The Flying Critic lays out the details of United’s plan to follow American’s lead and charge a fee for the first checked bag, after only recently adding fees for checking a second.
Although I’d point out that – unmentioned by the Critic – United exempts not only elites (including Star Alliance partner elites) but also other passengers traveling on the same reservation as the elite member. This isn’t mentioned on United’s website detailing the new rules, but it is mentioned explicitly in their email announcements today.
Lucky scoffs at how United has built something so complex that it requires a United’s website detailing the new rulesmatrix on the website to decipher the fees a customer will be charged.
Good point about travel companions on the same reservation as elites also being exempt from the fees. They are exempt from both the first and second checked bag fee.