United Airlines Adjusts Overweight Baggage Fees

United Airlines announced today that it will eliminate the current $80 fee for overweight checked baggage on domestic flights and replace it with a new fee  of $25 per checked baggage item weighing 50 pounds or more. The new fee schedule takes effect Sunday, Jan. 26, 2003.

Previously, two checked bags weighing up to 70 pounds were accepted free of charge per ticketed domestic passenger, and checked items over 70 pounds were subject to an overweight baggage fee of $80.

United will continue to accept two pieces of checked baggage under 50 pounds each, one piece of carry-on baggage and one personal item free of  charge for each domestic ticketed passenger. The two checked bags may be up to 62 inches (length + width + height) and 50 pounds each. The carry-on piece may be up to 45 inches (length + width + height). Items over 100 pounds in weight will not be accepted as baggage, but will be accepted from known  shippers by United Cargo. International allowance, size and weight rules may vary by destination.

Other baggage related fees, including excess baggage and oversize fees, remain unchanged.