United Airlines Hikes Checked Bag Costs After Four Years

United Airlines is raising checked baggage fees, following American Airlines.

Reuters reported on the 24th (local time) that United Airlines announced an increase in checked baggage fees for North American travelers just a few days after American Airlines announced a similar increase.

This price increase is the first in four years since United Airlines has been charging $30 for pre-registration of checked baggage.

According to Thomson Reuters, United Airlines economy class passengers must pay $40 or $35 if prepaid for the first checked bag in the U.S. after February 24.

Also, the second checked bag fee is $50 or $45 if prepaid.

Recently, airlines have been struggling with increasing maintenance and labor contract costs amid weakened pricing power in the U.S. domestic market.

In response, American Airlines raised the fee for the first checked bag to $35 for online pre-reservations and $40 at the airport earlier this week, ahead of United Airlines.