ANOTHER airline has confirmed that luggage fees will be increasing due to the ongoing fuel crisis.
The conflict in the Middle East has resulted in the cost of jet fuel soaring due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, meaning airlines are looking at ways to offset costs.
And United Airlines has since increased its baggage fees, the second airline to do so.
The new rules mean checked bags now cost $10 (£7.50) extra, working out to $45 (£33) for domestic flights, or $50 (£37) if it it booked 24 hours before a flight.
A second checked bag will now cost up to $60 (£45) if booked last minute.
The airline said: “United is raising first and second checked bag fees by $10 for customers traveling in the US, Mexico and Canada and Latin America beginning with tickets purchased Friday, April 3.”
Last month, JetBlue was the first airline to confirm that they would be increasing luggage costs in response to fuel prices going up.
Checked bags have gone up by $4 (£3) for off peak, economy travellers – who will pay $39 (£30).
Peak economy travellers will have to pay $9 (£6.80) extra, so to $49 (£37).
Passengers paying for luggage less than 24 hours before the flight will pay an extra $10 (£7.50).
A JetBlue spokesperson told local media: “Adjusting fees for optional services used by select customers, such as checked baggage, allows us to continue offering more competitive fares.”
Some airlines are already cancelling flights.
UK-owned Skybus has cancelled its daily flights between London Gatwick and Newquay earlier than planned.
Due to finish by end of May, it has since cancelled all of the routes and cited lack of passengers as well as rising costs.
Elsewhere in the world, United Airlines said they would cut five per cent of flights until the third quarter of 2026.
This works out to around 250 flights a month, based on the airline operating around 5,000 in total per month.
The latest to confirm that it would be cutting five per cent of flights in the second and third quarters of 2026.
Air New Zealand has cancelled 1,100 fights – working out to around 44,000 passengers – while Scandinavian airline SAS also cancelled 1,000 flights.
Both of these are mainly affecting domestic routes primarily.
And Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has warned of flight cancellations across May and June.
This could affect up to 10 per cent of flights this summer.
