----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Hough" <psa188@xxxxxxxx> To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 1:30 PM Subject: SFGate: United adds fee for some to check second bag > =20 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. > The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: > http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2008/02/05/BUTUURV5M.= > DTL > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Tuesday, February 5, 2008 (SF Chronicle) > United adds fee for some to check second bag > George Raine, Chronicle Staff Writer > > > United Airlines will be charging some of its customers a new fee for > checking more than one piece of baggage. > United fliers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets, > and w= > ho > are not elite members of the airline's frequent flier program, will be > charged $25 for a second checked bag beginning May 5, the company said > Monday. In addition to the fee for a second bag, the cost to check a > third > and a fourth bag will be $100 per bag for all customers. > "This was inevitable," Joe Brancatelli of New York, the editor of a > Web > site for business travelers called Joe Sent Me, said in referring to > the > cash-strapped nature of the airline industry. > No other airline rushed to match the baggage fee, which > Chicago-based > United estimates will generate more than $100 million annually for the > company. But all the airlines are being pressured financially by > rising > fuel prices and other economic pressures, leading some analysts to > believe > other legacy airlines will soon follow suit in charging more for > checking > bags. > The fee will be assessed on passengers who don't have elite status > in the > Mileage Plus program at United or do not have at least Silver status > at > Star Alliance, the group of about 20 airlines internationally that > have a > relationship for expedited ticketing with United passengers. Premier > status, the lowest elite tier, requires flying 25,000 miles annually > on > United, and Mileage Plus members who reach that level automatically > have > Silver Star Alliance status. Members of other Star Alliance airlines' > frequent flier programs also can attain Silver status. > United described the change as "part of its continuing effort to > offer > customers choice, flexibility and low fares." > The $25 fee for the second bag will be assessed each time the > luggage is > checked. > Robin Urbanski, a spokeswoman for United, said research found that 1 > in > every 4 customers checks in a second piece of luggage. "Rather than > having > everyone offset the cost of extra bags, we are passing the fee to the > people who check the extra bag," she said. "That way we keep the fares > low > for everyone." > Urbanski said extra bags contribute extra weight, and the heavier > the > airplane, the more fuel is required. > John Tague, executive vice president and chief revenue officer at > United, > said that with the new policy, "customers who check extra bags may > continue to do so for a service fee, which enables us to offer > competitive > fares to everyone." > One consequence of the fee, said Minneapolis-based airline > consultant > Terry Trippler, will be that travelers will stuff more of their > belongings > into carry-on bags, and another will be that people will re-evaluate > how > they pack luggage. > "I expect to see the other legacy airlines do this," Trippler said. > "A > buck for a soda is right around the corner. They are looking for every > penny of revenue they can find. But, given their revenue situation (at > United), they may have made a wise decision." > Brancatelli was less forgiving. He said the change pertaining to > passengers who purchase nonrefundable tickets is illusory because > airlines > can make all tickets nonrefundable. > "It's not about the cheapest. This is a cash grab, by their own > admission," he said. > He added that he thinks it is possible United could rescind the new > poli= > cy > if the response is negative. "I'm not sure United will not back off," > Brancatelli said. "The fact no one matched it immediately I find > interesting." > The fee to check a second bag applies only to tickets purchased on > or > after Monday. Customers may pay the fee with a credit card at an > airport > kiosk or at the check-in counter. Customers were informed of the fee > beginning Monday on United's Web site, www.united.com, and on > e-tickets > sent to passengers. > American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner said the company had no > comment on > United's fee. "We'll watch how United's new policy plays out closely, > just > like we do any time there is any change in the industry," he said. > "However, I cannot speculate about the future." > American's passengers are entitled to two free checked bags of 50 > pounds > or less each per passenger. > Delta Air Lines spokesman Anthony Black said the carrier has made no > changes to its checked baggage policies or fees. Passengers also are > entitled to check two bags of 50 pounds or less. > Virgin America, the startup airline based in Burlingame, permits > passengers in the main cabin to check one bag free of change that can > weigh up to 70 pounds. There is a fee of $10 for a second bag weighing > up > to 50 pounds. And there is a fee of $50 each for bags three through 10 > weighing up to 50 pounds. There are fees for overweight bags, too. > First-class passengers can check two bags for free. > > E-mail George Raine at > graine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -------------------------= > --------------------------------------------- > Copyright 2008 SF Chronicle > > <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an > E-mail to: > "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write > the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE". <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".