United Airlines has become the latest airline to hike fees in response to skyrocketing fuel prices resulting from the war in Iran.<\/a><\/p>\n The price increase comes after the airline\u2019s CEO warned that some airlines \u201cmight not survive\u201d the crisis<\/a> with no end to the war in sight.<\/p>\n Beginning Friday, most United travelers will now pay $10 more to check their luggage.<\/p>\n Customers traveling in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Latin America will now pay $45 for their first piece of luggage and $55 for their second bag, according to United.<\/p>\n \u201cFor tickets purchased on or after April 3, 2026, fees will go up by $10 for your first and second checked bag and by $50 for your third checked bag in most markets,\u201d the airline\u2019s website<\/a> now reads.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the first time in two years the airline has raised bag fees,\u201d United said in a separate statement.<\/p>\n Some passengers will still receive a free first checked bag, including co-branded credit card holders, certain loyalty-tier members, active military personnel and travelers in premium cabins. <\/p>\n Customers who check bags less than 24 hours before departure will pay an additional $5.<\/p>\n United joins JetBlue, which raised checked baggage fees on Monday by up to $9<\/a> during peak travel periods, as the war in the Middle East continues to severely disrupt global oil supplies, particularly near the narrow Strait of Hormuz<\/a> where a fifth of the world’s oil typically passes. <\/p>\n That has caused crude prices to fluctuate wildly, which affects airlines’ operating costs because the fuel their aircraft rely on is refined from crude oil.<\/p>\n JetBlue said charging more for optional services used by select customers helps keep base fares competitive. Like United, it will continue offering a free first checked bag to some customers.<\/p>\n The average price for a gallon of jet fuel in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York reached $4.88 Thursday, up from $2.50 before the conflict began on Feb. 28, according to Argus Media. The energy market intelligence company\u2019s U.S. Jet Fuel Index tracks the average prices across those major hubs.<\/p>\n Speaking to investors last month at a conference, United CEO Scott Kirby said the higher jet fuel costs had already added roughly $400 million to operating costs. The CEOs for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines reported similar figures.<\/p>\n Fuel is typically the second biggest expense for airlines after labor. <\/p>\n Analysts expect U.S. airlines to pass higher fuel costs on to travelers by increasing add-on fees or ticket prices since they don\u2019t usually have fuel surcharges, while a number of non-U.S. carriers already have added fuel surcharges.<\/p>\n In another change affecting U.S. travelers, President Donald Trump detailed plans Friday to privatize security screening at airports.<\/a><\/p>\n In the White House budget, Trump proposed cutting funding for the federal agency by $52 million and requiring small airports to enroll in a program in which TSA pays for private screeners.<\/p>\n Budget documents said airports currently using the privatization program<\/a> have demonstrated savings compared to federal screening operations.<\/p>\n![\"United](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/United_Airlines_Bag_Fees_88592.jpg\")
United and JetBlue have both raised checked baggage fees in response to rising oil prices (AP)<\/p>\n