Airline baggage fees: How much it costs to check a...

Airline baggage charges can differ drastically, and there is nothing worse than being hit abruptly charges after reserving.

At TPG, we goal to please — in different phrases, we attempt to assist readers spend smarter to journey higher.

This information summarizes baggage charges by airline so what charges to anticipate. It additionally outlines some good methods that can assist you keep away from them fully.

How a lot does it price to test a bag?

Most main U.S. airways impose a number of widespread bag charges, together with for checked baggage.

As you will see from the chart under, the payment in your first checked bag usually begins at $35 every means however rapidly will increase as you add a second or third suitcase.

Service	First bag	Second bag	Third bag
Alaska Airways	$35	$45	$150
American Airways	$35 to $40	$45	$150
Delta Air Strains	$35	$45	$150
Frontier Airways	$55 to $100	$73 to $94	$93 to $110
Hawaiian Airways	$15 to $40	$20 to $45	$50 to $150
JetBlue	$35 to $40	$50 to $60	$135
Southwest Airways	TBA	TBA	$150
Spirit Airways	Varies	Varies	Varies
United Airways	$35 to $40	$45 to $50	$150

Observe that this desk assumes you are buying a daily home fare and checking normal baggage that is not chubby or oversize. It additionally assumes you haven’t any elite standing and don’t carry a cobranded airline credit card with a checked-bag profit. The value for flights exterior of the U.S. may differ barely.

How a lot does it price to carry a carry-on bag?

Some airways additionally cost for carry-on baggage. That is often restricted to low-cost carriers, however you will wish to take note of your allowances earlier than your subsequent flight. For some airways, you will discover that checking a bag is inexpensive than bringing it on the airplane with you.

Here is a chart indicating carry-on bag allowances for home flights with most main U.S. airways.

Service	Allowance	Restrictions
Alaska Airways	One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise
American Airways	One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise	The non-public merchandise should be capable to match beneath the seat in entrance of you.
Delta Air Strains	One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise
Frontier Airways	One private merchandise; a carry-on merchandise prices $34 to $60	The non-public merchandise should be capable to match beneath the seat in entrance of you.
Hawaiian Airways	One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise
JetBlue	One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise
Southwest Airways	One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise
Spirit Airways	One private merchandise; a carry-on merchandise prices $26 to $65
United Airways	One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise	Fundamental economic system passengers will not be allowed to carry a bigger carry-on for the overhead bin, only a private merchandise.

You will discover that almost all airways do not cost a payment to carry a carry-on bag, however you might be restricted to 1 private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise.

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A private merchandise is taken into account a backpack, laptop computer bag, digital camera bag or different small merchandise you possibly can stow beneath the seat in entrance of you. A carry-on is often a bigger bag or small suitcase that matches within the overhead bin above your seat. Every airline has completely different dimension limits, so you will wish to measure your baggage and test your airline’s coverage earlier than heading to the airport.

Associated: How to tell if your backpack counts as a personal or carry-on item

Up till March 2025, Southwest was the one airline to permit two carry-on objects (one private merchandise and one bigger carry-on bag) and two checked baggage at no cost. However as of Could, the airline will charge most passengers for checked bags.

On the other finish of the spectrum, Spirit and Frontier are the 2 worst airways for bags charges. Whereas most airways mean you can test a bag as much as 50 kilos, Spirit and Frontier cap the burden of a normal checked bag at 40 kilos. After that, you will pay a fairly penny for chubby baggage. Each airways provide a baggage calculator to test the value, so you should definitely calculate your baggage charges to find out whether or not your general journey price is decrease.

Additionally be aware that almost all airways cost extra overweight-bag charges, which usually apply as soon as your bag exceeds 50 kilos. Lastly, suitcases over a sure dimension (typically measured in linear inches — size plus width plus top) will virtually all the time require a further payment, as will sure sorts of specialty baggage, like scuba tools.

Total, these charges differ.

Some airways do not mean you can test baggage with a primary fare kind, whereas different airways provide bundled fares that embody checked baggage. Pay shut consideration to which fare you buy to reduce baggage charges.

On the subject of primary economic system fares, United is the one one of many main U.S. airways (American, Delta and United) that does not permit a free carry-on bag. United additionally expenses a further $25 gate dealing with payment (on high of the common baggage payment) if an economic system passenger brings a full-size bag to the gate that then should be checked.

You will additionally discover that some airways’ costs for checked baggage depend upon the flight booked. With Frontier and Spirit, you should use a fare calculator to see the precise worth in your particular flight; paying in your baggage throughout the reservation course of would be the least costly choice with these two airways. On Hawaiian Airways, you will pay a cheaper price for flights between the islands and a better worth for flights to, from and inside North America.

How one can keep away from checked bag charges

Use the correct bank card

Many U.S. carriers provide an easier pathway to free checked baggage: opening an airline bank card.

Nearly all of cobranded playing cards from U.S. airways waive the primary checked bag payment on home itineraries. In actual fact, many of those perks prolong to companions — as much as eight on the identical reservation, in some circumstances. Some playing cards have annual charges of lower than $100.

In different phrases, by merely holding the correct bank card, you and your complete household might test a bag at no cost in your subsequent journey.

For many carriers mentioned on this information, there’s a minimum of one bank card that waives the payment in your first checked bag. Most additionally prolong the favor to extra companions touring on the identical reservation (excluding Hawaiian). If you happen to’re a frequent flyer with a selected airline, it is value investigating whether or not there’s a cobranded bank card that fits your wants.

Nevertheless, perks differ by card and airline; some are extra restrictive than others. For instance, it’s essential to buy your ticket utilizing the cardboard to make the most of the primary bag at no cost profit on the United℠ Explorer Card.

With most different airline playing cards, merely having cardholder standing is ample, whatever the card you swiped on the time of buy. Equally, with the United Explorer Card, just one extra passenger can reap the advantages; in the meantime, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card permits as much as eight touring companions to test their baggage for no extra price.

Every provider makes use of barely completely different guidelines for these insurance policies, however here is a abstract of the playing cards that provide this perk:

*The data for the AAdvantage Aviator Pink World Elite Mastercard, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard®, Frontier Airways World Mastercard®, JetBlue Plus Card, JetBlue Premier Card and JetBlue Enterprise Card have been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Sadly, Spirit Airways, the opposite main low-cost provider within the U.S., would not provide this perk with its cobranded card.

It is value mentioning that many of those perks apply robotically based mostly on the loyalty program account related to the cardboard. Nevertheless, just a few airways require you to pay in your airfare with the cobranded card to obtain the bag payment waiver.

Many vacationers aren’t loyal to a given airline, so it could not make sense to carry a United card if you happen to solely journey with United annually, for instance. Fortunately, lots of the best travel credit cards embody credit that may cowl checked bag charges once you incur them, and a few of them aren’t restricted to particular person airways.

Listed below are just a few examples:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Every year, Sapphire Reserve cardholders obtain as much as a $300 travel credit that is utilized to just about any travel-related buy, together with checked bag charges. Any eligible buy will probably be robotically credited again to you inside a day or two of posting to your account.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: The Amex Platinum offers cardholders with as much as $200 in statement credits per calendar 12 months to cowl incidentals like seat assignments, lounge passes and checked bag charges (enrollment is required). The one draw back is that it’s a must to designate a single airline firstly of the calendar 12 months, so you possibly can’t use this throughout a number of carriers.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: The Hilton Aspire card offers as much as $200 per 12 months ($50 per quarter) in annual airline payment credit, which work similar to the Amex Platinum credit score (enrollment is required for choose advantages). When you’ve got each playing cards, you possibly can designate two separate airways, one for every card.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: If you cannot abdomen a big annual payment, contemplate opening the Premium Rewards card from Financial institution of America. This card comes with an as much as $100 annual airline incidental payment assertion credit score that can be utilized for checked bag charges, together with an affordable annual payment of $95.

The data for the Hilton Aspire Amex card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Associated: The best credit cards with airline fee credits

Moreover, you could possibly look to make use of a card just like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to pay for checked bag charges. The miles you earn on this card can cover travel purchases, and you’ve got the chance to make use of your miles to pay for bags.

Have elite standing

One other choice to keep away from checked bag charges is to carry elite standing with the airline’s frequent flyer program. All airways talked about right here provide a minimum of one free checked bag to sure elite members.

The overwhelming majority of those tiers — even the bottom ones — mean you can test a bag at no cost. Nevertheless, the precise waiver is determined by the airline and might differ as you climb the elite standing ladder.

For instance, all Delta Medallion vacationers take pleasure in a minimum of one free checked bag — as much as 70 kilos on flights throughout the U.S. and Canada and 50 kilos on worldwide flights. This allowance jumps to 2 baggage for Gold Medallions and three free baggage for Platinum and Diamond Medallion vacationers.

United additionally grants Premier vacationers a 70-pound weight allowance for checked baggage: one for Premier Silver, two for Premier Gold and three for Premier Platinum and Premier 1K.

American follows the same technique for the amount of checked baggage: one for AAdvantage Gold, two for AAdvantage Platinum and three for AAdvantage Platinum Professional and AAdvantage Government Platinum. Nevertheless, except you are confirmed in enterprise or top notch, you are restricted to 50 kilos (apart from flights to and from Australia or New Zealand).

Plus, some revealed insurance policies could provide wiggle room for elite members. For instance, elite standing holders may be capable to get away with a 52-pound bag with out tacking on an chubby payment. And, when you have elite status, you should still be capable to persuade a sympathetic check-in agent to waive the bag payment.

Observe that many of those perks prolong to accomplice flights as effectively. When you’ve got elite standing with any airline in SkyTeam, Star Alliance or Oneworld, you need to be capable to test your baggage at no cost (or take pleasure in an elevated allowance for checked baggage) on accomplice airways.

For extra particulars on the perks of elite standing, try these guides:

E-book a premium cabin ticket

Once you journey in a premium class of service, you will usually take pleasure in waived checked bag charges — in lots of circumstances above and past the usual weight allowance as effectively. These insurance policies usually apply whether or not you paid money, factors or miles in your ticket, so this may be a good way to make use of your journey rewards and never have to fret about further bag charges.

For instance, listed here are the luggage advantages for vacationers confirmed in a premium cabin on American Airways:

• Premium economic system: two free checked baggage (as much as 50 kilos every)
• Home top notch: two free checked baggage (as much as 70 kilos every)
• Flagship First and Flagship Enterprise: three free checked baggage (as much as 70 kilos every)

You’ll be able to try your working provider’s checked baggage web page for full particulars on what’s included in your particular journey.

Listed below are just a few extra tips to keep away from checked baggage charges, together with chubby or oversize charges.

Gate-check your bag

Most airways mean you can gate-check carry-on luggage for no extra price — they usually’ll typically pressure vacationers to take action when overhead bin house is tight.

The exceptions are usually low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier, in addition to primary economic system fares on legacy carriers. In any other case, most airways are glad to gate-check nearly no matter you need — and chances are you’ll even have luck doing this earlier than boarding begins.

If you happen to gate-check your baggage, make sure the airline checks it by means of to baggage claim. Nevertheless, it’s essential to declare some objects — similar to strollers, wheelchairs and even rolling carry-ons on regional planes — on the gate upon arrival.

Learn the principles carefully

As punitive as airline baggage insurance policies may be, some useful exceptions exist. For instance, most U.S. carriers allow you to test skis, snowboards and boots as a single checked bag — even when your skis are in a special bag out of your boots. The identical typically holds for hockey tools, which generally would not require a further payment so long as it is inside the usual weight allotment.

Earlier than you go to the airport, take a screenshot of the principles in case you encounter an agent who’s unfamiliar with unusual checked objects.

Attempt curbside check-in

Examine-in brokers on the curb are sometimes contractors, not airline workers. So, they could have much less incentive to strictly implement the airline’s baggage guidelines. Moreover, some places could not have scales to weigh the baggage.

Carry the heavy stuff on board

Within the U.S., carry-on weight restrictions are hardly ever (if ever) enforced. So, when packing in your subsequent trip, put heavy objects in your carry-on bag somewhat than danger paying for chubby checked baggage.

Purchase a baggage scale

For below $10, you’ll find a small, lightweight scale to weigh your luggage. These scales are usually fairly correct and can aid you keep below your required weight. You will additionally keep away from being that individual repacking their baggage on the airport and holding up everybody else.

Journey to pick locations

Past the above methods, many airways waive checked bag charges for all prospects when touring to particular areas. For instance, American Airways has an inventory of locations the place all prospects can test a free bag, together with Argentina, Brazil, China, India and Japan. This additionally extends to all transatlantic travels. And if you happen to’re flying American to both Australia or New Zealand, your free bag can weigh as much as 70 kilos.

Nevertheless, this typically would not apply to primary economic system tickets, and there could also be seasonal restrictions for sure locales.

Whatever the airline you are flying, you should definitely analysis your baggage allowance forward of time so what to anticipate — and so you do not encounter an costly shock on the airport.