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Bloomberg
The $30 bag fee is gaining traction across US airlines as summer travel winds down and carriers look to boost revenue to offset higher fuel prices.
United Continental Holdings Inc. increased the charge for passengers’ first checked bag by $5 last week, matching a move by JetBlue Airways Corp. earlier in the week.
The fee changes apply to United tickets purchased on August 31 and later.
The move by United, the No. 3 US airline, bolsters an industry push for more revenue from items other than tickets.
The industry’s annual profit peaked in 2015 and is headed for a third straight decline this year, according to Airlines
for America, a trade group
representing carriers such as United and American Airlines Group Inc.
Fuel prices have increased more than 20 percent over the past year, pressuring airlines’ earnings and stock prices.