If you are a United frequent flyer, you will escape the extra fee.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52481,00.html
Domestic baggage information
United is announcing a new checked bag policy for customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets. Customers purchasing nonrefundable domestic economy tickets who do not have status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee. Customers who have attained Premier status or higher in Mileage Plus or who have Silver status and above with a Star Alliance partner, are exempt from this policy change. The new policy applies to tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008. Please view the Domestic baggage questions for additional details on this policy.
All customers traveling on United may check at least one free bag. The number of free bags allowed per customer will vary according to your Mileage Plus status and/or the type of ticket purchased. The tables below highlight the number of bags that customers can check free of charge:
Tickets purchased before or after February 4, 2008 for travel before May 5, 2008:
Mileage Plus status / Type of ticket Free bag allowance Maximum weight
Non-members or General Members of Mileage Plus on non-refundable Economy fares 2 50 lbs/23kg
All First or Business class customers / All Economy class customers on refundable fares / All Premier and Premier Associate Mileage Plus members on any fare 2 50 lbs/23kg each
Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Gold members on any fare 3 70 lbs/32kg each
Tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008, for travel on or after May 5, 2008:
Mileage Plus status / Type of ticket Free bag allowance Maximum weight
Non-members or General Members of Mileage Plus on non-refundable Economy fares 1 50 lbs/23kg
All First or Business class customers / All Economy class customers on refundable fares / All Premier and Premier Associate Mileage Plus members on any fare 2 50 lbs/23kg each
Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Gold members on any fare 3 70 lbs/32kg each
The maximum size of each checked bag is 62 inches/158cm (length + width + height)
Each checked bag must have the name of the person traveling on the outside of the bag
United recommends that you arrive at the airport 90 minutes prior to departure to complete the check-in process
Baggage must be checked at the airport at least 30 minutes in advance of flight departure time except for the following airports which have a 45 minute cut-off time for baggage check-in:
Atlanta, Georgia (ATL)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL)
Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT) Phoenix, Arizona (PHX)
Chicago, Illinois O'Hare (ORD)
Portland, Oregon (PDX)
Denver, Colorado (DEN) Reno, NV (RNO)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (YEG)
Sacramento, California (SMF)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (YHZ) Santa Ana (Orange County), California (SNA)
Indianapolis, Indiana (IND)
Seattle, Washington (SEA)
Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS) San Francisco, California (SFO)
Los Angeles, California (LAX)
Tampa, Florida (TPA)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, (YUL) Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
New York, New York John F. Kennedy (JFK)
Washington DC Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Orlando, Florida (MCO)
So just become a frequent flyer member, it's free after all.
Dave