Airline Baggage Fees Are Rising: 7 Ways To Avoid This Cost
Published March 27, 2024 at 10:26 am
If you’re planning to travel, it’s not just the cost of the flight and accommodations you need to worry about. Baggage fees can fly under the radar, but end up increasing the total cost of your trip without you even realizing it if you’re not careful. To make matters worse, inflation has hit baggage fees, with a number of major airlines raising fees to keep up with costs.
One by one, major airline carriers have increased baggage fees. At the beginning of the year, Alaska Airlines raised baggage fees. Then, like a domino effect, so did American Airlines, JetBlue, United Airlines, and most recently Delta Airlines.
If you want to skip this extra cost, here are seven ways to avoid paying airline baggage fees and a breakdown of current costs.
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Vault’s Viewpoint
- Airline baggage fees are the latest cost on the rise in 2024.
- Alaska, American, JetBlue, United and Delta Airlines raised baggage fees.
- There are ways to avoid baggage fees, including using a rewards credit card.
Airline Baggage Fees by Airline
Airline baggage fees by airline vary and can change based on several factors. For example, baggage fees are slightly lower on American Airlines at $35 instead of $40 if you pay online.
The same goes for United baggage fees which start at $35 if you prepay, but the standard is $40. Frontier baggage fees and Spirit baggage fees can vary by route. JetBlue baggage fees are different based on off-peak and peak timing and whether you pay for the checked bags more than 24 hours of departure or within 24 hours of departure.
Here you can see a screenshot of Spirit baggage fees for a flight from Los Angeles to New York from April 10 to April 16. Prices vary based on when the bag is checked and paid for and also by route.
Here are the top airline carriers’ baggage fees for domestic flights. These rates are based on luggage that meets both size and weight requirements set by each airline.
| Airline | Cost of first bag | Cost of second bag | Cost of third bag |
| Alaska baggage fees | $35 | $45 | $150 |
| American Airlines baggage fees | $35 to $40 | $45 | $150 |
| Delta baggage fees | $35 | $45 | $150 |
| Frontier baggage fees | $54 to $99 | $84 to $89 | $95 to $104 |
| JetBlue baggage fees | $35 to $50 | $50 to $70 | $125 to $135 |
| Southwest baggage fees | $0 | $0 | $125 |
| Spirit baggage fees | $47 to $99 | $69 to $99 | $98 to $100 |
| United baggage fees | $35 to $40 | $45 to $50 | $150 |
How To Avoid Airline Checked Bag Fees
While many of the airline baggage fees for checked bags are similar, the total amount can vary widely based on different factors. To help you skip these extra costs, here are seven ways to avoid airline checked bag fees.
1. Review the Fine Print
While airline baggage fees are going up, every airline has different rules and policies. Before booking a flight, review the fine print. Look at carry-on size dimensions and potential fees for checked bags. Typically, airlines will have different costs for the first bag versus the second bag and paying online versus the airport. Understanding these differences can help you avoid paying baggage fees, or at least minimize costs.
2. Commit To Carry-On
Baggage fees are airlines’ bread and butter, making up a staggering $6.8 billion in 2022, based on the most recent data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The easiest way to avoid airline baggage fees is to forego checked bags altogether and commit to carry-on. Many airlines offer complimentary carry-ons. Packing light, rolling your clothes and using packing cubes can help you fit what you need in a backpack or small bag. Just make sure it meets the airline’s dimension limits for carry-ons.
3. Consider an Airline Rewards Credit Card
If you have solid credit and pay off your balances by the due date, applying for an airline rewards credit card can unlock free checked bags. The downside is that many of these cards have annual fees attached to them. But if you travel more than once or twice a year, the fee can more than pay for itself with all the travel perks.
4. Try the Gate Check Loophole
When a flight is filled to the brim with passengers and luggage, airline staff may offer to check your bag at no cost at the gate check. This can be a great hack, but it’s by no means certain. Given the unpredictability, make sure your luggage meets the carry-on requirements.
5. Book Beyond Basic
Basic or economy fares typically charge passengers for checked bags. If you purchase an upgraded or premium ticket, you’ll get more amenities and typically get a free checked bag. Though it can cost more, it could be worth it depending on your travel preferences and budget.
6. Achieve Elite Status
Frequent flyers with loyalty to one airline may be able to achieve elite status and get free bags as one of the benefits. This may take some time and money, but if you fly a lot and join the airline’s reward program, you can add airline baggage fees to the list of things you won’t spend money on.
7. Fly Southwest Airlines
If you want free airline baggage fees without the fuss, fly Southwest Airlines. Passengers on Southwest get not one, but two free checked bags when flying with the airline, making the company an outlier as most other airlines increase baggage fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Airlines Raising Baggage Fees?
Airlines are raising baggage fees due to inflation and increased costs for labor and fuel. Some airlines, like JetBlue, are hiking up baggage fees to help increase profitability. The company said in a statement that the airline has been unprofitable since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Did JetBlue Increase Checked Bag Fees?
JetBlue increased checked bag fees by $10 starting February 1 for passengers flying within the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, flying at off-peak periods and checking in within 24 hours. JetBlue baggage fees for these passengers are now $45 for the first bag and $60 for the second bag.
What Airline Does Not Charge for Checked Bags?
Southwest Airlines stands out from other airlines as the company doesn’t charge for the first two checked bags if they meet weight and size requirements. The two checked bags must not be more than 50 pounds or 62 inches.
How Do I Avoid Paying Baggage Fees on Spirit Airlines?
Discount airline carrier Spirit Airlines charges passengers for checked bags and carry-ons. To avoid paying baggage fees on Spirit Airlines, you have a few options. You can fit everything into a personal item like a small backpack that fits the 18 x 14 x 8 inches requirement. Frequent flyers on Spirit who reach Free Spirit Gold® Status can also avoid paying baggage fees. Lastly, military members can score two free checked bags and a personal item on Spirit Airlines.
Article Sources
At Newsweek Vault, our team of dedicated writers and editors are not just experts in their respective fields but also committed to delivering content that meets the highest standards of journalistic integrity. We analyze primary sources, including peer-reviewed studies, authoritative government sites and insights from leading industry professionals and ensure that every piece of information is researched, fact-checked and presented with accuracy and relevance.
- Bureau of Transportation Statistics. United States Department of Transportation. Accessed on March 27, 2024.
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