United Airlines Is Raising Checked Bag Fees Again. More Hikes May Be Coming

The airline is adding $10 to first and second checked bags as rising fuel costs push carriers to raise fees across the industry.

BY LEILA SHERIDAN, NEWS WRITER

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United Airlines is raising checked bag fees starting April 3, becoming the second major U.S. carrier this week to increase the cost of flying and signaling that more hikes could follow.

The Chicago-based airline said its standard fee for a first checked bag on flights within the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Latin America will rise to $50, up $10 from before. Travelers who prepay at least 24 hours in advance will still receive a $5 discount, bringing the cost down to $45. Fees for a second checked bag are also increasing by $10, to $60, or $55 if prepaid, Business Insider reported. 

United’s move comes just days after JetBlue raised its own baggage fees by at least $4 per bag, and as much as $9 depending on booking timing, CNBC reported. The timing underscores a familiar pattern in the airline industry. When one carrier raises fees, competitors often follow.

That dynamic may be especially pronounced now, as airlines face a sharp rise in fuel costs tied to escalating geopolitical tensions. Fuel prices in major U.S. hubs—including Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York—averaged $4.88 per gallon on Thursday, according to data from Argus published by Airlines for America. That’s nearly double the price recorded before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, according to CNBC. 

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Rising fuel costs have already pushed ticket prices higher and prompted many international carriers to introduce or expand fuel surcharges. Ancillary fees, like checked bags, offer airlines another lever to offset those pressures without directly raising base fares.

Still, some travelers can avoid the new charges. United confirmed that MileagePlus Premier members, customers holding eligible United cobranded Chase credit cards, active military members, and passengers flying in premium cabins will continue to receive free checked bags, according to The Points Guy. The airline is also maintaining its $5 prepayment discount for most markets.

“United is raising first and second checked bag fees by $10 for customers traveling in the U.S., Mexico and Canada and Latin America beginning with tickets purchased Friday, April 3,” the company said in a statement, according to BI. 

The fee increase arrives alongside broader changes to United’s loyalty program announced the same day. While credit card holders will be able to earn more miles under the new structure, most other travelers will see reduced mileage earnings on flights—effectively shifting more value toward the airline’s most engaged (and highest-spending) customers, The Points Guy reported. 

United and many of its competitors last raised baggage fees in early 2024. With two airlines already moving this week, and costs continuing to climb, travelers may soon see similar increases across the industry.

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