I live in the Twin Cities, which is a Delta Air Lines “fortress” hub. So if I want to travel without a connection, I pretty much have to fly Delta. And recently, I noticed it was becoming more expensive in one obvious way.
When I bought a ticket for my son to fly home and nearly spit out my coffee when I saw that a standard checked bag cost $15 more than it did the last time I paid for one in 2024.
Delta isn't alone. The legacy carriers all raised fees by about $10 a bag in spring 2026, citing fuel prices and operational costs. But the more useful thing I found while comparing them is that nearly all airlines ended up at the same price for first and second checked bags, but there's one that charges more. Also, some give you a "discount" when pre-paying online, while others charge the same price at the check-in counter.
If you have an upcoming flight and plan to check a bag, here's what each carrier charges now, and where the few remaining ways around the fee still exist.
In this article
American Airlines
In the wake of the 2026 fuel spike, American Airlines raised its fees for a checked bag from $35 to $45 when you check in online in advance and pay at that time. A second checked bag costs $55 if you pay online.
Travelers who wait to pay at the ticket counter will pay $5 more per bag ($50 for a first bag, $60 for a second bag). The news is even worse for basic economy passengers, who pay an additional $5 per bag above the standard fees.
If you can’t pack light, you can avoid baggage fees on American flights by being an AAdvantage elite member, active-duty military, or by flying in premium cabins. Holders of certain American Airlines co-branded credit cards may also get free checked bags as a perk of membership.
Delta Air Lines
As noted, my go-to airline Delta hiked its standard bag fees by $10 in April.
Your first bag will now cost you $45 (up from $35 in 2025, and $30 in 2024), while your second checked bag will run $55. The price is the same whether you pay online before leaving your house or slide your card across the airport counter at check-in.
You can, however, save money on baggage fees with Delta by holding SkyMiles Medallion status or carrying an eligible, Delta-branded credit card. As a Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholder, I’ve avoided bag fees for years, and the lower-tier cards also also waive fees on the first and second bags for cardholders, as well as passengers traveling on the same reservation.
Active-duty military, as well as passengers flying in Delta One or first class, also enjoy free bags on the airline.
United Airlines
United Airlines was among the first major U.S. carriers to raise its luggage fees in 2026. The carrier’s current baggage pricing structure is similar to American’s, with prepaid bags costing $45 for the first and $55 for the second. Fees increase to $50 and $60, respectively, when you pay at the airport. The current fees are $10 per bag higher than they were before the spring price hike.
However, you can fly with a free checked bag if you are active-duty military, flying in a premium cabin, or have United MileagePlus Premier status. If you hold an eligible MileagePlus credit card, you’ll also receive a baggage fee waiver.
Southwest Airlines
For decades, Southwest Airlines built its brand around perks like two free checked bags on any flight. Sadly, that came to an end in mid-2025 when the airline began charging baggage fees for the first time.
Southwest didn't raise its fees this spring. It didn't have to. It went from free to $45 and $55 in one move, which put it exactly in line with American, Delta, and United. The airline whose entire identity was free bags now charges the industry standard.
You can still waive the fee as an A-List member, in a premium cabin, as active-duty military, or with a Southwest Rapid Rewards credit card. The card is the most generous option in this group: it covers the cardholder plus up to eight additional passengers named on the same reservation.
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways has a reputation for cheap airfare. It has the highest bag fees of any airline here.
The base rate for your first checked bag is $49; your second bag will cost you $69. But if you pay for them more than 24 hours prior to departure, you’ll save $4 on your first bag ($45) and $10 on your second bag ($59).
There’s a hitch, though. Like some rideshare services, JetBlue uses surge pricing for baggage during peak season. So your first bag could cost as much as $59 if you wait to pay for it within 24 hours of departure, while a second bag would be $79.
The only guaranteed way to avoid bag fees is if you’re flying Mint class, have TrueBlue Mosaic status, or hold a JetBlue Plus or Premier credit card. Or, just go ahead and ship your luggage instead of checking it.
Alaska Airlines
When it raised its fees by $10 per bag in 2026, Alaska Airlines eliminated its prepay discount and opted instead for flat fees across the board.
As it stands, checking your first bag costs a flat $45, and a second bag will run you $55, no matter when you pay.
The only exceptions are certain residents of Alaska and Hawaii, travelers flying inter-island in Hawaii, and active-duty military personnel, who are all entitled to discounted or free checked bags.
Elite-level Atmos Rewards members and holders of certain Atmos Rewards or Hawaiian Airlines co-branded credit cards receive bag-fee waivers, as well.
Ultra Low-Cost Carriers
If the answer to $45 bags seems like flying budget instead, check the math first. Allegiant and Frontier Airlines run à la carte pricing, where your ticket buys a seat and a personal item and nothing else.
When flying one of these airlines, your ticket only guarantees you a seat and usually a small personal item, which is often subject to rigid dimensional limits.
Depending on where you’re flying and when you pay for your ticket on either airline, fees for your first bag could be as high as $80. A full-sized carry-on is also subject to fees.
If you wait until you arrive at the airport to pay for a checked bag or you’re forced to check an oversized item, you could be looking at $100 or more for a single bag. Because size limits tend to be smaller on low-cost carriers compared to legacy carriers, you may find that you’re not really saving anything if you need to check a bag.
The Shortcut
$45 is the floor now. Five of the six biggest carriers charge exactly that for a first bag. Switching airlines to save on luggage stopped working this spring.
The online discount only exists on two of them. American and United take $5 off if you pay online instead of at the counter. Delta, Alaska, and Southwest charge the same either way.
JetBlue prices bags like a rideshare app. Its 24-hour cutoff is the only deadline in this group that moves the price, and at peak season a second bag hits $79.
The card perk covers your group, not just you. Southwest waives fees for up to eight additional passengers on the same reservation, and Delta's applies to everyone booked with you.
Budget carriers stop being cheap the moment you check. One bag can cost $80 before you get to the airport, and oversized items cost more than $100.
