Oil prices surge we cannot bear! United Airlines (UAL.US) raises baggage fees, Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN.US) adds fuel surcharge, cost shift wave hits.

As global energy market fluctuations intensify, the skyrocketing transportation costs are quickly spreading to consumers, leading to a collective wave of price adjustments in the aviation and logistics industry. Among them, United Airlines (UAL.US) officially announced this Friday that, influenced by the continued rise in fuel prices, they will increase the checked baggage fees for domestic and some international routes in the United States. Starting April 3, 2026, passengers flying with United Airlines to destinations within the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Latin America will see a $10 increase in fees for the first and second checked baggage. Specifically, if a passenger pre-pays at least 24 hours before departure, the fee for the first bag will be increased to $45; if paid at the airport counter, it will be $50. United Airlines last increased checked baggage fees in 2024. Like other airlines, this move aims to address the recent sharp increase in airline fuel costs. According to data from the aviation industry organization "American Airlines Group Inc. Association" released by Argus, fuel prices in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York reached $4.56 per gallon on Wednesday, representing an increase of over 82% since the U.S. attack on Iran on February 28. United Airlines stated that this is a necessary measure to respond to the pressure of operating costs, but passengers holding specific co-branded credit cards or having elite membership status can still enjoy waived baggage fees. "United Airlines Chase credit card holders, MileagePlus Premier members, active duty military personnel, and passengers flying in premium cabins can still check one piece of baggage for free, and in most markets, if passengers prepay baggage fees online at least 24 hours before flight departure, they can still enjoy a $5 discount," United Airlines said. At the same time, e-commerce giant Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN.US) has also responded to the surge in logistics costs. Amazon.com, Inc. officially announced that starting April 17, 2026, third-party sellers using their fulfillment services (FBA) will be charged a 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge. This policy not only covers FBA sellers operating in the United States and Canada but will also be extended to multi-channel distribution and related services used with "Prime" starting from May 2. Although Amazon.com, Inc. stated that this move is also in response to the abnormal fluctuations in fuel prices caused by political risks related to GEO Group Inc., this marks a structural adjustment in platform delivery costs, with an average increase of approximately $0.17 in logistics expenses per item. "The rise in fuel and logistics costs has pushed up operating costs across the industry." Amazon.com, Inc. spokesperson Ashley Vanasek said in a statement on Thursday, "We have previously absorbed this cost increase, but like other major carriers, when costs remain high, we will implement temporary surcharges to partially offset the costs." It is understood that over 60% of the products on the Amazon.com, Inc. platform come from independent merchants who pay sales commissions and storage and distribution fees to Amazon.com, Inc. Analysts point out that due to limited profit margins for sellers, this incremental cost is likely to ultimately be passed on to customers through higher prices. Vanasek added that the fee will be based on the freight charged by Amazon.com, Inc., not the selling price of the goods, and the level of this fee is "significantly lower" than fees charged by other carriers. This series of pricing adjustments reflects the severe pressure the current supply chain is under and is not an isolated event. In the aviation sector, United Airlines is the second major airline to raise service fees recently following JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU.US), demonstrating the return of fuel surcharges across the civil aviation industry. In the express logistics field, the United States Postal Service (USPS) also announced that it will impose an 8% fuel surcharge starting on April 26, and this surcharge is expected to continue until early 2027. With the average gasoline price in the United States jumping from $2.99 per gallon to the $4 per gallon mark in just a month, businesses are trying to hedge risks through more flexible fee structures. Although individual companies like Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV.US) still adhere to their existing free policies, the trend of cost transfer seems unlikely to reverse in the short term in the face of persistently high energy prices.