Features > Air Travel > Airline Checked Baggage Fees
It is silly season again with the Airlines and their fees. I want all airlines to turn a profit like only a couple of them do but instead of just raising ticket prices and lowering the do-nothing-suits million dollar salaries, they are at it again and getting more creative than ever ( See this post for more recent schemes ). For a while they were only charging heavily packed travelers. Now, you'll have to pay to check your luggage no matter what. (Southwest gives you two bags free while JetBlue still gives you one freebie.) I've outlined the latest baggage fees for the major US airlines below. Like your flight, the fees are subject to change at any time without much notice but I will do my best to keep this up to date. I also provide their official policy sheets here. Bookmark this page for future reference.
If you just do carry-on, you're okay and it won't (yet) cost any more cash.
The negative is that it may cost you more and in other ways. Also, more people will be trying to take more stuff onto the airplane to avoid the fees. This means the on board compartments will be even more full and you'll have to wait longer for people to deal with all their stuff. More items will probably be taken away from you as you board the plane as well if you don't board early. I'm not sure how they will charge for these gate checks or if they'll just leave your stuff on the tarmac if you don't have money on you. Now that you are paying specifically for each bag to come with you on the plane, I think airlines will hear more valid complaints and charge backs when it doesn't make it. This extra hassle may even eat up some of the profit that they make from it.
The transactions are separate from your ticket, either online or at the airport, so it probably messes up your rewards calculations as well. No longer will you have a completely free ticket unless you just do carry-on.
Fees are each way so double them for your round-trip. The airline name goes to the main page of their official website while the last line for each brand goes to their baggage policy page so you can read more and get the latest details.
First bag: $15
Second bag: $25
Additional bags: $100, 7th bag and more is $150
Overweight bags: 51-100lbs $50
Oversize bags: 63-80 linear inches: $50 or 81-115 inches: $75
Alaska Airlines Baggage Fee Policy
First bag: $20
Second bag: $30
Additional bags: $100, 6th bag and more is $200
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $50 or 71-100lbs: $100
Oversize bags: 63 linear inches and over: $150
American Airlines Baggage Fee Policy
First bag: $20 ($15 if paid online)
Second bag: $30 ($25 if paid online, $50 for overseas travel)
Additional bags: $125, 4th bag to 10th bag is $200 each
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $90 or 71-100lbs: $175 ($150/$300 outside US)
Oversize bags: 63-80 linear inches: $175
Delta Airlines Baggage Fee Policy
First bag: $15
Second bag: $25
Additional bags: $50
Overweight bags: 51-100lbs $75
Oversize bags: 63-80 linear inches: $75
Frontier Airlines Baggage Fee Policy
First bag: $0
Second bag: $20
Additional bags: $75
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $50 or 71-99lbs: $100
Oversize bags: 63-80 linear inches: $75
JetBlue Airlines Baggage Fee Policy
First bag: $20 ($15 if paid online)
Second bag: $30 ($25 if paid online, $50 for overseas travel)
Additional bags: $125, 4th bag to 10th bag is $200 each
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $90 or 71-100lbs: $175 ($150/$300 outside US)
Oversize bags: 63-80 linear inches: $175
Northwest Airlines Baggage Policy
First bag: $19
Second bag: $25
Additional bags up to 5: $100
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $50 or 71-99lbs: $100
Oversize bags: 62-79 linear inches: $100 or 80 and over inches: $150
Spirit Airlines Baggage Fee Policy
First bag: $0
Second bag: $0
Additional bags: $25, bags 4-9:$50, 10 and over:$110
Overweight bags: 51-70lbs $25 or 71-100lbs: $50
Oversize bags: 62-80 linear inches: $50
Southwest Airlines Baggage Fee Policy
First bag: $20 ($15 if paid online)
Second bag: $30 ($25 if paid online)
Additional bags: $125, 5th bag and more: $250
Overweight bags: $100
Oversize bags: 63-115 linear inches: $125
United Airlines Baggage Fee Policy
I also should mention my Travel Contacts and Resources page where I list all official websites and phone numbers for all forms of travel companies.
What do you think about the added fees? Tell everyone about any experiences you've had with them as well, lost luggage, etc.
Adam | Jul 26, 2009 | Category: Air Travel
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