United Airlines is the second US airline to hike bag fees as fuel prices climb

United Airlines' bag drop kiosk at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Taylor Glascock/Bloomberg via Getty Images 2026-04-03T10:10:50.086Z Share Copy link Email Facebook WhatsApp X LinkedIn Bluesky Threads lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.

Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. United Airlines is raising bag fees by $10. It will cost $45 to check a first bag if you pay at least 24 hours before departure, per its website. JetBlue raised fees earlier this week, too, as jet fuel costs surge. AI-generated summary Summaries are generated by an AI model trained on Business Insider's articles. AI may make mistakes or provide inaccurate/incomplete information. We're unable to load that answer right now. Please try again. How do fuel prices impact airlines? What is the history of bag fee increases? What benefits do United cardholders get? Why don't US airlines hedge fuel costs? How do airlines manage rising costs? United Airlines has become the second US carrier to raise bag fees since the Iran war sent jet fuel prices soaring. Loading audio narration... For flights booked from Friday, it will cost $45 to check a first bag if you pay at least 24 hours before departure.If you check a bag in the airport lobby, fees start at $50. At the gate, it will cost $75. Those prices are $10 more than for flights booked before Friday."United is raising first and second checked bag fees by $10 for customers traveling in the US, Mexico, and Canada and Latin America beginning with tickets purchased Friday, April 3," it said in a statement shared with Business Insider. The cost of a third checked bag has risen more, from $150 to $200.It comes after JetBlue hiked its bag fees on Monday by between $4 and $9, depending on whether the customer is traveling on a peak day. "As we experience rising operating costs, we regularly evaluate how to manage those costs while keeping base fares competitive and continuing to invest in the experience our customers value," a JetBlue spokesperson said.Since the Iran war started on February 28, Brent Crude oil prices have risen 50% to $109 a barrel. However, jet fuel has surged even more. It's doubled in price to almost $200 a barrel, according to data from the International Air Transport Association. Unlike many airlines around the world, US carriers don't hedge against fuel costs, so they face greater risk from rising prices. Meanwhile, Europe's biggest airline, Ryanair, has locked in lower fuel prices for 80% of its supply until next March, its CEO told Sky News on Wednesday.In the past, JetBlue has also led the way in raising bag fees, with competitors following. Back in 2018, it was the first major airline to start charging $30 for a checked bag. Alaska Airlines and JetBlue kicked off the last round of bag fee increases in early 2024. United and most other carriers then raised their prices by $5.United Chase credit card holders, MileagePlus Premier members, active military members, and customers traveling in premium cabins can still check a bag for free.