Trish Paulson Walter

what is cheapest I can do ...
we will have 5 carry-ons...we thought we would then take 1 big suitcase for full size toiletries...but now since we have to check even carry-ons perhaps we don't...ideas to make it least expensive...should I try to cram all clothes into 2 large suitcases [<50lbs]....

there are 5 flights! 2 there 3 back...don't want to spend $22 per person for 5 flights each to sit near each other...I thought it was worth the 'deal' to have 2 connections on way back...ha!!


feel so bad....i am such a planner and knew that southwest and allegient you had to worry about but didn't realize united etc. were now going that crappy route where you think you're getting a deal but you're not...

any help appreciated...

Trish

cfischer

There is not much you can do unless there is a major schedule change and they let you do a refund, else with BE you are stuck with what you booked. Not sure how you missed it, it is very clearly and repeatedly spelled out.
You can still take a large backpack each which can fit under the seat in front of you; you can plan with that. Else checking 2 large suitcases sounds like your best bet.
Flights to Hawaii are often very full; if not you might be able to find a sympathetic agent to try and seat you together as close as possible ... but don't count on it.
Elite status is the only way I am aware of to get the carry-on bag fee waived for BE.

Trish Paulson Walter

Good to know about backpacks.

Assuming we check our bags online? WE can do large suitcases ? I guess I have to measure.

I know it's my mistake I'm just trying to figure out what I can do to best not spend $500 more on $3500 in tickets that I've already spent...you know.

It was spelled out in an email after I booked but kind of like 'there are restrictions'...and I thought..hmmm. maybe it's like Southwest with the seating...how you have to wait and get A B or C...didn't think we wouldn't be near each other [at least 2 and 2 and 1]...didn't even cross min mind about the luggage, etc. I thought only Allegiant was horrible charging $50 per suitcase.....
Then I read about it a month or so ago and thought I need to figure this out sometime...kept putting it off cause what can I do really... obviously I need to pay more attention before I book next time WHO I book with.

WineCountryUA

Welcome to FT!, Trish Paulson Walter
Check into the cost of FedEx / UPS instead of paid check luggage
UA will be $30/ first check bag per passenger, each way.

You will be the last boarding group and many times there will be no overhead space, so the one personal item you are allow will have to go under the seat in front of you

Short of spending money, you will just have to wait and see what happens. You could go about and ask people to move but will warn you in advance that will not get a positive reaction on this forum.


You may want to be careful posting, in true name, on a public forum, too much travel info and that you will be away.

cfischer

You can check-in and pay for suitcases that are within the UA size limits. There are limits, but I have rather large ones and they are all still within. It will likely be the most economical solution

jsloan

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

As you've noted, you're basically out of options. You're going to be charged on a per-bag basis, so you want to use as few pieces of luggage as you can manage, at 50 pounds or below. Don't forget to leave room for souvenirs on the way back.

Unfortunately, all of the airlines are going essentially the same route -- except for Southwest, actually. The specific restrictions differ by airline, and they really expect you to do a lot of work to educate yourself.

In this case, though, you will likely come out ahead by booking Basic Economy compared to regular economy, because you probably won't need to check 5 pieces of luggage. The price mark-up between regular and basic economy is often about the same (or sometimes more than) the cost of the first piece of checked luggage. Don't beat yourself up. You didn't get as great of a deal as you thought, but it's going to work out OK... and you're going to Hawaii.

It's easy to miss if you don't book directly through United.

Backpacks will usually not get measured unless you go way overboard -- but if you carry a handbag or purse, you'll need to put it inside the backpack or that will still count as two items.

Unless you have extremely large, lightweight items to check, you'll run into the weight limit well before you'd run into the size limit on the suitcase. The maximum size is 62 linear inches (length + width + height), which generally works out to about a 27" suitcase -- 27x19x14 is 60 linear inches.

airsupply

How long is the trip? Can you get by with less toiletries or just buy a few things there?
Pack light. Leave half of stuff your were planning to take at home, you won't miss it. Two 50 lbs bags each ($ 120 total)and 5 backpacks full is a lot to lug around.
Check in at T 24 and keep checking for open seats.
Make sure your kids download the united app. so they can watch movies on the tablets.
Relax and enjoy your trip.

Often1

It is a little unclear, but presuming that those really are connections and thus each passenger is on a single ticket, it will only cost $30 to check a bag in each direction, not per segment. As there are 5 of you, you may each check a bag for $30. If you had to check 2 bags, that would be a total of $120 for the 2 bags round-trip.

Trish Paulson Walter

Appreciate the tips. We are measuring our big bags now to see if we can do 2 bags + 5 backpacks. Yes concerned about souvenirs but we'll just limit the size now. lol.

Great tip for luggage, downloading app and checking in at 24 hours...so helpful.

Trish

spin88

OP:

(a) sorry about your situation. I find BE to be a horrible thing. In my case I have elite status, but to use it, I have to pay more for my ticket. So I don't just lose my carry on bag, I lose a decent seat and my elite benefits. So there is now two levels of pricing, once for those who are going to get nothing from UA to start with, the other for those of us who would like to use the elite benefits that "we earned". But

(b) while some may say "everyone does this" as in a lot of customer facing things, UA is positively the most crappy UA airline. If you buy a BE on Delta, you can bring your roll-on bag for free. I.e. Delta would not have made you check your carry-on, charging you $30 each way. If you buy BE on American, you can bring your roll-on bag for free. And note that this is a change, they initially made you pay like UA, but it was so customer unfriendly they ended up losing business, and changed the policy. If you fly Alaska, even on the BE fare (which is hard to find) you can bring your roll-on bag for free. If you fly Hawaiian, well they are adding a BE fare, but like Delta, American, and Alaska will allow you to bring on a roll-away suitcase (22").

So United, as in many things, is the most cruddy, worst, most money grabbing United States flagged carrier, when it comes to Basic Economy fare.

and P.s. I do not mean this as an endorsement of American Airlines, which is becoming a truly wretched carrier, rolling out seats and airplanes that are - hard to believe, but true - actually worse than what United offers - but at least they don't charge you to take a bag on the plane with BE.

Trish Paulson Walter

Thanks all. good tips.

Jimmie Jet

Trish Paulson Walter

questions. If you check a bag you can check-in online.

Is this worth the $300 for all 5 of us to check bags? Would we have a better shot at some sitting together?

Or is there no benefit other than no line?

Can we still upgrade to regular Economy? If so, would we be allowed seat assignments and bags? Thanks.

WineCountryUA

BE customers (non-elites / non-credit cardholders) have to check-in in-person.

Only you can answer that.
No, but as check-in the bags, try to see what you can do about seating.
BE customers (non-elites / non-credit cardholders) have to check-in in-person.

No, But you may be able to purchase advance seat assignment. too late to do anything about bags

DenverBrian

No benefit other than no line, and depending on your departure point, you'll have some kind of line, long or short, to deposit your bags in any case (unless you drop them off curbside). I'd plan on being scattered throughout the plane in middle seats. One of the great curses of BE and more than one traveler.

Looks like no, according to others with more knowledge.