So far this year we’ve taken eight flights – all international and we’ve come to realize that we just don’t know what our bags will cost until we check-in at the counter. Twice we expected to pay US$70 per bag and nobody asked for money. On one flight we were told that a carry-on weighing over 15 pounds would cost US$25 but nobody weighed my 35 pound backpack – so no extra fee. Just over a year ago most international flights did not charge for checked bags – NO MORE!
The fees charged for baggage are rising faster than inflation and international flights have almost eliminated free checked bags while some are now charging for carry-ons (what’s the difference between a carry-on and a personnel item?? If you want to pick a seat before the flight expect to pay between US$25 and US$45. If I don’t want to pay does that mean that my wife sits in the front of the plane while I’m in the back?? Additionally, there is a growing trend to eliminate any free options for economy tickets – carry-ons, onboard food, maybe using the lavatory?? All of this now requires a reevaluation of economy ticket fares.
Recently we booked a flight from Rome to Amsterdam with KLM where if we selected an economy ticket we would have paid US$70 per bag but if we selected Economy Plus that included one free bag each the fare went up by US$37.
Because of all that is happening you need to use this guide as a starting point and a way of comparing airlines, but you also need to confirm current fees at the time of booking. For example from October 2023 to May 2024 Delta raised the charge for a first bag from US$30 to US$35 and 2nd bag from 40 to $45. For Frontier Airlines there is no published price list – you’ll need to check your flight by logging in on their website HERE.
Some US based airlines will allow you to prepay for your bags using points, but mostly only on domestic flights?? We’re expecting card readers to be installed on lavatory doors soon…
UPDATED April 2024
U.S. Airlines Baggage Fees on Domestic Flights
Alaska Airlines Checked Bags 1st – $30, 2nd – $40, 3rd + – $100, Overweight Bag – $75 Oversized or overweight Bags $100 each. Carry On 1 – Free
American Airlines Checked Bags 1st – $30, 2nd – $40 3rd – $150, Overweight Bags 1 – $100 to $200 Oversized Bags 1 – $200 Carry On 1 – Free to $30. Free bag excluded for Basic Economy
Delta Airlines Checked bags 1st – $35, 2nd – $45 3rd – $100, Overweight Bags 1 – $100 to $200
Frontier Airlines Checked Bags 1st – $40 to $75, 2nd – $50 to $60 3+ – $75 to $80 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100. Carry On 1 free – The size of your one included personal item will be checked during boarding. Items larger than the allowed dimensions are subject to an additional charge of $35 plus.
Hawaiian Airlines Checked Bags 1st – $30, 2nd – $40, 3rd+ $100, Overweight Bags over 70# $200, Oversized Bags $100 Carry On 1 – Free/
JetBlue Airways Checked Bags 1st – $35, 2nd – $60 3rd+ – $100, Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 Carry On 1 – Free
Southwest Airlines Checked Bags 1st – Free, 2nd – Free, 3rd – Free, Overweight Bags 1 – $75 Oversized Bags 1 – $75 Carry On 1 – Free
Spirit Airlines Checked Bags 1st – $40 to $75, 2nd – $60 to $100 3+ – $85 Overweight Bags 1 – $30 to $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 to $150 Carry On 1 – $37 to $65. Fees may be waived based on member status.
Sun Country Airlines Checked Bags 1st – $35, 2nd – $50, Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags – $100 to $150 Carry On 1 – Free
United Airlines The airlines no longer publishes a baggage fee schedule. To calculate cost based on a flight and bag description click HERE.
Virgin America Checked Bags 1st – $35 2nd – $50+ Overweight Bags 1 – $50 to $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100. Carry On 1 – Free
U.S. & International Airlines Baggage Fees on Most International Flights
Aer Lingus Checked Bags 1st – Free 2nd – $100 3+ – $100 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 Carry On 1 – Free
Aeroflot Russian Airlines Checked Bags 1st – Free 2 – $50 3+ – $150 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 to $150 Oversized Bags 1 – $100 to $150 Carry On 1 – Free
Aeromexico Checked Bags 1st – $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 1st – $26 2 – $37 3+ – $105 Overweight Bag 1 – $105 Oversized Bags 1 – $105 Carry On 1 – Free
Air China Checked Bags 1st – 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 1st – Free 2 – $80 to $100 3+ – $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 Oversized Bags 1 – $300 Carry On 1 – Free
Air India Checked Bags 1st – 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 1st – Free 2 – $150 3+ – $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $150 Oversized Bags 1 – $150 Carry On 1 – Free
Air Tahiti Nui Checked Bags 1st – 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 1st – $25, 2 – $25 3+ – $75 Overweight Bags 1 – $75 Oversized Bags 1st – $75 Carry On 1 – Free
Alitalia Checked Bags 1st – Free Carry On 1 – Free
All Nippon Airways Checked Bags 1st – 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 1st – $30 to $75, 2nd – $75 to $553+ – $100 to $200 Overweight Bags 1 – $100 to $450 Oversized Bags 1 – $150 to $200 Carry On 1 – Free
Avianca Checked Bags 1st – 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 1st – 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 – $75, 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
Because of the constant changing fees consider the above information for comparison purposes only. To help you reach an informed decision check with the actual airlines. Following is a collection of links to a number of airlines baggage web page*
- When using the above links you may discover that many airlines are removing dedicated baggage fee pages.
The Intentional Travelers 