U.S. Airlines and Air Travel Costs

United Airlines is increasing its checked‑baggage fees by $10 each for first and second bags on flights within the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Latin America for tickets purchased on or after Friday, April 3, making the first bag $45 if paid in advance ($50 within 24 hours of departure) and the second $55/$60. The move makes United the second major U.S. carrier this week to hike bag fees after JetBlue, and comes as airlines face sharply higher fuel costs tied to the Iran war, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a resulting spike in oil prices. Brent crude rose about 7.7% to $109 a barrel and U.S. benchmark crude nearly 11.9% to $111.81 after President Trump’s latest remarks on the conflict, pressures United CEO Scott Kirby says have already pushed the airline’s base fares up 15%–20% over the past month. United notes that United Chase credit‑card holders, MileagePlus Premier members, active military personnel and premium‑cabin customers can still check one bag for free, and says this is its first bag‑fee increase in two years. The change highlights how war‑driven energy shocks are showing up directly in routine travel costs for U.S. consumers, fueling growing online frustration over airlines’ layered fees.