Checking bags on a flight: How much does my airline charge?
Upfront disclosure of baggage fees was supposed to be mandatory this year, but for now, the rule Is blocked by a court
In the olden days (meaning less than 20 years ago,) it was free to check luggage on a flight. Airlines started charging for economic reasons; American Airlines became the first major company to institute a baggage fee in 2008 — a modest $15. The bonus for airlines: Revenues from baggage fees aren’t subject to the same 7.5% federal excise tax that airlines pay on domestic airfares.
Today, most airlines charge for checked bags, generally $35 to $40 for the first bag. Some charge for carry-on bags too, or prohibit them. Airlines generally don’t count diaper bags, breast milk supplies, child safety seats, strollers, wheelchairs, scooters and other medically necessary items as carry-ons or personal items.
The Department of Transportation in 2024 approved a new rule to require airlines and ticket agents to disclose up front the prices for the first two checked bags. It’s not about capping fees, just requiring transparency. The rule was blocked in court a few months before it was supposed to take effect in spring 2025. So implementation isn’t required for now. Of course, nothing prohibits airlines from voluntarily disclosing their baggage fees up front.
Checked bags at most airlines generally can’t exceed 50 pounds or 62 linear inches including wheels and handles or else there’s an extra fee. Frontier’s weight limit is 40 pounds. But the maximum dimensions allowed for carry-ons and personal items vary significantly.
As you’ll see, the budget airlines often have lower fares. But if you’re planning to check a bag or two, or even have a carry-on, you should read that airline’s policies. In many cases, baggage fees can make a flight on a discount carrier the same price or even more expensive than a flight with a competitor.
With Allegiant, for example, your personal item is free, but there’s a fee for your carry-on. At Frontier, for a hypothetical trip we priced, there’s a minimum $57 fee for your first checked bag and $57 for a carry-on, so $114 for a carry-on and checked bag. At Spirit, the carry-on and first checked bag are each $55. That’s $110 plus the plane ticket.
Here’s what prices were as of Feb. 16, for economy seating and travel within the United States:
Alaska Airlines
- First bag: $35
- Second bag: $45
- Carry-on fee: None
- Carry-on luggage maximum size: 22” x 14” x 9” or 45 linear inches, including wheels and handles.
- Carry-on luggage weight maximum: Not specified.
- Personal item fee: None
- Personal item maximum size: One personal item such as a purse, briefcase, laptop bag or medically necessary items.
Alaska Airlines baggage site
Allegiant
- First bag: Up to $35; exact fee depends on departure and arrival airports.
- Second bag: Up to $35; exact fee depends on departure and arrival airports.
- Carry-on fee: $15 to 75 depending on when reserved.
- Carry-on luggage maximum size: 22” x 14” x 9”
- Carry-on luggage weight maximum: Not specified
- Personal item fee: None
- Personal item maximum size: 16″ x 15″ x 7″ Must fit under seat in front of you. Examples include purse, briefcase, laptop computer, small backpack or small camera.
Allegiant’s baggage site
American
- First bag: $40, or $35 prepaid.
- Second bag: $45.
- Carry-on fee: None
- Carry-on maximum size: 22 x 14 x 9. A soft-sided garment bag can’t exceed 51 linear inches.
- Personal item fee: None
- Personal item maximum size: 18″ x 14″ x 8″
American’s baggage site
Delta
- First bag: $35.
- Second bag: $45
- Carry-on fee: None
- Carry-on maximum size: 22 x 14 x 9. Total linear size: 45 inches.
- Personal item fee: None
- Personal item maximum size: No specific dimensions. Must fit under seat in front of you. Allowed items include a purse, laptop bag or small backpack.
Frontier
Prices depend on travel dates and originating and destination airports. We plugged in Cleveland to Orlando round-trip, leaving Feb. 28, 2025 and returning March 7, 2025.
- First bag: $57 during booking, $74 before or at check in, $79 at the airport and $99 at the gate.
- Second bag: $77 during booking, $88 before or at check in, $94 at the airport or through a customer service agent.
- Carry-on fee: Price depends on travel dates and originating and destination airports. We plugged in Cleveland to Orlando round-trip, leaving Feb. 28, 2025 and returning March 7, 2025. The carry-on fee for this example: $57 when booking, $74 before check-in and $99 at the gate (if it exceeds allowed dimensions.)
- Carry-on maximum size: 24″ x 16″ x 10″
- Personal item fee: None.
- Personal item maximum size: 18″ x 14″ x 8″
Frontier’s baggage site
Hawaiian
- First bag: $40 ($30 to a neighboring island)
- Second bag: $45 ($40 to a neighboring island)
- Carry-on fee: None
- Carry-on maximum size: 24″ x 16″ x 10″; limited to 25 pounds.
- Personal item fee: None
- Personal item maximum size: No specific dimensions. Must fit under seat in front of you. Examples include a purse, briefcase, laptop computer or small backpack.
Hawaiian’s baggage site
Jetblue
- First bag: $35 off-peak, $40 peak. Both if reserved more than 24 hours before departure; otherwise $10 more.
- Second bag: $50 off-peak, $60 peak. Both if reserved more than 24 hours before departure; otherwise $10 more.
- Carry-on fee: None
- Carry-on maximum size: 22″ x 14″ x 9″ including wheels and handles.
- Personal item fee:
- Personal item maximum size: 17″ x 13″ x 8″ Must fit under the seat in front of you.
Jetblue’s baggage site
Southwest
- First bag: No extra charge.
- Second bag: No extra charge.
- Carry-on fee: None
- Carry-on maximum size:: 24″ x 16″ x 10″
- Personal item fee: None
- Personal item maximum size: No specific dimensions. Must fit under seat in front of you. Examples include a purse, camera bag, laptop bag or small backpack.
Southwest’s baggage site
Spirit
To be honest, we were super confused and not at all sure about prices at Spirit because they depend on the trip dates and departure and arrival airports. We tried different hypothetical scenarios, as if we were booking a ticket, and got different prices a few hours apart. We came up with this for a Cleveland to Orlando round trip starting March 25 for a standard ticket:
- First bag: $55 online during booking; $65 before online check in; $70 during online check in; $79 at the airport and $99 at the gate.
- Second bag: $75 online during booking; $85 before online check in; $85 during online check in and $99 at the airport.
- Carry-on fee: $55 online during booking; $65 before online check in; $70 during online check in; $79 at the airport and $99 at the gate.
- Carry-on maximum size: 22″ x 18″ x 10″
- Personal item fee: None
- Personal item maximum size: 18″ x 14″ x 8″
Spirt’s baggage site
United
- First bag: $40, or $35 prepaid.
- Second bag: $50, or $45 prepaid.
- Carry-on fee: None
- Carry-on maximum size: 22 x 14 x 9
- Personal item fee: None
- Personal item maximum size: 17 x 10 x 9
United’s baggage site.
Topics
Authors
Teresa Murray
Consumer Watchdog, U.S. PIRG Education Fund
Teresa directs the Consumer Watchdog office, which looks out for consumers’ health, safety and financial security. Previously, she worked as a journalist covering consumer issues and personal finance for two decades for Ohio’s largest daily newspaper. She received dozens of state and national journalism awards, including Best Columnist in Ohio, a National Headliner Award for coverage of the 2008-09 financial crisis, and a journalism public service award for exposing improper billing practices by Verizon that affected 15 million customers nationwide. Teresa and her husband live in Greater Cleveland and have two sons. She enjoys biking, house projects and music, and serves on her church missions team and stewardship board.
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