United Airlines Will Also Charge for Luggage

[Purveyor]

United Airlines said Thursday that it would begin charging many passengers on Friday to check their first bag, joining American Airlines in assessing a $15 luggage fee for passengers flying on the cheapest tickets.

American announced plans last month to begin the first-bag fee. The charge is set to take effect on tickets purchased on Sunday and beyond.

But United’s announcement means that it will actually be first in the domestic industry to assess the fee for many travelers. The airline said it expected about a third of its domestic passengers to be required to pay the $15.

United was also the first airline to charge $25 to check a second bag earlier this year. Many airlines began those fees in May. Other airlines could soon follow.

The new fee is likely to make the fight for already-tight space on planes more fierce, as passengers try to stuff more carry-on luggage into overhead bins.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/business/13bags.html?ref=travel