Jul 21, 2016, 11:14 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
UA site - Free checked bags for eligible United MileagePlus Chase credit cardmembers
FAQs
Can I get both by status benefit and the credit card benefit?
No, the benefits do not stack. The best way to think about it is the first / second bag fees are waived, and you only have one "first" bag. Also addressed in above T&Cs.
If my ticket has a bag allowance doe the card benefit provide additional allowance?
No, the benefits do not stack. The best way to think about it is the first / second bag fees are waived, and if the ticket has no fee, the waiver provides no additional benefit, . Also addressed in above T&Cs
Will I get the checked-bag benefit on an UA issued award ticket if I pay the out-of-pocket costs (tax, TSA fee) with a qualifying Chase UA card?
Yes, assuming you meet the other requirements (cardholder's MP number is on the same PNR, etc.).
Is third bag fee at the original fee or charged at what was the first bag fee?
The higher bag fees are unchanged when first and/or second bag fees are waived.
Do Basic Economy fares change the bag waiver?
No - see Introducing Basic Economy
And MP branded Chase cardholders will be exempt from the BE carry-on & boarding group restrictions
If I am a Chase MP branded cardholder but used a different card to purchase the ticket, will I still get the bag waiver?
No
But some have found if you purchase E+ access with the Chase MP branded card, you will then received the bag waiver
If I cancel the card after booking but before travel, will I still get the waiver?
No, the T&Cs state the card must be active at the time of travel.
How do I get the checked bag fee waiver when checking in with a partner airline, such as a codeshare?
Checked bag fee waiver only applies when checking in with UA. Codeshare/partner airlines will not provide the checked bag waiver benefits based on being a primary cardholder of a Chase MP card.
What if I purchase the UA ticket on a third party site using the Chase MP card?
This is a YMMV situation. It depends on how the 3rd party handles its billings. Reports are the Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity ... bookings will received the bag allowance waiver at check-in.
What if I forgot to use the Chase MP card for the original purchase?
Certain additional items, such as E+ access seem to trigger the bag waiver.
Recent reports suggest this no longer works.
I have a new Chase MP card, how can I tell UA knows this?
This takes a week or two to be fully acknowledged in the system
Go to https://www.united.com/en/us/account
At the top look for "Mileage Balance" and just below that "Exp. xx/xx/xxxx" with a "?" in a circle. Click on the "?".
A popup should mention the being a MileagePlus CC holder and your miles will not expire. This signifies the MP account and CC have been properly linked.
Archive thread: Mileage Plus Branded Credit Card and Checked Baggage Fees {Archive}
First and second checked bags free for MileagePlus® Club and Presidential PlusSM card members
First checked bag free for MileagePlus Explorer cardmembers and cardmembers with certain other Chase credit cards
First checked bag free for MileagePlus Explorer cardmembers and cardmembers with certain other Chase credit cards
The requirement to purchase ticket(s) with the applicable United MileagePlus card will be waived for flights completed during the first 90 days following a new primary Cardmember’s account open date.
Terms and conditions
- The primary Cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation are each eligible to receive their applicable standard checked bag(s) free. To receive the applicable standard checked bag(s) free, the primary Cardmember must include their MileagePlus account number in their reservation and use their qualifying United MileagePlus Credit Card from Chase to purchase their ticket(s).
- The traveler must be a Cardmember at the time of check-in in order to be eligible for free checked bags.
- One authorized user is eligible to receive the applicable standard checked bag(s) free only if traveling on the same reservation as the primary Cardmember and counted as the one traveling companion eligible for the benefit.
- Eligible Cardmembers will receive their applicable standard checked bag free on flights operated by United or United Express; codeshare flights are not eligible.
- Checked bags must meet weight and size restrictions or may be subject to additional fees. Learn more about our baggage policy.
- Primary Cardmembers are eligible to receive applicable standard checked bag(s) free when they use their miles to book award travel on United-operated flights, as long as they pay for their award ticket taxes and service charges with their qualifying Card and include their MileagePlus account number in their reservation.
- Primary Cardmembers who are already exempt from checked baggage service charges will not receive additional free checked bags.
Premier members:
Club or Presidential Plus Card members who receive two or more free checked bags through their Premier status will not receive additional free checked bags.
Explorer Cardmembers and Cardmembers with certain other MileagePlus Chase Credit Cards will not receive a free checked bag in addition to the free checked bag(s) awarded through their Premier status.
For additional information on Premier benefits, visit www.united.com/premier.
International travel:
Club and Presidential Plus Card members will not get additional free checked bags if there are no first and second checked bag service charges applicable to their international travel itinerary.
Explorer Cardmembers and Cardmembers with certain other MileagePlus Chase Credit Cards will not get an additional free checked bag if there is no first checked bag service charge applicable to their international travel itinerary. - Unpublished fares, such as priceline.com and Hotwire, are not eligible.
- New United MileagePlus Chase primary credit Cardmembers will be eligible for their applicable free standard checked bag(s) 2 weeks after account opening.
Offer subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.
Can I get both by status benefit and the credit card benefit?
No, the benefits do not stack. The best way to think about it is the first / second bag fees are waived, and you only have one "first" bag. Also addressed in above T&Cs.
If my ticket has a bag allowance doe the card benefit provide additional allowance?
No, the benefits do not stack. The best way to think about it is the first / second bag fees are waived, and if the ticket has no fee, the waiver provides no additional benefit, . Also addressed in above T&Cs
Will I get the checked-bag benefit on an UA issued award ticket if I pay the out-of-pocket costs (tax, TSA fee) with a qualifying Chase UA card?
Yes, assuming you meet the other requirements (cardholder's MP number is on the same PNR, etc.).
Is third bag fee at the original fee or charged at what was the first bag fee?
The higher bag fees are unchanged when first and/or second bag fees are waived.
Do Basic Economy fares change the bag waiver?
No - see Introducing Basic Economy
And MP branded Chase cardholders will be exempt from the BE carry-on & boarding group restrictions
If I am a Chase MP branded cardholder but used a different card to purchase the ticket, will I still get the bag waiver?
No
But some have found if you purchase E+ access with the Chase MP branded card, you will then received the bag waiver
If I cancel the card after booking but before travel, will I still get the waiver?
No, the T&Cs state the card must be active at the time of travel.
How do I get the checked bag fee waiver when checking in with a partner airline, such as a codeshare?
Checked bag fee waiver only applies when checking in with UA. Codeshare/partner airlines will not provide the checked bag waiver benefits based on being a primary cardholder of a Chase MP card.
What if I purchase the UA ticket on a third party site using the Chase MP card?
This is a YMMV situation. It depends on how the 3rd party handles its billings. Reports are the Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity ... bookings will received the bag allowance waiver at check-in.
What if I forgot to use the Chase MP card for the original purchase?
Certain additional items, such as E+ access seem to trigger the bag waiver.
Recent reports suggest this no longer works.
I have a new Chase MP card, how can I tell UA knows this?
This takes a week or two to be fully acknowledged in the system
Go to https://www.united.com/en/us/account
At the top look for "Mileage Balance" and just below that "Exp. xx/xx/xxxx" with a "?" in a circle. Click on the "?".
A popup should mention the being a MileagePlus CC holder and your miles will not expire. This signifies the MP account and CC have been properly linked.
Archive thread: Mileage Plus Branded Credit Card and Checked Baggage Fees {Archive}
Mileage Plus Branded Credit Card and Checked Baggage Fees
Jun 7, 2023, 1:27 pm
#121
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,858
The traveler must be a Cardmember at the time of check-in in order to be eligible for free checked bags.
Jun 8, 2023, 9:32 am
#122
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 299
UA b econ with Travel Bank and partial with wife UA CC for free baggage
Hi,
Trying to book flight to GCM Basic Economy with my Travel Bank funds. Trying to avoid checked baggage fees. I no longer have a United card but my wife still has one. Can I book the trip on my account with 99% travel bank funds and the remainder with her United card to qualify for free checked baggage? Any thoughts on this? I have never used the free checked bags feature from CC. Thanks! I also notice I cant add baggage at time of booking flight. I have to add it only within My Trip. which does not show a discount etc.
Trying to book flight to GCM Basic Economy with my Travel Bank funds. Trying to avoid checked baggage fees. I no longer have a United card but my wife still has one. Can I book the trip on my account with 99% travel bank funds and the remainder with her United card to qualify for free checked baggage? Any thoughts on this? I have never used the free checked bags feature from CC. Thanks! I also notice I cant add baggage at time of booking flight. I have to add it only within My Trip. which does not show a discount etc.
Last edited by ddavid1101; Jun 8, 2023 at 9:39 am
Jun 8, 2023, 11:19 am
#123
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,280
Hi,
Trying to book flight to GCM Basic Economy with my Travel Bank funds. Trying to avoid checked baggage fees. I no longer have a United card but my wife still has one. Can I book the trip on my account with 99% travel bank funds and the remainder with her United card to qualify for free checked baggage? Any thoughts on this? I have never used the free checked bags feature from CC. Thanks! I also notice I cant add baggage at time of booking flight. I have to add it only within My Trip. which does not show a discount etc.
Trying to book flight to GCM Basic Economy with my Travel Bank funds. Trying to avoid checked baggage fees. I no longer have a United card but my wife still has one. Can I book the trip on my account with 99% travel bank funds and the remainder with her United card to qualify for free checked baggage? Any thoughts on this? I have never used the free checked bags feature from CC. Thanks! I also notice I cant add baggage at time of booking flight. I have to add it only within My Trip. which does not show a discount etc.
Jun 28, 2023, 8:44 am
#124
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Independent
Posts: 470
I am no wondering if I upgrade the card to the explorer card if I would get baggage fees wavied?
All three of us will have bags (maybe could squeeze it into two - but it is a ski trip which is always baggage heavy). My questions.
1. If we are able to upgrade the card, would we get free bags? if so, just for two of us, not all three- correct?
All three of us will have bags (maybe could squeeze it into two - but it is a ski trip which is always baggage heavy). My questions.
1. If we are able to upgrade the card, would we get free bags? if so, just for two of us, not all three- correct?
Jul 25, 2023, 11:40 am
#125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,722
Unfortunatey true.. I was hoping to save baggage fees for my kids who are now old enough to travel on their own. But it appears UA, DL, and AS (haven't checked AA) limit this benefit to flights where the primary cardholder is traveling. So basically useless to me, even I get get AU cards for my kids. Another reason to dump airline CCs and to put my kids on WN flights.
Aug 10, 2023, 5:13 pm
#126
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 29
Quick Question, I booked a United flight around 5 months ago for next week and used miles and paid the taxes with a United Mileage Plus Business Credit card which gives a free checked bag. However, since then I had to cancel the card and don't have it anymore. Do I still get a free checked bag?
Aug 10, 2023, 5:20 pm
#127
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Aug 20, 2023, 10:31 am
#128
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 29
I had the same situation, and the system did not charge me for the checked baggage even though I had cancelled the card before the flight. So it seems like as of now the system is not enforcing the fact that you are supposed to have the card active at the time of travel.
Aug 21, 2023, 7:00 pm
#130
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 29
Or the system is enforcing that rule, but there’s a significant lag between canceling with Chase & that information being conveyed to UA.
It would useful to know how soon after cancellation the “cardmember” badge disappears from one’s My United page, as I suspect that’s the point at which the free-bag benefit drops off.
It would useful to know how soon after cancellation the “cardmember” badge disappears from one’s My United page, as I suspect that’s the point at which the free-bag benefit drops off.
Aug 30, 2023, 5:43 pm
#132
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 403
No 2nd Free Bag with Quest When Using FFC + Addt’l with Quest?
Purchased domestic Y O/W using FFC + Quest (for ticket cost above FFC).
Bag allowance only shows 1 Bag, not 2. I'm lowly Silver
What is best strategy for getting the second free bag? Or does the entire ticket need to be purchased with Quest? I don’t think so.
Bag allowance only shows 1 Bag, not 2. I'm lowly Silver
What is best strategy for getting the second free bag? Or does the entire ticket need to be purchased with Quest? I don’t think so.
Aug 30, 2023, 8:48 pm
#133
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,858
Aug 31, 2023, 3:12 pm
#134
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 29
I had a similar situation when flying with my mother. I had the United Business card and it only gave me the free bag but not my mother. When I got the airport, they told me there was nothing they could do and that I should pay for the bag and then file with United to get a refund after the flight. The day after the flight, I filed for the refund and United gave me the refund within 24 hours.