United Airlines Adds $10 Bag Fee, Launches Three-Tier Premium Fares
United Airlines will introduce base, standard and flexible tiers for Polaris and Premium Plus on long-haul international, transcontinental U.S. and select Hawaii routes, separating perks like lounge access and refund rights across tiers. It also raised checked-bag fees by $10 on domestic, Mexico, Canada and Latin America flights.
1. Three-Tier Premium Fare Structure
United Airlines is rolling out a three-tier system—base, standard and flexible—for Polaris and Premium Plus seats on long-haul international, transcontinental and select Hawaii flights. Base fares omit lounge access, seat selection and upgrade or refund rights, standard restores these benefits and flexible adds full refundability.
2. Checked-Bag Fee Increase
The carrier raised checked-bag fees by $10 on all domestic, Mexico, Canada and Latin America routes, the first increase in two years. This fee hike reflects rising jet fuel costs and aims to bolster ancillary revenue.
3. Polaris Brand Expansion
Standard and flexible fare holders on new transcontinental and Hawaii routes will gain Polaris lounge access as United extends its premium brand footprint. The website and mobile app have been updated to reflect these changes.
4. Revenue Segmentation Strategy
Management views the pricing adjustments as a way to align fares with customer preferences and manage margins under volatile cost pressures. Initial rollouts begin this month in select markets, with broader implementation slated later in the year.