moves by JetBlue and reflects broader industry efforts to offset soaring fuel costs, which have nearly doubled jet fuel prices at major U.S. hubs since the conflict began.