United Airlines is following in the recent footsteps of Jet Blue, Air Canada, and Westjet by raising the cost of checking a first and second bag.
Forbes reports that like the other carriers, United increased the fee on a first checked bag from $25 to $30, and from $35 to $40 for a second checked bag.
Moreover, the fee for checking a second bag on cross-border United flights to destinations in Canada has been increased to $50.
Airlines blamed higher operating costs and increased competition for the need to raise the fees.
“As we continue to make investments that make travel on United better, we are making adjustments to our checked bag fees in select markets — most of which have not been changed for the past eight years,” an airline spokesperson told Bloomberg News.
United rivals Delta and American have not yet followed suit, but are widely expected to do so. Southwest Airlines, the other major North American carrier, does not charge a fee for checked luggage.
