United Airlines to Charge 15 Bucks to Check one Bag to USVI, Puerto Rico

United Airlines said Thursday it will charge a 15-dollar service fee to check one bag for domestic travel on an economy ticket to help offset record fuel prices.

The new fee also will be charged on economy travel to Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, said the second-largest U.S. airline, owned by UAL Corporation.

In addition, the Chicago-based carrier said it will hike the fee to check three or more bags, overweight bags or items that require special handling to 125 dollars from 100 dollars, or to 250 dollars from 200 dollars, depending on the item.

A United Airlines jet flies past an American Airlines jet. AFP PHOTO
The new fees, effective August 18, apply to customers who purchase a ticket on or after Friday.

United estimates the potential revenue from baggage handling service fees, including those for checking a first and second bag, will be about 275 million dollars a year. The airline previously announced a fee of 25 dollars for checking a second bag.

It announced exceptions to the new first-bag checking fee for passengers traveling in United first or business class, certain frequent-flyer and Star Alliance members and U.S. military personnel traveling on orders.

Like other U.S. airlines reeling from jet fuel prices that have nearly doubled in the past year and a soft U.S. economy, United announced in early June it was further cutting its fleet, operations and up to 1,100 additional jobs.

The leading carrier American Airlines took similar action to stem losses from the fuel crisis in mid-May and announced a 15 dollar for fee for the first checked bag on tickets purchased for domestic economy travel on or after June 15, and 25 dollars for the second checked bag.