Baggage Rules for US Airways and United
March 18, 2008
There are some important policy changes for checking baggage for US Airways and United. Please see the information from both airlines' websites. If you have any questions feel free to contact our client services department at 205-444-4800
US Airways
What is the new baggage policy?
US Airways announced that it will begin assessing a $25 fee for a passenger's second checked bag. Passengers can continue to check one bag free of charge. The fee applies to travel that occurs on or after May 5, 2008. Travelers who purchased travel before Feb. 26 for travel on or after May 5 are exempt from the policy change.
The policy applies to all flights within the U.S., to and from Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe. Currently, about eight percent of US Airways customers check two or more bags.
What exemptions are there to the $25 fee for a second checked bag?
The $25 second checked bag fee does not apply to:
- All Dividend Miles Preferred members (Silver, Gold, Platinum and Chairman's Preferred)
- Confirmed First Class and Envoy passengers at time of check-in
- Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members
- Active military personnel in uniform with ID
- Unaccompanied minors
- Passengers checking personal assistive devices
Why the policy change?
With fuel costs higher than they've ever been, we've simply had to look at ways to offset our increased operating costs. Keep in mind that about eight percent of US Airways passengers check more than one bag.
United
Domestic baggage information
United is announcing a new checked bag policy for customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets. Customers purchasing nonrefundable domestic economy tickets who do not have status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee. Customers who have attained Premier status or higher in Mileage Plus or who have Silver status and above with a Star Alliance partner, are exempt from this policy change. This policy is for travel exclusively within the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada and applies to tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008. Please view the Domestic baggage questions for additional details on this policy.
All customers traveling on United may check at least one free bag. The number of free bags allowed per customer will vary according to your Mileage Plus status and/or the type of ticket purchased. The tables below highlight the number of bags that customers can check free of charge:
Tickets purchased before February 4, 2008 or any tickets for travel before May 5, 2008:
| Mileage Plus status / Type of ticket | Free bag allowance | Maximum weight |
|---|---|---|
| Non-members or General Members of Mileage Plus on non-refundable Economy fares or Economy Saver Award Tickets | 2 | 50 lbs/23kg |
| All First or Business class customers / All Economy class customers on refundable fares / All Standard Award Tickets / All Premier and Premier Associate Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Silver members on any fare or Award Ticket | 2 | 50 lbs/23kg each |
| Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Gold members on any fare or Award Ticket | 3 | 70 lbs/32kg each |
Tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008, for travel on or after May 5, 2008:
| Mileage Plus status / Type of ticket | Free bag allowance | Maximum weight |
|---|---|---|
| Non-members or General Members of Mileage Plus on non-refundable Economy fares or Economy Saver Award Tickets | 1 | 50 lbs/23kg |
| All First or Business class customers / All Economy class customers on refundable fares / All Standard Award Tickets / All Premier and Premier Associate Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Silver members on any fare or Award Ticket | 2 | 50 lbs/23kg each |
| Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Gold members on any fare or Award Ticket | 3 | 70 lbs/32kg each |
- The maximum size of each checked bag is 62 inches/158cm (length + width + height)
- Each checked bag must have the name of the person traveling on the outside of the bag
- United recommends that you arrive at the airport 90 minutes prior to departure to complete the check-in process
- Baggage must be checked at the airport at least 30 minutes in advance of flight departure time except for the following airports which have a 45 minute cut-off time for baggage check-in