As peak travel season approaches, major U.S. airlines have rolled out another round of increases to checked baggage fees — marking the latest bump since 2024. Behind the scenes, rising jet fuel costs and longer flight routes tied to global airspace disruptions are making flights more expensive to operate. However, instead of raising ticket prices outright, airlines are passing some of that cost along through checked bag fees instead.
For travelers, the impact is straightforward: checking a bag is getting more expensive. The good news is that there are still ways to avoid paying full price or sometimes anything at all.
What Checked Bags Now Cost
Across major U.S. airlines, the latest increases generally fall into the following similar range for domestic flights:
- Alaska Airlines: First checked bag $45, second $55
- American Airlines: First checked bag $50, second bag $60
- Delta Air Lines: First bag around $45, second around $55
- JetBlue: First bag roughly $39–$49, second typically $59-$69
- Southwest Airlines: First bag around $45, second around $55
- United Airlines: First bag $50, second checked bag $60
In other words, most travelers will now pay roughly the same baseline, around $45–$50 for a first checked bag and $55–$60 for a second.
The Good News: There Are Still Ways to Save
Even as fees rise across nearly every major carrier, travelers still have several ways to reduce or avoid baggage costs completely.
- Airline credit cards remain the strongest workaround: Most major airline credit cards still include at least one free checked bag for the cardholder, and in many cases, even companions on the same reservation. For frequent travelers, this remains one of the most consistent ways to avoid fees entirely.
- Alaska Airlines: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature (and newer Atmos Rewards cards) generally include a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to 6 additional passengers on the same reservation.
- American Airlines: Citi AAdvantage cards include one free checked bag for the cardholder and up to four companions on the same itinerary.
- Delta Air Lines: Delta SkyMiles American Express cards (Gold, Platinum, Reserve) include one free checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation.
- JetBlue: JetBlue Plus and Premier cards include a free first checked bag for the cardholder and eligible companions on qualifying fares.
- Southwest Airlines: Rapid Rewards credit card members receive one free checked bag for the cardholder and their companions.
- United Airlines: United Explorer and United Club cards typically include one free checked bag for the cardholder and a companion.
Note: For these benefits to apply, many airlines now require the credit card to be used during booking, as well as the frequent flyer number attached.
- Loyalty status still pays off: Having an elite frequent flyer status is one of the most reliable ways to receive complimentary checked bags, with most programs offering one or two bags depending on tier.
- Alaska Mileage Plan (Atmos Rewards): MVP, MVP Gold and higher tiers generally receive at least two free checked bags, with higher tiers receiving additional allowances depending on status level and fare type.
- American Airlines AAdvantage: Status holders receive at least one free checked bag, with higher tiers receiving additional baggage.
- Delta SkyMiles Medallion: Medallion members receive at least one free checked bag, with higher tiers receiving additional baggage.
- JetBlue Mosaic: Mosaic members receive free checked bags on most fare types, though exclusions can apply depending on fare class.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List / A-List Preferred: A-List members receive one free checked bag, while A-List Preferred members receive two free checked bags.
- United MileagePlus Premier: Premier members receive free checked bags, with allowances increasing by status tier.
- Bundled fares can quietly include baggage: Some fare types, often labeled “Plus,” “Main Plus” or similar, include a checked bag in the ticket price and can sometimes be cheaper overall than adding bags separately. However, these bundles vary significantly by route and fare type.
- American Airlines: “Main Plus” fares on select routes often include a checked bag, but inclusion depends on fare class and itinerary.
- Delta Air Lines: Select higher fare bundles, including some Comfort+ or Main Cabin bundles, may include baggage benefits, but this is not guaranteed across all routes or bookings.
- JetBlue: “Blue Plus” fares typically include one checked bag on most routes where the bundle is offered.
- United Airlines: Certain Economy bundles (including Economy Plus bundles) may include baggage benefits, but these vary significantly by route and are not consistently included across all “Plus” products.
- Prepay when possible: Several airlines still offer small discounts when baggage is paid in advance online rather than at the airport, including Alaska, American, United and JetBlue. While savings are typically only $5 off, they can make a difference when added up over multiple trips or people.
- Carry-on-only is becoming the default strategy: With rising baggage fees and stricter enforcement of size limits, many travelers are shifting toward carry-on-only travel whenever possible. Most airlines still allow one carry-on bag and one personal item, making this the simplest way to avoid fees entirely, especially for short domestic trips.
The Bottom Line
Checked bag fees are once again rising across nearly every major U.S. airline as carriers respond to higher operating costs. While travelers can’t control airline pricing, they can control how often they pay it. With the right mix of credit card perks, loyalty status and fare selection, many travelers can still avoid these charges altogether or at the very least keep them to a minimum.