United raises bag fees, becoming second U.S. carrier to up the price this week
United did not say why it was raising its prices, but the move follows JetBlue also hiking its checked bag fees earlier this week, citing "rising operating costs."
United Airlines is raising its fees for first and second checked bags, becoming the second U.S. airline to up the price this week.
United is raising the price by $10 for flights in the U.S., Mexico and Canada and Latin America, the airline said Thursday in a statement, making the price for the first checked bag $45 for those who pay ahead of time and $50 for travelers who check their bag within 24 hours of their flight. The price for a second checked bag also gets bumped up to $55 for those who pay in advance and $60 for those checking within 24 hours.
The change will not apply to customers who bought tickets before Friday, April 3, the airline said.
"United Chase credit card holders, MileagePlus Premier members, active military members and customers traveling in premium cabins can still check a bag for free," United said, noting this was the first time it had raised the price for checked bags in two years.
Airlines have been contending with the rising price of fuel amid the Iran war . Oil supplies have been constricted due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, causing costs to soar.