New United Baggage Policy

[Disneyfalcon]

Hi everyone. Heads up if you're flying United to WDW (or anywhere else for that matter). Starting May 5th unless you're a premier level executive or higher you will be charged $25 to check a second bag.

There are some exceptions like people traveling on refundable fares, government fares, etc. But for the average traveler, this means you can only check one bag or fork over some more money to United.

Here's the article:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-tue_baggagefeb05,0,1359132.story

 

[Unplugged]

When you travel with Children (1 yr old, 2 yr old), then you need the extra clothes.

Actually, if you're traveling with children of any age, they should be in a child seat on the flight. Why do I point that out? Well, if you're like us with safety first for our little one, we pay for his seat/ticket for that reason. This means you can say one piece of luggage per person. Though the bag may may be primarily your stuff since the little clothes aren't too big, every passenger gets one bag regardless of the passenger's size. It is just dependent on the fact that each passenger would have a ticket.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Good thing for me is I use one suitcase and carry my essentials in a backpack..

 

[drp4video]

Spirit airlines has been charging $10 for the first checked bag now for a while. And that is if you pay in advance. If you pay at the airport it is $20 for the first checked bad, and there is no guarantee that you can check more than one.

 

[cemeb4dk]

The golfers are not going to be happy. I am flying United to WDW tomorrow AM for 4 days of golf no parks. Glad its now and not in May. Because I have my golf bag, and then a bag for clothes. Would not be happy if I had to pay for extra bag.

 

[JDM]

It's a business decision. We all have the right, if we want, to refuse to do business with United because of this policy. I very rarely have 2 pieces of luggage to check, but there have been times when I did, and I'd be annoyed to have to pay for the second bag. That being said, I don't think I have some sort of "right" to have two checked bags included in the price of my plane ticket. They're offering a service, and I'm free to take or leave it, as is everybody else.

As for those complaining that they're just trying to "screw the traveler", or that the airlines are making plenty of money and they don't need to make any more, I'd say welcome to free enterprise. Companies set prices and product offerings in the way that is best for them, not the way that is best for us. Of course they want to make customers happy, but only because that's good for business. If making (or keeping) a certain group of customers happy is deemed too expensive, the business will decide that the better business decision is forego that piece of business -- that's the way it goes.

I'm a consultant, and I ask all my clients to sign an arrangement letter with certain provision in it. If they don't like the letter, they don't need to buy my services, and I understand and accept that. Just as I'm sure United understands and accepts that they'll lose some business over this. Apparently, they think that cost is worth the benefit of more revenue and less checked bags.

Bravo! Finally, someone who gets it.

 

[PhilharMagician]

It's a business decision. We all have the right, if we want, to refuse to do business with United because of this policy. I very rarely have 2 pieces of luggage to check, but there have been times when I did, and I'd be annoyed to have to pay for the second bag. That being said, I don't think I have some sort of "right" to have two checked bags included in the price of my plane ticket. They're offering a service, and I'm free to take or leave it, as is everybody else.

As for those complaining that they're just trying to "screw the traveler", or that the airlines are making plenty of money and they don't need to make any more, I'd say welcome to free enterprise. Companies set prices and product offerings in the way that is best for them, not the way that is best for us. Of course they want to make customers happy, but only because that's good for business. If making (or keeping) a certain group of customers happy is deemed too expensive, the business will decide that the better business decision is forego that piece of business -- that's the way it goes.

I'm a consultant, and I ask all my clients to sign an arrangement letter with certain provision in it. If they don't like the letter, they don't need to buy my services, and I understand and accept that. Just as I'm sure United understands and accepts that they'll lose some business over this. Apparently, they think that cost is worth the benefit of more revenue and less checked bags.

Bravo! Finally, someone who gets it.

Well than I would assume that you are content every time the cost of food, gas, electricity, or whatever the commodity goes up. Because they are free to do it.

You are absolutely correct that it is there right to increase the or add cost to the service, but it is also my right to complain. If I decide to use there service I will most likely have to pay, but will not be happy and will most likely register a complaint so they know how I feel.

As far as attacking travelers in general they are not. This change mostly target vacationers. People that travel with families for extended periods of time that require more "stuff". Business travelers typically travel light and are not effected by this.

I hope this is not the begining of all airlines going in this direction. Before you know it you will be charged for each bag you bring.

 

[Montyboy]

What makes you think business travelers pack light?

 

[PhilharMagician]

I do alot of business travel around the country and the world and I do not pack heavy. All of the other business travelers that I see and meet typically travel like I do and that is with a roll on only. The only time I need to check anything is if I am carrying equipment to my destination. Granted I only meet maybe .0001% of the business travelers, but the needs are definately differant between business and leisure travel with a family.

 

[MichWolv]

It's a business decision. We all have the right, if we want, to refuse to do business with United because of this policy. I very rarely have 2 pieces of luggage to check, but there have been times when I did, and I'd be annoyed to have to pay for the second bag. That being said, I don't think I have some sort of "right" to have two checked bags included in the price of my plane ticket. They're offering a service, and I'm free to take or leave it, as is everybody else.

As for those complaining that they're just trying to "screw the traveler", or that the airlines are making plenty of money and they don't need to make any more, I'd say welcome to free enterprise. Companies set prices and product offerings in the way that is best for them, not the way that is best for us. Of course they want to make customers happy, but only because that's good for business. If making (or keeping) a certain group of customers happy is deemed too expensive, the business will decide that the better business decision is forego that piece of business -- that's the way it goes.

I'm a consultant, and I ask all my clients to sign an arrangement letter with certain provision in it. If they don't like the letter, they don't need to buy my services, and I understand and accept that. Just as I'm sure United understands and accepts that they'll lose some business over this. Apparently, they think that cost is worth the benefit of more revenue and less checked bags.

Well than I would assume that you are content every time the cost of food, gas, electricity, or whatever the commodity goes up. Because they are free to do it.

You are absolutely correct that it is there right to increase the or add cost to the service, but it is also my right to complain. If I decide to use there service I will most likely have to pay, but will not be happy and will most likely register a complaint so they know how I feel.

As far as attacking travelers in general they are not. This change mostly target vacationers. People that travel with families for extended periods of time that require more "stuff". Business travelers typically travel light and are not effected by this.

I hope this is not the begining of all airlines going in this direction. Before you know it you will be charged for each bag you bring.

Content? No. I'm annoyed, as I said in my post. And complaining and taking your business elsewhere are perfectly reasonable responses. I may do that as well, since I have other reasonable options flying from Chicago.

But demonizing the company for acting in what it thinks is in the best interests of its owners? It's the anger and vitriol that I don't get. Companies will do what they think is best for them -- that's free enterprise. And it's why socialism is popular in some places -- because free enterprise does not react based on what's best for the public, but based on what's best for the enterprise.

I also hope that this isn't the beginning of all airlines going in this direction, but I'm pretty sure it is. We'll be charged for bags, we'll be charged for a coke and a bag of pretzels, we'll be charged for aisle seats (or window seats), and we might even pay more if we weigh more. The airlines will explain that they're just trying to make those who use more services/fuel/whatever pay more. We'll complain, but in the end, I think that's where we'll be headed. We might not like it, but we do these things in many other forms of travel, and it's accepted. When I travel by train, I don't expect a coke and some peanuts to be included in the price of the ticket -- doesn't even happen in Europe where train travel is quite pleasant. When I travel by car, I pay more if I use more fuel for whatever reason -- more bags, more weight, gunning the engine. Plane travel has grown up in a way that certain things are expected that aren't expected in other modes of travel. The industry is challenging all of these assumptions and norms becuase they are under extreme financial pressures. Unfortunately, I expect travel by air to become increasingly less comfortable, except for frequent fliers and those who pay to travel business or first class.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Unfortunately, I expect travel by air to become increasingly less comfortable, except for frequent fliers and those who pay to travel business or first class.

That's part of what gets me. Those passengers won't be paying for their second bag. Why am I a second class citizen because I bought a non-refundable ticket? I may still have paid a small fortune for it!

 

[MichWolv]

That's part of what gets me. Those passengers won't be paying for their second bag. Why am I a second class citizen because I bought a non-refundable ticket? I may still have paid a small fortune for it!

I think the airline would say it is quite normal in most sectors for those who pay more to get more. You may have paid a small fortune, but you paid less than others did, so the airline would say it's perfectly reasonalbe to give those who paid a higher price more service.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I think the airline would say it is quite normal in most sectors for those who pay more to get more. You may have paid a small fortune, but you paid less than others did, so the airline would say it's perfectly reasonalbe to give those who paid a higher price more service.

Oh you're definitely right. People that pay more get more. But this is suddenly a line drawn in the sand that wasn't there before. And it just irks me.

 

[Montyboy]

I do alot of business travel around the country and the world and I do not pack heavy. All of the other business travelers that I see and meet typically travel like I do and that is with a roll on only. The only time I need to check anything is if I am carrying equipment to my destination. Granted I only meet maybe .0001% of the business travelers, but the needs are definately differant between business and leisure travel with a family.

I guess it could go either way. I usually pack more for business because I need personal items plus business things.
Getting back on topic... I'm sure United would prefer only offending business travelers since they typically don't pick up the fare and are more a slave to schedule.

 

[Tim G]

That's stupid. I'm not flying with United anytime soon - and i rarely check ANY bags, but that's a crappy policy.

You should've read the whole article...

Air travel experts expect other domestic carriers to follow suit later this year.

"This is the first but certainly not the last we'll see this year," said Terry Trippler, an air traveler advocate and president of www .tripplertravel.com in Minneapolis.

If other airlines don't follow United's lead, the carrier may have to consider rescinding the new luggage policy or risk losing bargain-oriented customers who are not frequent fliers, industry observers said. That category includes vacation travelers .