2024 Guide to Airline Baggage Fees: Tips to Reduce or Avoid Fees when Checking Luggage on Your Flights

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Introduction to Airline Baggage Fees

Why Baggage Fees Matter

Baggage fees have become a contentious part of air travel, as well as a bargaining chip for airlines to entice flyers into opening airline credit cards and earning elite status in loyalty programs by offering free checked bags. 

Major U.S. Airlines and Their Baggage Fees

Some people avoid checking bags altogether, but sometimes it's a necessity—and airlines are counting on it. Baggage fees are a big part of operating revenue. For passengers, the cost can add up to hundreds of extra dollars, especially for families and groups. That could be meaningful enough to book with a competing airline or stay loyal to the same one.  

American Airlines

Fees for checked and carry-on baggage

American Airlines charges $40 for the first checked bag ($35 if you pay online) and $45 for the second when traveling with the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands). For travel to or from Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Guyana, the first checked bag costs $35 and $45 for a second bag. 

Carry-on bags and a personal item are free on most routes, including for Basic Economy tickets.

Additional fees for overweight or oversized bags

Overweight bags between 50 and 53 pounds cost $30 for all routes. If your bag is between 53 and 70 pounds, you'll pay $100, except for flights to Cuba, where you'll pay $200. Bags over 70 pounds cost $200 within North America, the Caribbean (excluding Cuba), Central America and South America and $450 to China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, India and New Zealand. Bags over 70 pounds aren't accepted on flights to Europe, as well as to Cuba, Israel, Qatar or to/from Australia.    

Oversized bags from 62 to 65 inches cost $30 for all flights. A bag over 65 inches, but not to exceed 115 inches, costs $200 on most routes but $150 on flights to South America (excluding Guyana and Suriname), Panama, China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, Australia and New Zealand.  

Credit card recommendation

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® offers a free checked bag for you and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation.

You do not need to use your card to pay for the tickets, but you must add the primary card member's American Airlines loyalty number seven days prior to traveling. 

Delta Airlines

Fees for checked and carry-on baggage

Delta charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second. Note that baggage must not exceed 62 inches when you add length, width and height together. 

One carry-on bag and one personal item are free.

Additional fees for overweight or oversized bags

Overweight bags vary based on destination. For bags over 50 pounds and up to 70 pounds, you'll pay $100 on all flights, except those between North America and San Pedro Sula, Honduras and San Salvador, El Savador. Bags between 70 and 100 pounds cost $200, except for routes where bags over 70 pounds are not permitted, including: 

• Between North, South and Central America, Europe and North Africa
• Between or through Europe, South Africa or United Arab Emirates
• Between or within Australia and New Zealand

Bags over 100 pounds are not allowed at all. 

For oversized bags between 63 and 80 inches on any side, you'll pay:

• $100 to or from Brazil
• $150 between the U.S. and Canada to Central America, South America, the Caribbean or Mexico
• $175 to or from the Middle East, Africa (excluding North Africa), Asia, India or Australia
• $200 between or within the U.S. and Canada (including domestic flights)
• $300 between North, Central and South America, Europe and North Africa 

Bags over 80 inches are not permitted on any flight. 

Credit card recommendation

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation.

You don't need to use the card to pay for the flights. This is one of the most generous free-bag policies, and can add up to meaningful savings if you need to use it. 

United Airlines

Fees for checked and carry-on baggage

United charges $40 for the first checked bag ($35 if you prepay online) and $50 for the second ($45 if prepaid) on many routes. If you're flying to or from Europe, South America, Africa, Asia or Australia, your first checked bag is free and the second costs $100. 

Carry-on bags are free except for Basic Economy, where you'll pay the standard baggage fee plus an additional $25 if you check it at the gate. The exceptions are flights to South America, as well as transatlantic and transpacific flights, which allow a carry-on bag. 

Additional fees for overweight or oversized bags 

Overweight bags cost $100 if they're 51 to 70 pounds and $200 between 71 and 100 pounds. Exceptions apply, which are based on the exact route. For example, for flights to or from Europe, you'll pay $200 (instead of $100) for a bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds.

Fortunately, United has a baggage calculator that will show you exact prices for oversized and overweight bags for your flight, as well as which special items are permitted.  

Bags over 100 pounds are not allowed on any United flights. Exceptions are musical instruments up to 165 pounds and all assistive devices.   

Oversized bags between 63 to 115 inches are $200 apiece. Bags over 115 inches in total length, width, and height are not accepted. 

Credit card recommendation

The United℠ Explorer Card provides a free first checked bag for you and a companion. You must use the card to pay for United flights to get the benefit.

Southwest Airlines

Fees for checked and carry-on baggage

Southwest allows two free checked bags per passenger, each up to 50 pounds and 62 inches in size (length + width + height). You may also bring one carry-on bag and one personal item free of charge. 

Additional fees for overweight or oversized bags

Overweight bags cost $100 for a bag between 51 and 70 pounds and $125 for bags between 71 and 100 pounds. 

Oversized bags between 63 and a max of 80 inches cost $125 each. 

Credit card recommendation

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card can earn you extra Southwest points, but doesn't add more free bags since the airline already offers two checked bags per ticketed passenger.

JetBlue 

Fees for checked and carry-on baggage

JetBlue charges for bags based on fare type, when you pay, if you have elite status and if you're traveling during a peak or off-peak time.

The base charges are $35 for your first bag and $50 for the second on Blue, Blue Basic and Blue Extra fares. Blue Plus fares and JetBlue Plus cardmembers get a first checked bag for free. Mint fares and Mosaic elite members get two bags checked for free. 

You'll pay $10 more within 24 hours of departure (and the free bags are still free). For peak pricing, you'll pay $40 for the first bag and $60 for the second – and add $10 more within 24 hours of departure. 

To make it even more fun, transatlantic flights have different prices. The first bag costs $60 and the second is $100 for Blue Basic fares. Blue, Blue Plus and Blue Extra fares and JetBlue Plus cardmembers get a first bag checked free. Mint fares and Mosaic members, again, get two free checked bags. Add $5 for the first bag if you pay within 24 hours of departure and another $5 for peak times. Add $10 for the second bag during peak times, if it's not included with your fare or status. 

Carry-on bags are free for all customers. 

Additional fees for overweight or oversized bags

Overweight bags between 51 and 99 pounds cost $150 each and oversized bags between 63 and 80 inches are $150 each. Note that bags cannot exceed 70 pounds for transatlantic flights. 

Credit card recommendation 

The JetBlue Plus Card offers a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to three companions on the same reservation when you use your card to purchase JetBlue tickets. 

Alaska Airlines

Fees for checked and carry-on baggage

Alaska Airlines charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second. Carry-on bags are free.

If you're flying home from one of 32 airports in California, Idaho, Oregon or Washington, you can also check a box or case of wine, containing up to 12 bottles and weighing up to 50 pounds, for free. 

Additional fees for overweight or oversized bags

Overweight bags from 51 to 100 pounds cost $100, and oversized bags from 63 to 115 linear inches are $150 each. Anything over 100 pounds or 115 inches is not permitted, though musical instruments are an exception. 

Credit card recommendation

The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card offers a free first checked bag for you and up to six companions when you purchase airfare with your card.

Spirit Airlines

Fees for checked and carry-on baggage

Spirit charges varying fees for checked bags and carry-on bags. You'll pay a different price if you pay for a checked bag during booking, before or during online check-in, at the airport or at the gate. Prices start at $50 for paying when you book, $65 for a first checked bag before or during checking in online and $79 at the airport or boarding gate. 

The best way to determine the price for your checked bag is to use Spirit's online calculator. Enter your departure airport, destination airport and dates of travel to see a complete breakdown of baggage fees. 

Additional fees for overweight or oversized bags

Overweight bags from 51 to 100 pounds cost $125 per bag and oversized bags between 63 and 80 linear inches cost $150 each.

Credit card recommendation

The Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard® provides points, but does not include free checked bags. Instead, consider using the $300 annual travel credit from the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the $200 annual incidental fee credit from The Platinum Card® from American Express to cover the cost of checked bags on this airline. 

Frontier Airlines

Fees for checked and carry-on baggage

Frontier charges $60 to $79 for carry-on and checked bags, depending where in the process you pay for it. The best way to check is with Frontier's online bag price calculator.

Frontier charges for a carry-on bag, which must be 35 pounds or less, and for checked bags, which must be 40 pounds or under. 

Frontier expressly says it doesn't guarantee any of its pricing until the point of purchase. 

Additional fees for overweight or oversized bags 

Bags between 41 and 50 pounds cost $75, while bags from 51 to 100 pounds cost $100. Oversized bags from 53 to 110 linear inches cost $75 each.

Bags over 100 pounds or 110 linear inches are not accepted. Assistive devices are excepted from these rules. 

Credit card recommendation

The Frontier Airlines World Mastercard® offers two free checked bags for the primary cardmember who uses the card to book and pay directly with Frontier. 

Strategies to Reduce or Avoid Baggage Fees

Use credit card benefits if you fly multiple airlines throughout the year

Many travel credit cards offer reimbursements for incidental expenses, including baggage fees, across multiple airlines.

Premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express offer annual travel credits that can be used for baggage fees. 

Loyalty programs and elite status

Airline loyalty programs often include waived baggage fees for members. By joining these programs, you'll earn miles that count toward elite status. 

Once achieved, airlines typically let you check your first (and sometimes second) bag for free, including with partner airlines. This benefit can significantly reduce travel costs, especially if you frequently fly with the same airline.

Packing tips to minimize fees

The way you pack can help you avoid or reduce baggage fees. Use packing cubes to maximize space and consider rolling your clothes instead of folding them to fit more into your carry-on. Seriously, try it. Once you do, it's a game-changer. 

Opt for a carry-on bag whenever possible, as most airlines allow at least one free carry-on bag. This can save you money on checked baggage fees, particularly for short trips. Personally, I can live for up to a week out of a well-packed carry-on. 

If you're going to buy new gear for a trip, especially domestically, consider having it delivered to your hotel when you arrive. For example, we stowed enough diapers for our infant to last us a couple of days during a recent domestic trip. On the third day, we had a box of diapers delivered to our hotel's front desk, significantly reducing our total luggage volume. You can also do this with other consumables that don't necessarily have to go back home with you. 

Additional tips and tricks

Make the most of airline partnerships and alliances to take advantage of more lenient baggage policies. If you're flying on a codeshare flight, check the baggage policies of both airlines to see which offers better terms. The baggage policy is always listed as part of the booking process. 

Or, if you have status within an alliance, sticking to other airlines within the same alliance can get you free checked bags and perhaps a few other perks, like priority boarding and free seat selection. 

Finally, always review baggage policies before booking, because certain airlines offer discounts on baggage fees when you pay in advance. This can help you avoid fees at the airport, especially if you know you're going to check a bag.

Major Airline Policies Overview

• Baggage fees: These fees are subject to change and vary based on factors such as destination, fare type, and route.
• Carry-on bags: While most airlines allow one personal item (purse, laptop bag) and one carry-on bag for free, size restrictions apply. Oversized carry-on bags may incur fees or not be allowed.
• Oversized bags: Fees for oversized bags depend on the bag's dimensions.
• Credit card recommendations: These are suggestions based on potential benefits like free checked bags or priority boarding. 

Airline baggage fees frequently asked questions

What are the typical fees for checked baggage?

Typical fees for checked baggage range from $35 to $50 per bag, depending on the airline and route. Additional fees apply for overweight or oversized bags.

How can I avoid paying for carry-on bags?

Avoid carry-on fees by flying with airlines that allow free carry-ons, using credit card perks or packing efficiently to fit everything in a personal item. If you have elite status with an airline, check if baggage fees are waived when you fly. 

Which credit cards offer free checked bags?

Credit cards like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and United℠ Explorer Card offer free checked bags as part of their travel benefits. If you have a midtier airline credit card, check to see if it offers this benefit—most do. 

What should I do if my bag is overweight?

Consider redistributing items between bags, removing non-essential items or paying the overweight fee. If you check bags often, it's worth it to get an at-home luggage scale so you can weigh your bag and make any changes before you head to the airport. 

Are there any airlines that don't charge for checked bags?

Southwest is known for its no-fee policy for the first two checked bags. Many international airlines also include free checked baggage in their ticket prices.