Please note: Recently (April 21, 2020) a number of airlines have revised their baggage fees. For example American Airlines has started charging $70 – $100 per bag on economy tickets on some international flights. It will take some time for us to research and update our information so please double check with airlines before booking.

Since publishing this article two years ago we have received a number of requests for an easy pdf version of our Baggage Fee chart that can be download. You can now easily open and download a copy by clicking the link below.

To stay current, we try and update this information about every six months. If you find a discrepancy please let us know by email at Intend2Travel@gmx.com

If you are flying internationally you will probably get one bag checked for free regardless of what airline you are using (there are a few exceptions). Some allow a second free bag but most will charge for additional bags. If you are flying domestically you will probably have to pay, but how much depends on the airline. The major U.S. carriers include Hawaiian Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airlines, Southwest Airlines, US Airways and Spirit Airlines. Only JetBlue and Southwest normally allow a free checked bag. Also Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air, offer no-frills fares where carry-on bags will also cost you extra.

Recently two major domestic air carriers (American and United) have added a new class of service designated “basic” or “economy basic” which is an attempt to compete with discount/no-frills airlines.. This service no longer allows you to bring carry-on bags on board and also puts you at the end of the boarding process. In addition they are charging the “economy basic” passengers for showing up at the gate with carry-on bags (right now the “fine” is $25 plus the checked bag fee). If you are traveling on Basic Economy, your personal item (must fit under seat) will be the only item you can bring on board.

Like most of us, airfare is a major part of our travel expense and we are always looking for opportunities to save money. Domestic travel for us is a minor event and we will put up with a few hours of inconvenience to save a few dollars. Twelve and seventeen hour flights are be a different story. Unfortunately calculating comparison airfare costs has become a bit more complicated with the ever increasing costs for checking bags.

More and more people are trying to carry as much on board as possible to avoid bag fees and that makes getting your carry-on into a bin a more difficult problem. I’m surprised that there aren’t more arguments than there are and trying to get near the front of the boarding line has also become a serious priority. I find myself paying for checked bags more and more often just to avoid this crush.

When shopping for the best airfare it is increasingly important to know the airlines baggage policy. Most domestic airlines allow you to bring on one personal item such as a purse or briefcase, as well as one larger item such as a carry-on suitcase or backpack. On average the maximum size of a carry-on item is 22 by 14 by 9 inches including handles and wheels. Additionally there is also a rule for personal items. The maximum dimensions for your personal item that fits under the seat in front of you, such as a shoulder bag, purse, laptop bag or other small item, are 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches.

Most of the major airline carriers, other than JetBlue and Southwest, charge a fee for checked baggage on domestic flights while some are now charging for carry-on bags. However, on most international flights, only Alaska Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and for some destinations, American Airlines, charge a fee for the first checked bag (American treats many Caribbean destinations, Mexico and Canada by domestic rules).

One option to avoid bag charges is to get a credit card affiliated with an airline. For example using an Amex Delta card will get you free checked bags on Delta flights. The following is a list of cards that offer free bag check with some airlines:

United Airlines Fees:

Checked Bags

1 – $25 to $30, 2 – $35, 3+ – $150

Overweight Bags 1 – $100 to $200

Oversized Bags 1 – $200

Carry On 1 allowed – Free

United Basic Economy Service- Full-sized carry-on bags are not permitted – You’re not allowed a full-sized carry-on bag unless you’re a MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation, the primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or a Star Alliance™ Gold member. Everyone else who brings a full-sized carry-on bag to the gate will be required to check their bag and pay the applicable checked bag fee plus a $25 gate handling charge.

American Airlines Fees

Domestic Bag 1 $25, Bag 2 $35, Bag 3 $150, Bag 4+ $200

Mexico Bag 1 $25, Bag 2 $40, Bag 3 $150, Bag 4+ $200

Caribbean Bag 1 $25, Bag 2 $40 to $55, Bag 3 $150, Bag 4+ $200

Central America Bag 1 $0, Bag 2 $35, Bag 3 $150, Bag 4+ $200

Brazil Bag 1 $0, Bag 2 $0, Bag 3 $150, Bag 4+ $200

South America Bag 1 $0, Bag 2 $0, Bag 3 $150, Bag 4+ $200

Transatlantic Bag 1 $0, Bag 2 $100, Bag 3+ $200

Transpacific Bag 1 $0, Bag 2 $0, Bag 3+ $200

US Airways Fees

(US) allows 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item (purse, briefcase, laptop bag) per passenger fee free. Carry-on should not exceed the following size and weight restrictions: 45 linear inches (22 x 14 x 9 in) or 115 centimeters (56 x 36 x 23 cm) including handles and wheels.

US domestic (including Canada, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U S Virgin Islands):

First bag: $25.00 USD
Second bag: $35.00 USD

U S domestic (including Canada, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U S Virgin Islands):
Third bag: $150.00 USD
Fourth bag +: $200.00 USD per bag

Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico:

First bag: $25.00 USD
Second bag: $40.00 USD
Brazil:
First bag: Free
Second bag: Free
South America:
First bag: Free
Second bag: Free
Transatlantic:
First bag: Free
Second bag: $100.00 USD
Transpacific:
First bag: Free
Second bag: Free

JetBlue Fees

Checked baggage

We offer fare options that include different numbers of checked bags. Should your plans change after booking a particular fare, bags may be checked online or at the airport for additional fees. Checked bags that exceed 62″ (157.48 cm) in overall dimensions (length + width + height) or exceed 50 pounds (22.68 kg) will also incur a fee.

Baggage fees for bags under 50 pounds

Fare option

Blue 1st bag $25, 2nd bag $35, 3rd bag + $100 each

Blue Plus 1st bag Included, 2nd bag $35, 3rd bag $100 each

Blue Flex 1st bag Included, 2nd bag Included, 3rd bag+ $100 each fees

Size requirements: Bags that do not meet the dimensions and/or weight restrictions are considered oversized and/or overweight and will be charged as follows:

51 lbs (23.13 kg) – 99 lbs (44.91 kg) – $100 per bag.

63″ in (160 cm) – 80 in (203.3 cm)(including wheels and handles)– $100 per bag.

Delta Air Lines Fees

In economy, within Canada and the US, 1st bag $25, 2nd bag $35. To other destinations, prices vary by itinerary.

The Follow Chart Is A Complete Listing Of All Major Domestic And International Carriers Baggage Fees

Updated in June 2019

U.S. Airlines Baggage Fees on Domestic Flights

Alaska Airlines Checked Bags 1 – $25 2 – $25 3+ – $75 Overweight Bags 1 – $75 Oversized Bags 1 – $75 Carry On 1 – Free

American Airlines Checked Bags 1 – $25 2 – $35 3+ – $150 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 to $200 Oversized Bags 1 – $200 Carry On 1 – Free to $25

Frontier Airlines Checked Bags 1 – $25 to $60 2 – $40 to $45 3+ – $75 to $80 Overweight Bags 1 – $75 Oversized Bags 1 – $75 Carry On 1 – $30 to $35

Hawaiian Airlines Checked Bags 1 – $25 2 – $35 3+ – $50 to $100 Overweight Bags 1 – $35 to $200 Oversized Bags 1 – $35 to $100 Carry On 1 – Free

JetBlue Airways Checked Bags 1 – $25 2 – $35 3+ – $100 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 Carry On 1 – Free

Southwest Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $75 Overweight Bags 1 – $75 Oversized Bags 1 – $75 Carry On 1 – Free

Spirit Airlines Checked Bags 1 – $30 to $65 2 – $40 to $65 3+ – $85 Overweight Bags 1 – $30 to $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 to $150 Carry On 1 – $37 to $65

Sun Country Airlines Checked Bags 1 – $25 2 – $35 3+ – $75 Overweight Bags 1 – $75 Oversized Bags 1 – $75 Carry On 1 – Free

United Airlines Checked Bags 1 – $25 to $30 2 – $35 3+ – $150 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 to $200 Oversized Bags 1 – $200 Carry On 1 – Free

Virgin America Checked Bags 1 – $25 2 – $25 3+ – $25 Overweight Bags 1 – $50 to $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $75 Carry On 1 – Free

U.S. & International Airlines Baggage Fees* on Most International Flights

Aer Lingus Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $100 3+ – $100 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 Carry On 1 – Free

Aeroflot Russian Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $50 3+ – $150 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 to $150 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 to $150 Carry On 1 – Free

Aeromexico Checked Bags 1 – $20 to $25 2 – $45 to $55 3+ – $150 to $180 Overweight Bags 1 – $35 to $200 Oversized Bags 1 – $160 to $200 Carry On 1 – Free

Air Canada Checked Bags 1 – $26 2 – $37 3+ – $105 Overweight Bag 1 – $105 Oversized Bags 1 – $105 Carry On 1 – Free

Air China Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $110 Overweight Bags 1 – $75 to $110 Oversized Bags 1 – $75 to $110 Carry On 1 – Free

Air France Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $80 to $100 3+ – $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $300 Carry On 1 – Free

Air India Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $100 to $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 to $200 Oversized Bags 1 – $200 to $600 Carry On 1 – Free

Air New Zealand Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $150 3+ – $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $150 Oversized Bags 1 – $150 Carry On 1 – Free

Air Tahiti Nui Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $75 to $100 3+ – $150 to $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $75 to $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $150 to $200 Carry On 1 – Free

Alaska Airlines Checked Bags 1 – $25 2 – $25 3+ – $75 Overweight Bags 1 – $75 Oversized Bags 1 – $75 Carry On 1 – Free

Alitalia Checked Bags 1 – Free Carry On 1 – Free

All Nippon Airways Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $100 to $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $60 to $200 Oversized Bags 1 – $200 Carry On 1 – Free

American Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free to $25 2 – Free to $553+ – $85 to $200 Overweight Bags 1 – Free to $450 Oversized Bags 1 – $150 to $200 Carry On 1 – Free

Avianca Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $175 to $250 Overweight Bags 1 – $90 to $150 Oversized Bags 1 – $130 Carry On 1 – Free

Cathay Pacific Airways Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $150 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 Carry On 1 – Free

El Al Israel Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $85 to $100 3+ – $85 to $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $55 to $100 Oversized Bag 1 – $85 to $200 Carry On 1 – Free

Emirates Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $158 to $175 Overweight Bags 1 – $50 Oversized Bags 1 – $175 Carry On 1 – Free

Etihad Airways Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $240 to $300 Carry On 1 – Free

Finnair Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $60 to $75 3+ – $60 to $75 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 to $200 Carry On 1 – Free

Frontier Airlines Checked Bags 1 – $25 to $60 2 – $40 to $50 3+ – $75 to $80 Overweight Bags 1 – $75 Oversized Bags 1 – $75 Carry On 1 – $30 to $35

Hawaiian Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $150 Overweight Bags 1 – $50 to $400 Oversized Bags 1 – $150 Carry On 1 – Free

Iberia Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $85 to $100 3+ – $170 to $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $50 to $320 Carry On 1 – Free

Icelandair Checked Bags 1 – Free Carry On 1 – Free

Insel Air Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $40 3+ – $150 Overweight Bags 1 – $40 Oversized Bags 1 – $150 Carry On 1 – Free

JetBlue Airways Checked Bags 1 – $25 2 – $35 3+ – $100 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 Carry On 1 – Free

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $80 to $100 3+ – $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $80 to $150 Carry On 1 – Free

Korean Air Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 to $200 Oversized Bags 1 – $200 Carry On 1 – Free

Latam Airlines Group Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $100 to $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $50 to $200 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 Carry On 1 – Free

LOT Polish Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $71 to $332 3+ – $71 to $332 Overweight Bags 1 – $71 to $221 Oversized Bags 1 – $71 to $221 Carry On 1 – Free

Lufthansa German Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $75 to $100 3+ – $75 to $500 Overweight Bags 1 – $70 to $450 Oversized Bags 1 – $70 to $450 Carry On 1 – Free

Malaysia Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free Carry On1 – Free

Norwegian Air International Checked Bags 1 – $57 to $130 2 – $57 to $130 3+ – $57 to $130 Carry On 1 – Free

Philippine Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $100 Overweight Bags 1 – $150 to $450 Oversized Bags 1 – $150 to $450 Carry On 1 – Free

Qantas Airways Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $175 3+ – $175 Overweight Bags 1 – $75 Oversized Bags 1 – $75 Carry On 1 – Free

Royal Air Maroc Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $150 3+ – $150 Overweight Bags 1 – $50 Oversized Bags 1 – $50 Carry On 1 – Free

SAS Scandinavian Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $110 3+ – $110 Overweight Bags 1 – $250 Oversized Bags 1 – $250 Carry On1 – Free

Singapore Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $150 to $350 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 to $225 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 to $225 Carry On 1 – Free

South African Airways Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $200 to $400 Overweight Bags 1 – $200 to $400 Oversized Bags 1 – $200 to $400 Carry On 1 – Free

Southwest Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free 3+ – $75 Overweight Bags 1 – $75 Oversized Bags 1 – $75 Carry On 1 – Free

Spirit Airlines Checked Bags 1 – $32 to $65 2 – $32 to $65 3+ – $32 to $65 Overweight Bags 1 – $30 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 to $150 Carry On 1 – $39 to $65

Swiss Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $85 to $210 3+ – $85 to $210 Overweight Bags 1 – $300 to $450 Oversized Bags 1 – $300 to $450 Carry On 1 – Free

TAP Portugal Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $160 to $280 3+ – $160 to $280 Overweight Bags 1 – $120 to $220 Oversized Bags 1 – $180 to $220 Carry On 1 – Free

Thai Airways Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free Carry On 1 – Free

Turkish Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $100 3+ – $100 to $300

Overweight Bags 1 – $80 to $150 Carry On 1 – Free

United Airlines Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – Free to $100 3+ – $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $200 to $400 Oversized Bags 1 – $200 Carry On 1 – Free

Virgin America Checked Bags 1 – $25 2 – $25 3+ – $25 Overweight Bags 1 – $50 to $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $75

Virgin Atlantic Airways Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $100 3+ – $200 Overweight Bags

1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $60 Carry On 1 – Free

Virgin Australia Checked Bags 1 – Free 2 – $90 3+ – $160Overweight Bags

1 – $100 Oversized Bags Carry On 1 – Free

WestJet Checked Bags 1 – $19 to $22 2 – $26 to $30 3+ – $74 to $87 Overweight Bags 1 – $55 to $65 Oversized Bags 1 – $55 to $65 Carry On 1 – Free

There is also a company, Lugless that is offering an option for you to ship your bags ahead and save money. While I have doubts I would love to hear from someone that has used this service?

Also see “Earning Frequent Flyer Miles“