United Airlines, continuing on its quest to sell everything that isn’t bolted down, is rolling out a new way to check your bags: A $249/year subscription. And perhaps counterintuitively, I actually like this fee.

That is, I “like” this fee within the context of existing checked-baggage fees. Had that line not already been crossed, I would have been firmly opposed. But baggage fees are reality in American airspace, alas. (Southwest is still fee-free; JetBlue charges $20 for the second fee, but nothing for the first. Reward good behavior if you can.) But if you’re flying United, and you can’t fly with carry-on alone, then you’re looking at a fee.

And some — just some — people who would be paying that fee might benefit from this new program.

Dubbed Premier Bags, the deal will particularly appeal to tour groups on the same itinerary, or to a large family with lots of bags:

With Premier Baggage, you and up to eight companions traveling under the same confirmation number can check up to two standard bags each without fees, where applicable, every time you travel within the United States or internationally on United® or United Express® operated flights during the year.

The purchase of a Premier Baggage annual subscription does not waive fees that would ordinarily be assessed for oversized and overweight bags and does not cover the cost of checking more than two standard bags.

The deal seems better suited to large parties than to an individual who takes multiple trips. Since you pay $20 for the first bag and $30 for the second, an individual would have to take 5 trips with the full complement of two bags each just to break even. (Or, if you’re able to plan ahead and pay for your checked bags online, you get a $5 discount per bag. In which case even 6 trips with two bags each don’t quite break even.) Depending on your itineraries, you could be at Premier status before completing your five or six trips — after which you’d pay nothing for checked bags.

What concerns me is the phrasing: “introductory price.” If this is a trial balloon, then look for the price to go up to $299 or higher. It might — might! — still be a value for some people at that price, but that number of people will grow smaller and smaller.

So how does the $249 subscription grab you? Hit the comments.