United Airlines has joined other airlines in revising tiers with multiple ways.
The airline announced April 3 it will introduce “base, standard and flexible fare options for United Polaris and United Premium Plus customers traveling on long-haul international, transcontinental U.S. and select Hawaii flights, joining the existing basic, standard and flexible fares in United Economy cabins.”
The airlines said, “Customers can select options related to seat selection, checked bags, refundable tickets, and club and lounge access that best meet their preferences.” On select transcontinental U.S. and select longer Hawaii flights, the front cabin will be branded United Polaris and will include options to access the United Polaris lounge, United said. “The base category offers customers the lowest price point, the standard category offers perks like free seat selection, additional checked bags and the ability to make changes, and tickets in the flexible category are fully refundable and offer all the benefits included in standard tickets,” United said. The new options will be rolled out this year.
United is not waiting to increase charges on baggage. Most United passengers will now pay $10 more to check luggage. The airline said “… fees will go up by $10 for your first and second checked bag and $50 for your third checked bag in most markets,” according to the United website. Certain members such as MileagePlus Premier members can still check bags for free, according to the site.
In related news, the Marianas Visitors Authority said in an April 2 release it “welcomes a new policy direction being taken by Gov. David M. Apatang aimed at helping hotels and businesses operating on public lands remain viable during the Marianas’ ongoing tourism recovery.”
The administration is anticipated to make a formal announcement [the week of April 6] authorizing new flexibility for the Department of Public Lands to provide temporary relief and operational adjustments for public-land lessees, including hotels and tourism-related properties that have faced prolonged challenges due to reduced airline capacity and visitor arrival decline, MVA said. MVA further said the announcement “is anticipated to allow the department to implement flexible policies such as rent deferrals, quarterly payment schedules, and market-responsive lease adjustments to help stabilize businesses leasing public land.” In an April 6 release, MVA confirmed it signed an MOU on March 26 with Good Choice, one of Korea’s travel and leisure platforms, to launch joint marketing initiatives aimed at increasing arrivals to the Northern Mariana Islands.
The signing ceremony was attended by Jamie Kim, president and managing director of MVA Korea, and Yong Kyung Kim, brand director of Good Choice. Both organizations are to collaborate on joint marketing campaigns and digital content initiatives to promote Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Good Choice has produced a three-part YouTube series on its official channel Traveler_ttt, featuring Korean comedian Kwak Beom. The series, titled “No PTO: Weekend Escape,” showcases Kwak’s visit to Saipan and is being released on three consecutive Thursdays. Visitor arrivals to the Marianas totaled 15,495 in February, a 2% decrease compared to 15,802 visitors in February 2025. No word yet on the return of the U.S. Small Business Administration office in Guam, which also serves the NMI. James C. Moylan raised the need for the office at the end of April last year. Kimberlyn King-Hinds asked for an update at the end of March at a meeting of the Small Business Committee with the associate administrator for Field Operations of the SBA.
Nevertheless, Keith Stewart, president and CEO of Pacific Rim Constructors has been named the 2026 U.S. Small Business Person of the Year for Guam. mbj
The airline announced April 3 it will introduce “base, standard and flexible fare options for United Polaris and United Premium Plus customers traveling on long-haul international, transcontinental U.S. and select Hawaii flights, joining the existing basic, standard and flexible fares in United Economy cabins.”
The airlines said, “Customers can select options related to seat selection, checked bags, refundable tickets, and club and lounge access that best meet their preferences.” On select transcontinental U.S. and select longer Hawaii flights, the front cabin will be branded United Polaris and will include options to access the United Polaris lounge, United said. “The base category offers customers the lowest price point, the standard category offers perks like free seat selection, additional checked bags and the ability to make changes, and tickets in the flexible category are fully refundable and offer all the benefits included in standard tickets,” United said. The new options will be rolled out this year.
United is not waiting to increase charges on baggage. Most United passengers will now pay $10 more to check luggage. The airline said “… fees will go up by $10 for your first and second checked bag and $50 for your third checked bag in most markets,” according to the United website. Certain members such as MileagePlus Premier members can still check bags for free, according to the site.
In related news, the Marianas Visitors Authority said in an April 2 release it “welcomes a new policy direction being taken by Gov. David M. Apatang aimed at helping hotels and businesses operating on public lands remain viable during the Marianas’ ongoing tourism recovery.”
The administration is anticipated to make a formal announcement [the week of April 6] authorizing new flexibility for the Department of Public Lands to provide temporary relief and operational adjustments for public-land lessees, including hotels and tourism-related properties that have faced prolonged challenges due to reduced airline capacity and visitor arrival decline, MVA said. MVA further said the announcement “is anticipated to allow the department to implement flexible policies such as rent deferrals, quarterly payment schedules, and market-responsive lease adjustments to help stabilize businesses leasing public land.” In an April 6 release, MVA confirmed it signed an MOU on March 26 with Good Choice, one of Korea’s travel and leisure platforms, to launch joint marketing initiatives aimed at increasing arrivals to the Northern Mariana Islands.
The signing ceremony was attended by Jamie Kim, president and managing director of MVA Korea, and Yong Kyung Kim, brand director of Good Choice. Both organizations are to collaborate on joint marketing campaigns and digital content initiatives to promote Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Good Choice has produced a three-part YouTube series on its official channel Traveler_ttt, featuring Korean comedian Kwak Beom. The series, titled “No PTO: Weekend Escape,” showcases Kwak’s visit to Saipan and is being released on three consecutive Thursdays. Visitor arrivals to the Marianas totaled 15,495 in February, a 2% decrease compared to 15,802 visitors in February 2025. No word yet on the return of the U.S. Small Business Administration office in Guam, which also serves the NMI. James C. Moylan raised the need for the office at the end of April last year. Kimberlyn King-Hinds asked for an update at the end of March at a meeting of the Small Business Committee with the associate administrator for Field Operations of the SBA.
Nevertheless, Keith Stewart, president and CEO of Pacific Rim Constructors has been named the 2026 U.S. Small Business Person of the Year for Guam. mbj
