United plans to raise business-travel fares

UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, the world's second-largest carrier, said it's increasing business-travel fares and ticket-change fees to offset fuel costs.

United is requiring Saturday-night stays in about 65 percent of markets it serves, said company spokeswoman Robin Urbanski in an e-mail. That means higher fares for business travelers who don't spend weekends on the road, said David Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association.

U.S. airlines have been adding fees, cutting capacity and raising fares to cope with jet-fuel prices that have risen 80 percent in the last year. United's fee for passengers to change tickets will rise to $150 from $100, Urbanski said.