Higher Baggage Fees Hit Travelers Amid Rising Fuel Costs

United Airlines has announced a hike in checked‑bag charges, raising the fee for the first two bags by $10 and adding an extra $50 for a third bag. The change, effective on tickets bought after April 3, follows a similar move by JetBlue earlier in March. Passengers traveling to the U. S. , Mexico, Canada and Latin America will see their prepaid first‑bag price jump from $35 to $45, the second bag from $45 to $55 and the third from $150 to $200. Those who pay within 24 hours of departure will face comparable increases, from $40 to $50 for the first bag, $50 to $60 for the second and $150 to $200 for the third.The airline said travelers who prepay online 24 hours before departure still receive a $5 discount on the first two bags. Free baggage remains available for United Chase cardholders, MileagePlus Premier members, active military personnel and premium cabin passengers. United CEO Scott Kirby has warned that the surge in jet fuel prices—more than double since the February 28 Iran‑Israel conflict—could add about $11 billion to annual costs, far exceeding the company’s best‑ever profit of less than $5 billion. While United and JetBlue adjust their fee structures, other carriers such as American, Delta, Southwest and Frontier have not announced similar changes. The price jump reflects the broader impact of the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, which disrupted roughly 20% of global oil flow and pushed U. S. jet fuel prices to nearly $5 per gallon, a 95% increase from pre‑war levels.