Packing an extra bag for your cruise just got a little more expensive!

United Airlines Feb 5th :

Domestic passengers will have to pay $25 to check a second piece of luggage. The policy change applies to travel on or after May 5, and to tickets purchased today or later.

The new policy appears targeted at the occasional leisure traveler: It applies to customers purchasing nonrefundable domestic economy tickets who do not have either at least premier status in United’s Mileage Plus programs, or silver status in a Star Alliance program.

About 25 percent of its travelers check a second bag, according to United, and the airline believes its new surcharge will generate $100 million in revenue a year. >The company faced bankruptcy just a few years ago, but in 2007, it earned a net income of $403 million (its first year of profit since 2000).

United is the first major U.S. carrier to charge for checked bags, but the policy is not uncommon among foreign carriers. It started with the discount European carriers: Most charge $10 to $20 for each piece of checked baggage. And then British Airways joined in, charging for a second piece of checked bags (but not on flights from/to the United States). Discount carriers were also the first to charge for snacks, and for exit row seats or an assigned seat. I think you’ll see more of those type of user fees from the major airlines in the months to come.