United to start charging for second piece of luggage

[Dave M]

I agree, Roger.

If travel is before May 5, the old rules apply, no matter when the ticket was purchased.

If travel is after May 4, the old rules apply if the ticket was purchased before February 4.

If travel is after May 4, the new 1-bag free allowance limitation applies if the ticket was purchased on or after February 4.

 

[Luanne]

I agree, Roger.

If travel is before May 5, the old rules apply, no matter when the ticket was purchased.

If travel is after May 4, the old rules apply if the ticket was purchased before February 4.

If travel is after May 4, the new 1-bag free allowance limitation applies if the ticket was purchased on or after February 4.

Okay, I like this interpretation. So, if dd is traveling May 29, on a ticket that was purchased prior to February, she can check two bag at no extra charge? And I assume there will be some "easy" way for the airline to know this? For instance, I'm looking at boarding passes I printed out for a trip tomorrow. There is nothing on them that says when the tickets were purchased. I'm really not trying to be difficult just trying to understand and figure out what she may encounter when she checks in for her flight end of May.

 

[Dave M]

The date the ticket was issued is included in the record that the check-in agent (curbside or inside) automatically accesses when printing a baggage tag.

If you are nervous for DD, try this for your own flight tomorrow. Log in to your "Itineraries" at ual.com. Select "view/modify" for tomorrow's trip. Click on the blue "View e-receipt" button near the top of the page. Near the top of the e-receipt, you will see the date the ticket was "Issued".

For DD, print out her e-receipt along with a copy of the rules from the UAL link in Icarus' post above. Then, if challenged, she can refer to the rules and prove that her ticket was issued prior to February 4. I can assure you that she doesn't need that documentation, but if it makes you feel more secure, go for it.

 

[Luanne]

The date the ticket was issued is included in the record that the check-in agent (curbside or inside) automatically accesses when printing a baggage tag.

If you are nervous for DD, try this for your own flight tomorrow. Log in to your "Itineraries" at ual.com. Select "view/modify" for tomorrow's trip. Click on the blue "View e-receipt" button near the top of the page. Near the top of the e-receipt, you will see the date the ticket was "issued".

For DD, print out her e-receipt along with a copy of the rules from the UAL ink in Icarus' post above. Then, if challenged, she can refer to the rules and prove that her ticket was issued prior to February 4. I can assure you that she doesn't need that documentation, but if it makes you feel more secure, go for it.

Thanks. After I had posted, I did go into her itineraries and found how I could see when the ticket was purchased. She's the kind of kid who does better when she's prepared, so I wanted to make sure she knew what to look for and to make sure she doesn't get challenged. I appreciate the help.

One more question that maybe you can answer. If tickets are purchased prior to her achieving Premier status, but the flights are made after she achieves that status, I'm assuming that the two pieces of luggage limit would be in effect. These would be tickets that aren't already purchased at this time.

 

[Dave M]

She's the kind of kid who does better when she's prepared ....

I'm the same kind of kid, even at (or maybe especially at) age 65.

 

[Luanne]

I'm the same kind of kid, even at (or maybe especially at) age 65.

:rofl:

I still have visions of getting a phone call the day of her flight that goes something like "Mom, do you know what United is trying to do to me????"

 

[camachinist]

Status is important when standing at the ticket counter to check-in. What's in the rear view mirror is not important

If tickets are purchased prior to her achieving Premier status, but the flights are made after she achieves that status, I'm assuming that the two pieces of luggage limit would be in effect. These would be tickets that aren't already purchased at this time.

 

[Luanne]

Status is important when standing at the ticket counter to check-in. What's in the rear view mirror is not important

Dd will be happy to hear that. She's very big into status.

 

[beatja]

Some resorts won't accept luggage unless you're already checked in. At least our Marriott Ocean Pointe has told us this when I asked them about it. It might be a good policy to call first to make certain the resort is expecting and will accept the delivery.

As for United, I've e-mailed them about my displeasure with this announcement. Not that losing my business will concern them but, if enough people say the same thing maybe they'll see the error of their ways.

We were just at Marriott Ocean Pointe and they accepted delivery of our package prior to our arrival and after we checked in they delivered it to our room. If a resort will not accept a package for you than a local UPS store will hold the package until you arrive.

 

[Courts]

Maybe I can use this to get my wife to pack LIGHTER?

.

 

[camachinist]

No pun intended, but fat chance

 

[carolbol]

Our husbands are :hysterical:
We are going on a cruise and two couples are driving to the airport with one car and luggage. We already have a luggage problem. Now the airlines are complicating this by agreeing with our husbands.......

 

[geneticblend]

Someone posted that this will just make people attempt to carry on more baggage. I have to agree with that. And whenever we fly, there are often many times that the overhead bins are stuffed to the max. This will cause even more of a problem with the carry-on luggage. And just imagine, if travelers start to bring more carry-on luggage and bags, how much longer people will have to wait in those lines to put stuff in those plastic bins to go through the x-ray machines!

 

[Judy]

Does anyone know where to buy really light-weight luggage? If I have to fit everything I need into one 50# bag (or lighter depending on the airline), I'm in real trouble, especially since I can't put toiletries into my carry-on anymore. And then there's dive gear and ski gear

 

[dougp26364]

Does anyone know where to buy really light-weight luggage? If I have to fit everything I need into one 50# bag (or lighter depending on the airline), I'm in real trouble, especially since I can't put toiletries into my carry-on anymore. And then there's dive gear and ski gear

The easiest answer is just don't fly United and then you don't have to worry about it.

Several years ago, before they went to the 50 lb limit, we went to soft sided luggage. Using space saver bags we can get quite a bit into them before hitting the 50 lb mark. I also carry small hand held luggage scale to make sure I'm not over the limit before we hit the airport. Wife's toiletries go in one bad and compressed clothing goes in the other bag.

Until United changes their minds, I doubt I'll be seriously looking at them unless their ticket price is significantly below everyone elses. If they have to do that to get business back then they're defeating their purpose by limiting passengers to only one bag. Most of the time we only take one bag anyway but, it's the principle of the matter. There are times when we need to take a suiter along for our good clothes and with United that would cost us an extra $25. I say to heck with United until they change their minds on this one.

 

[MikeM132]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22992054/?GT1=10856

This is ridiculous! Most likely it will just promote more carry on and slow down the boarding process even more. It's very rare for us to have more than one piece of luggage, except when we are taking dd cross country to school.

They're probably tired of loading skis, golf bags, etc.. I doubt they have a major issue with somebody's wife bringing 8 prs of shoes on vacation (heh heh---nobody I know!)

 

[MikeM132]

Does anyone know where to buy really light-weight luggage? If I have to fit everything I need into one 50# bag (or lighter depending on the airline), I'm in real trouble, especially since I can't put toiletries into my carry-on anymore. And then there's dive gear and ski gear

Grocery store. Look under "Hefty".:hysterical:

 

[bruwery]

This is the way things are going to be, so get used to it. If it's not a fee, it'll merely be an increase in fares. It'll be paid one way or another.

We all will merely have to modify the way we pack. Pack in order of importance, with the absolute necessities going into the bag first. If you fill more than one bag, ask yourself: "Self, is it worth $25 to bring this stuff?"

My lovely wife typically needs two (can't go anywhere with less than 9,000 pairs of shoes), so I'll suck up the $25 if need be.

Personally, I think the airlines should intall smell detectors. They'd have all the money they need if they'd simply assess a $25 fee to each person who can't seem to find time to shower before boarding a plane...

How about another $25 for every idiot that spends half the flight sticking their butt in my face because they have to get in and out of the overhead compartment 20 times?