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Late to the party — but not to be outdone — United Airlines is hiking the cost of checking a bag. For tickets booked on or after February 24, 2024, checked bags will cost $5 more.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to save on the high cost of checking a bag. Let's dive into the details and cover how to avoid expensive bag fees.
United Airlines Hikes Checked Bag Fees
If you think it's all part of a plot to encourage more people to sign up for a co-branded credit card that offers a free checked bag, you might be on to something.
Alongside American Airlines, JetBlue, and others, United Airlines is also increasing the cost to check a bag. For domestic and North American itineraries booked as of February 24, the associated bag fees will be $5 steeper. Here's what it'll soon cost to check a bag on United:
- First checked bag
- $35 if paid in advance
- $40 if paid at the airport
- Second checked bag
- $45 if paid in advance
- $50 if paid at the airport.
While $5 doesn't seem like a substantial increase, the seemingly ever-increasing cost of checking a bag (not just on United) is hard to digest. Checking a bag isn't a small expense — especially if it's a round-trip booking and happens more than once a year.
How To Avoid Checked Bag Fees on United
If you don't want to pay United's higher bag fees (or pay United's bag fees at all), we can't blame you. There are a few ways to avoid them.
United credit cards
Applying for a Chase-issued United credit card is going to be the easiest way to avoid paying checked bag fees on United Airlines. Most United credit cards — read: those with an annual fee — offer cardholders and a traveling companion at least one complimentary checked bag on United-operated flights.
- Limited-Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
- Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
- Earn a $100 United travel credit after spending $10,000 on purchases with your United℠ Explorer Card within a calendar year
- Over $400 in partner credits each year
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 2X miles per $1 spent on purchases from United®
- 2X miles per $1 spent on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Elite status
You can also avoid checked bag fees on United by having MileagePlus Premier elite status — or a Star Alliance Gold-equivalent level of status with another Star Alliance carrier.
- First checked bag free: Premier Silver
- Two free checked bags: Premier Gold, Star Alliance Gold-equivalents
- Three free checked bags: Premier Platinum, Premier 1K
Related: United Changes How You'll Earn Elite Status in 2024, Further Rewarding Card Spending
Final Thoughts
United Airlines raising its bag fees isn't a surprise. Typically, when one carrier hikes theirs, all the others follow suit. Starting February 24, 2024, the new policy will go into effect. Checked bags on United's North American itineraries will cost $5 more, which is no small increase. We'll assume you probably saw this coming after all the other airlines increased their checked bag fees recently.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The New United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees)
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