Earlier this week, JetBlue announced it would raise the fees it charges for checked bags “due to the rising cost of fuel.” We anticipated that all major US carriers would eventually follow in short order, similar to what happened in 2020, the last time bag fees went up across the board. That’s exactly what happened, and it didn’t even take the rest of the week.
Today, Alaska became the last of the big US carriers to announce it would increase the price of checked bags, making the first week of April an official bagpocolypse.
Summary of new checked bag fees
The following chart shows the current bag fees for major American airlines. When there are two numbers, the first indicates the cost when purchasing in advance of check-in, and the second price is for payment at the airport:
| Carrier | 1st Bag | 2nd Bag | 3rd Bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $45 | $55 | $200 |
| American | $45/$50 | $55/$60 | $200 |
| Delta | $45 | $55 | $200 |
| JetBlue Off-Peak | $39/$49 | $59/$69 | $125 |
| JetBlue Peak | $49/$59 | $69/$79 | $135 |
| Southwest | $45 | $55 | $200 |
| United | $45/$50 | $55/$60 | $200 |
Quick Thoughts
There are three constants in life: death, taxes, and airlines rushing to follow each other’s fee increases like an old-school Black Friday door rush. In this case, each carrier raised the cost of the first and second bags by $5-$10, while that cursed third bag goes up by even more, hitting a whopping $200 (except for JetBlue)
Each airline cites increases in fuel costs as the reason this is necessary. However, there’s no reason that checked bag prices need to go up. A temporary fuel surcharge or bag surcharge would accomplish the same thing. However, these increases are here to stay, regardless of what happens with fuel prices. Absolutely no one expects them to eventually go back down. They’re here to stay.
It also serves the dual purpose of making the airline’s various and sundry credit cards even more appealing, as they often waive the first checked bag fee. For a family of four with multiple checked bags, that could now be a savings of something approaching $200.
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The problem with all of these bag fees is that it just makes travel more uncomfortable, and increases the trouble and time getting the plane loaded. It makes travel difficult and inefficient, just so airlines can make a bit more money on the margins. That’s why these kinds of increases make me angry, even though with my main airlines I don’t pay bag fees due to credit cards. I still hate it. We should be encouraging checked bags so we can all get on the plane quickly and not lose runway slots and end up with delays. Air travel could be so luxurious and pleasant with just a small number of little changes.
I mean, just to spell it out, more carry on bags means: longer security lines, longer lines getting on the plane, more delayed departures, more time getting OFF the plane, less space for your legs on the plane. Even if I go on a trip where I don’t want to wait for checked bags, by having OTHER people check more bags, I’m still getting off the plane and to my destination much quicker. Really the only downside is bag check lines, which aren’t so bad these days with the kiosks and automated booths. Other than that plane travel would be just overall nicer if people checked most things.
If an airline wanted to be ‘different’ by being customer-focused, they’d introduce a refund policy if bags are late. Not Delta’s 20min policy late, but if they don’t show up on the flight you take.
I don’t know why they don’t do this already – I paid for a service (checked bag delivery) and it didn’t arrive as promised. Oh wait, greed.
I travel with a bicycle almost everywhere I go. I’m glad all these airlines now count bicycles as a standard checked bag. They used to charge extra, but all got rid of that in the late teens. So I guess that’s at least one example of airlines reducing fees for a (specific type of) checked bag.
Given how crowded overhead bins have become, I’m a little surprised the big three (Delta, United, and American) haven’t started charging for carry-on luggage yet. I think it is only a matter of time before we start seeing them charge for carry-on bags.
When this pending downturn really takes effect, people will stay home (because, usually rising costs, reduces demand, etc.), and then these airlines come begging for bailouts…
We. Need. Meaningful. Worker. And. Consumer. Protections. Think EU261, but for the US. Bringing back Rule 240. And more.
If our elected representatives are just gonna give away billions of dollars (grants) with no strings attached… it’ll just be more stock buybacks, excessive executive bonuses, and layoffs, all while higher fares and silly fees remain.
“How many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?”
“I’m never flying again”
Any stats on what percentage of people actually pay these bag fees? I’m a zillion mile traveller, and have never paid a domestic checked bag fee. Who would? It’s generally not a good idea to travel with all your household possessions. A carry on and “personal item” should be more than enough luggage for any normal human, and it’s a hassle to cart more than that with you anyway.
I could see some special reasons to check bags (camping, transporting wine, etc) but those would be pretty uncommon, and wouldn’t really be “worth it” if you didn’t get those checked bags for free.
I do agree that this will encourage more credit card signups to waive bag fees as there will be some humans who disagree with my assessment of “necessary” luggage.
Many people travel with kids and checking bags is almost inevitable
It’s definitely quite doable. We travel with three kids (currently 13, 10, and 7) and we don’t ever check. Just went to the Galapagos and even brought snorkels and masks for all of us, plus all our sunscreen (in travel containers) and still managed to do carry on only. We had 3 carry on roller bags, 1 carry on sized backpack, and we each had a personal item, so since there were five of us we still could have brought one more carry on bag.
Easier at those ages. In the newborn to 4 crowd diapers, wipes, pullups, formula, bottles, stroller, snacks, even a portable crib are all desirable.
If the child is 2 or under and flying as a lap infant then you’re trying to squeeze everything into the allocation for 1 person.
If a child is 7, then has a ticket to himself, agreed, shouldn’t be too hard. You’re dealing with a smaller person with a smaller mass of clothes and fewer things needed generally.
19 million people went on a cruise in 2024. Most people check bags for such a trip (source: watched people stack bags outside their cabin on last day of cruise).
People travel to weddings and other celebrations and bring formal clothing. Just shoes alone may ruin the carry-on-only plan. Cramming a suit into a carry-on usually isn’t a good idea.
Beach vacation in Hawaii where people bring snorkels, fins, towels, …
I rarely check bags, but those are some situations where I do check bags. I haven’t paid a fee in the U.S. either thanks to status or credit card.
My kind of people. 🙂 Yeah, I’ve travelled with young kids and never paid a bag fee either. I will say that, overseas, this is not always possible as some airlines only give you the personal item, and others limit you to 7 kg (not realistic for a full size carryon. But, in those situations, the foreign bag fees are almost always cheaper than in the US (perhaps not EasyJet in the UK, which I avoid for this reason).
For US travellers, unless you truly need special gear, it’s unnecessary. Cruises? Ridiculous. They’re very casual these days, and you can easily take a week’s wardrobe in the carryon allowance. Most ships even have laundry machines. And you get off the ship way faster with carryon. Weddings? Harder, but I’d make it work before I gave an airline $100 to carry my suit.
With little kids? I mean, yes you can avoid bag fees, but that’s sounds like a horrible way to travel for a long trip — two little kids, four backpacks and rollaboards that parents have to push? It’s hard enough checking bags, and having two large ones and a car seat bag for long trips. Even when they’re teenagers it doesn’t sound especially pleasant to all have carry-ons through security. To be fair, it’s worse for us because we tend to do complex travel with multiple flights and destinations, so if you’re going one single place and hotel I can see that being more acceptable.
The problem with all of these bag fees is that it just makes travel more uncomfortable, and increases the trouble and time getting the plane loaded. It makes travel difficult and inefficient, just so airlines can make a bit more money on the margins. That’s why these kinds of increases make me angry, even though with my main airlines I don’t pay bag fees due to credit cards. I still hate it. We should be encouraging checked bags so we can all get on the plane quickly and not lose runway slots and end up with delays.
Also in my experience when they have those 7 kg limits, the bag fees are often also pretty high these days, often higher than the US actually. Just came back from one such trip and paid a significant amount in bag fees. Of course it depends on the airline — if you pay more for expensive non-budget flights you might avoid high fees, but that adds up for a family of four. One trick you can use is put stuff in a car seat bag, but our car seats were always very big so what you can put in there is limited.