United Airlines boosts 2nd-bag fee to $50

Fee hits tickets bought Tuesday and beyond for travel beginning Nov. 10

Top slideshows

Getty Images	The Big Apple Long referred to as the center of American business, New York is a melting pot of cultures and landscapes. Take a visual tour of some of the Big Apple’s most famous attractions.
Lonely Planet Images	Hawaiian paradise The Hawaiian Islands are the perfect vacation destination for travelers of all types.
Lonely Planet Images	National spectacles Nearly 400 national parks can be found all across America, and feature breathtaking vistas, rock formations millions of years old, and more.

updated 10:59 a.m. ET Sept. 15, 2008

CHICAGO - United Airlines on Monday doubled its fee for a second checked bag to $50, citing volatile fuel prices.

United, a unit of UAL Corp., said the $50 one-way fee would apply for tickets bought beginning Tuesday for travel beginning Nov. 10. in the U.S. or to or from Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Travelers in first or business classes, "Premier" frequent fliers, and active-duty military personnel traveling on orders will be exempt. United estimated the $50 fee would apply to about one out of seven customers.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Fuel prices have declined in recent weeks as oil prices have fallen, from a high of $147 a barrel to below $96 a barrel on Monday. But United said fuel prices remain more than 50 percent higher than last year.

Don't miss these Travel stories from msnbc.com
10-day China package, from $888
Paris and Nice, air/6 nights, from $749
Hotel rates down nearly 9 percent this year
Great-value Caribbean islands | Which Hawaii for you?
Keep your vacation moments memorable