But Air Canada eliminates its fee

Star Alliance partners United and Air Canada last week adopted distinctly different policies when it comes to checked luggage. United has become the second major U.S. carrier to boost its fee for a second checked bag from $25 to $50. United is matching a similar policy imposed by Delta Air Lines recently, although Delta does not assess a fee for checking just one bag; United charges $15 for the first checked bag. United said the $50 fee will not apply to passengers ticketed in first or business class, or to those who hold Premier status with United or Star Alliance. The $50 fee applies for travel on or after November 10 within the U.S. or to Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, for tickets issued on or after September 16. The airline estimated that the second checked bag fee would affect one out of every seven passengers. Most major airlines continue to charge $25 for a second checked bag; the biggest exception is Southwest, which still assesses no fee for a first or second checked bag.

Meanwhile, United’s Star Alliance partner Air Canada said it is eliminating its $25 fee for checking a second bag, effective September 23. The fee was begun May 15 for passengers traveling on the carrier’s Tango and Tango Plus fares within North America. “The recent retreat in oil prices is enabling us to reinstate our previous baggage policy,” an Air Canada official said. The Canadian carrier announced that it would also fold its fuel surcharges into its published fares instead of adding them on separately, effective September 18.