United becomes the last U.S.A. major airline that serves Europe to charge $50 fee for the second checked bag.
United Airlines now joins Delta, Northwest, American, Continental and US Airways in charging $50 for a second checked baggage fee.
All the USA airlines continue to offer the first bag to be checked for free. The real question if for how long?
We do not know of any international carriers flying to Europe including British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa that charge the $50 second checked bag fee.
Now here are some tips on how to avoid paying those fees.
1. American Airlines only charges these fees on Europe routes where they serve 100% of the route with their own aircrafts. For example, if you fly to London on American you will be charged a $50 second checked baggage fee. Fly on American to London and connect to Amsterdam on an American Airlines codeshare partner British Airways and you pay no fee for the second checked bag.
2. Flying on Delta or Northwest to Europe? You may want to book your flight on Air France. For example, Delta offers flights from Dallas to Madrid with a connection thru Atlanta. However, if you book the same Delta flights, but book on Air France flights your not charged the $50 second checked bag fee because your tickets are plated on Air France not Delta. You still can earn Delta frequent flier miles too.
3. United only offers nonstop service or connecting service on their own planes to just a few European destinations such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, and a few others. Book these same flight on Lufthansa using Lufthansa codeshare flight numbers and pay no baggage fees. For example, from Dallas to Paris you will fly from Dallas to Paris via Chicago using 100 % United aircraft. Book these flight on Lufthansa flight LH-9317 and flight LH-9335 and you still fly 100% on United. You can still earn United frequent flier miles, but because your plated on Lufthansa you avoid the second checked bag fee.
4. Starting in October when Continental joins United and Lufthansa in the Star Alliance it will be interesting to see how this pans out.
So the next time you think Europe and you're wanting to check two bags think codeshare. It will save you $100 per person in baggage fees.
