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Airline offers baggage subscription

Bloomberg News / October 6, 2009

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ATLANTA - UAL Corp.’s United Airlines, the third-largest US carrier, will offer annual subscriptions for $249 that allow passengers to check two bags at no additional cost.

The fee for the so-called Premier Baggage service also covers checked luggage for as many as eight companions traveling under the same confirmation code as the subscriber, United said yesterday.

United led major US airlines in 2008 in charging $25 for a second bag. The new service may help attract semi-regular travelers and families, said Brett Snyder, a consultant who runs the CrankyFlier.com blog and is a former United employee.

“It’s money in the bank, and it will help them keep the loyalty of some customers,’’ Snyder said.

Most big airlines charge $15 each way for the first bag and $25 for the second if they are checked online; each bag costs an extra $5 at the airport.

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.