Did United.com Show a $0 First Bag, Then Charge You?

United Bag Fee Investigation: Did United.com Show a $0 First Bag, Then Charge You?

You closed your United credit card, booked a flight on United.com and saw a free first bag. Then the confirmation showed a fee. You may not have misread it.

Emery | Reddy is investigating potential claims for travelers nationwide on United.com bookings made by former United credit cardholders. The firm wants to hear from anyone who flew on those bookings and from the former cardholders who made them. No lawsuit has been filed at this time.

How the United Card Bag Benefit Works

According to Chase, the United Explorer Card gives the primary cardmember and one traveling companion on the same reservation a free first standard checked bag. The cardmember must include their MileagePlus number in the reservation and buy the ticket with the card. Other United cards offer bag benefits of their own.

Source: Chase

What Happened on Some United.com Bookings

Emery | Reddy is looking into reports that United.com treated former cardholders like current cardholders before purchase. The final page before buying may have shown the first bag at $0. After purchase, the confirmation page and email may have shown the regular fee.

Screenshots may be the only record of the $0 price. Everything sent after purchase may show the higher fee, so many people may assume they misread the page.

According to One Mile at a Time, United’s first bag fee rose by $10 for tickets purchased starting April 3, 2026, to $50, with $5 off for prepaying. The earlier fee was $40. When these bookings began is not yet confirmed.

Source: One Mile at a Time

Why the $0 Shown Before Purchase Matters

Federal rules require airlines to show checked bag fees in the e-ticket confirmation. Federal rules also generally bar sellers from raising the price of air travel after a customer pays for it, and those rules cover baggage fees.

Emery | Reddy is investigating whether charging a fee after showing $0 at the moment of purchase raised the price after the sale.

Source: 14 CFR 399.85; 14 CFR 399.88

Who May Qualify

The investigation focuses on anyone who paid a first checked bag fee on a booking where:

• The person booking used to have a United credit card, and it was closed at the time of booking
• The booking was made on United.com while logged in to a MileagePlus account
• com showed the first bag at $0 before purchase
• The flights were operated by United or United Express

Cards include the United Explorer, Quest, Club, Gateway, Business and Club Business cards, along with older cards such as the United Presidential Plus Card and MileagePlus Explorer.

These bookings and travelers likely do not fit the investigation:

• Bookings through a travel agent or another website
• Bookings made while the United card was still open
• Travelers who already get free bags, such as through Premier status, active-duty military status or their fare
• Second bag, overweight or oversized bag fees
• Codeshare flights operated by partner airlines

What Records to Gather

• Save any screenshots or recordings from United.com showing $0 for the first bag
• Find your United confirmation email and the booking’s baggage page
• Find your bag-fee receipt or a card statement showing the amount, date and who paid (hide your full card number)
• Find something showing when the United card closed, such as a closing letter or final statement
• Save any complaint sent to United or the U.S. Department of Transportation and any response
• Submit your information for a Free Case Review

Do You Have Legal Options?

Travelers may have legal rights when a company charges more than the price it showed at purchase. Emery | Reddy offers a Free Case Review to help travelers see what they may qualify for, and there is No Fee Unless We Recover.

Contact Emery | Reddy today at 916.995.5968 for a Free Case Review if United.com showed a $0 first bag and someone was charged a fee.

FAQ

Has a lawsuit been filed against United over this?

Emery | Reddy has not filed a lawsuit over these bag fees. The firm is investigating potential claims and gathering information.

I never had a United card. Can I still reach out?

Yes. If a former cardholder booked your flight and you paid a first bag fee, the firm especially wants to hear from you.

I don’t have a screenshot. Should I still reach out?

Yes. Many people may not have saved the page. Share your confirmation email and bag-fee receipt or statement, and tell us what you remember seeing.

How is this different from the April bag fee increase?

This investigation looks at a $0 first bag shown before purchase. It doesn’t depend on when you bought your ticket.

How much does a Free Case Review cost?

It’s free. Emery | Reddy charges No Fee Unless We Recover.

Do I have a legal claim?

You may. Federal rules require airlines to disclose bag fees, and a ticket is a contract with terms the airline agreed to. If United.com showed a $0 first bag and you paid a fee, contact Emery | Reddy at 916.995.5968 or visit www.emeryreddy.com for a Free Case Review. No Fee Unless We Recover.