United Airlines and common sense (or lack thereof)

Yep, my fellow travelers, United Airlines, is starting nickel-and-diming you fifteen dollars (that’s 300 nickels or 150 dimes) for the privilege of checking the first bag. Another first for United (they were first to charge twenty-five bucks to check the second bag.) They actually beat American Airlines in collecting the fee, even though American beat them to the announcement.

Oh well, I just got email from United with details: the $15 fee for the first bag is in effect for tickets purchased on or after June 13 with travel date on or after August 18 2008. You will be exempt from the first and second checked bag service fees if you are:

• traveling in United First® or United Business®
• traveling on the same reservation as a Global ServicesSM, Mileage Plus® 1K®, Premier Executive®, Premier® or Premier Associate® member or Star Alliance® Gold or Silver member
• military personnel traveling on orders

This fee applies to travel within the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.