United Airlines adds bundled perks packages to Economy Plus

Travelers purchasing extra legroom Economy Plus seats on United Airlines can now add on extra perks by purchasing one of the Chicago-based carrier’s new bundled travel options packages.

Dubbed “Economy Plus Essentials” and “Economy Plus Enhanced,” the new packages join bundled products offered by American, Delta and JetBlue and promise savings on amenities that will provide “more comfort, convenience and relaxation.”

Economy Plus Essentials offers travelers Economy Plus seating plus an extra standard checked bag.

Economy Plus Enhanced includes the Economy Plus Essentials perks (Economy Plus seating and an extra standard checked bag) and adds on Premier Access (special check-in lines, access to special security lanes, plus priority boarding and baggage handling), a United Club trip pass and extra award miles (500 extra award miles for travel entirely within the 48 continental United States or 1,000 extra award miles on tickets for other travel.)

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Both packages are sold by direction of travel and United claims that they offer savings of “up to 20%” on perks purchased separately in the “Essentials” package and “up to 25%” savings in the “Enhanced” package.

United added the new Economy Plus bundles during the Christmas holiday week.

"After their flights, customers who sit in Economy Plus consistently report higher levels of satisfaction — including with parts of the travel experience outside of the aircraft," said airline spokesman Rahsaan Johnson. "By launching the product bundles shortly after the launch of the new united.com, we hope to make Economy Plus access easier and more attractive."

As you may imagine, there are terms, conditions and wrinkles to consider and benefit programs with overlapping perks that may make figuring out whether to purchase a package too complicated.

For example, if you are traveling on a reservation with other people, you can’t purchase an Economy Plus Essentials or Enhanced package for just one person in the group. Many travelers already get some of the package benefits another way, through their Premier Member status, via a credit card, or through a United baggage, Economy Plus or United Club subscription, so purchasing an Economy Plus Essentials or Enhanced package may not offer frequent travelers good value.

But the new packages may be of interest to travelers who don’t usually get access to these upgraded perks.

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Harriet Baskas is a Seattle-based airports and aviation writer and USA TODAY Travel's "At the Airport" columnist. She occasionally contributes to Ben Mutzabaugh's Today in the Sky blog. Follow her at twitter.com/hbaskas.