United doubles fees for second bag

Chicago -- United Airlines said Monday it would increase the fee for a second checked bag to $50 for one-way domestic flights.

The fee will be applied to tickets purchased on or after Tuesday but doesn't apply to passengers in United First of United Business or have premier status with United or Star Alliance. It also doesn't apply to U.S. military personnel traveling on orders, the airline said.

The new fee is double the amount United started charging some customers in February. In June, the airline started charging $15 for the first piece of luggage checked by some customers.

The airline said its merchandising efforts, "including those for checking a first and second bag," would reach approximately $700 million in 2009.

The new fee was made "in a challenging economic environment where fuel prices … are more than 50 percent higher than last year," the airline said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.