Airline baggage fees chart, updated

Posted by George Hobica on Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Here we list, airline by airline, fees for checked bags on major US airlines. These fees are for domestic economy class travel (which in some cases includes Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Canada) only and may be higher on international flights.

There are all kinds of exceptions to these fees, especially for certain classes of frequent flyers and military personnel. These fees are cumulative and are double for round-trip travel. They are subject to change and were accurate to the best of our knowledge as of May 15, 2013.

If you're a heavy packer, you'll want to fly with Airtran, Alaska, Frontier and Southwest, even if there's a cheaper fare on another ailrine.

Airline	First checked bag	Second checked bag	Additional bags	Overweight bags	Oversized bags	Carry-ons
Airtran	$25 (Effective for tickets purchased on or after December 15, 2012, for travel on or after February 13, 2013)	$35 (Effective for tickets purchased on or after December 15, 2012, for travel on or after February 13, 2013)	$75 for the third bag and any piece of baggage after (Effective for tickets purchased on or after December 15, 2012, for travel on or after February 13, 2013)	51-100 lbs (23-45kgs): $50	Oversize baggage rates are based on overall dimensions (length + width + height): items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches will be accepted for a charge of $50 per item.	No charge.
Alaska	$15; $20	$0 $20	3rd, $20; 4th or more $50 each	51-100 lbs: $50	63-80 inches: $50; 81-115 inches: $75	No charge.
Allegiant	At flight check in, $35; gate checked bag: $35; purchased online: $14.99-$29.99; Carryon bags: $10-$35 per segment with a max weight of 25 lbs.	At flight check in, $35; gate checked bag: $35; purchased online: $14.99-$29.99 (Effective May 1, 2013, airport baggage fees increase to $50 for 1st and 2nd bag)	$75 (Effective May 1, 2013, this will increase to $100)	41-70 lbs $50;71-100 lbs $75	"Subject to additional fees"	$10 to $35 if purchased in advance, $35 to $75 if purchased at airport.
American	Within/Between US, US Virgins, Puerto Rico/Canada $25 Europe: $0 Japan/China: $0	Within/Between US, US Virgins, Puerto Rico/Canada: $35 Between US and Caribbean: $40 (was $30) Europe: $60 Japan/China: $0	Within/Between US, US Virgins, Puerto Rico/Canada/Caribbean $150 Europe: "Contact reservations"	Within/Between US, US Virgins, Puerto Rico/Canada/Caribbean: 51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $100; 71-100 lbs: $200 Europe: same as above. Japan/China: 51-69 lbs. $60; 71-100 lbs. $450 (gulp!)	Within/Between US, US Virgins, Puerto Rico/Canada/Caribbean:63 inches and over: $200 Europe: same as above. Japan/China: 63 inches and over $150	No charge.
Delta	Within/between US and Canada: $25 US/Canada to/from Caribbean: $25 US/Canada to/from Mexico, Central and South America: $0 North America to Europe, Middle East, Asia: $0	Within US/Canada: $35; Between US/Canada and Caribbean/Bermuda/Central America/Mexico $40; South America (exc. Brazil), Asia, Middle East $60 if checked in online, $75 at airport; $80 (Europe) checked in online, $100 at airport.	For travel within the US and Canada: Third bag: $125; Bags 4 to 10 $200 each; For travel to/from Europe: no charge for first or second; $200 ($285 effective Mar 12 2012) for 3-10 extra bags see Delta additional, overweight and oversized fees	Within/between US and Canada: 51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $90; 71-100 lbs $175; Between North/South America and Europe/North Africa: 51-70 lbs: $100; bags over 70 lbs not allowed) Other destinations: 51-70 lbs: $75; 71-100 lbs: $200	63-80 total linear inches: $150-$175; 81-115 inches: $300 (larger bags not allowed)	No charge.
Frontier	$20	$20	$50 for travel through July 10, 2013; $75 for tickets purchased on or after February 17, 2013, for travel on or after July 11, 2013	51-100 lbs: $75	63-80 inches: $75	$25 to $100 for Basic Fares booked via 3rd party sites.
JetBlue	$0	$40	$75	51-70 lbs: $50; 71-99 lbs: $100	63-80 inches: $75	No charge.
Spirit	Checked bags: $30 paid online ($45 if paid at airport) Carry on bag $35 online, $50 at airport; $25 for $9 Club members	$40 online or $55 at airport	Bags 3-5: $100 at airport; $95 online	41-50 lbs $25; 51-70 lbs $50; 71 to 99 lbs: $100	62-79 inches: $100; 80 inches and over: $150	For $9 Fare Club Members, $25 at booking/ before check-in. For non-members, $35 at booking/before check-in. $40 if booked by phone.
Southwest	$0	$0	$75 (Effective for tickets purchased on or after December 15, 2012, for travel on or after February 13, 2013). For tickets purchased prior to December 15, 2012, your 3rd through 9th bag will incur a charge of $50 per piece, and any bag or item thereafter will be $110 per piece.	51 -100 lbs: $75 For tickets purchased prior to December 15, 2012, overweight baggage fee is $50 per item	62-80 inches: $75 For tickets purchased prior to December 15, 2012, oversize baggage fee is $50 per item	No charge.
United	Between/within US and Canada: $25 ($0 to other international destinations)	Between/within US and Canada: $35; to/from US and Canada and Carribean/Mexico/Central America: $40 Europe, Africa, Middle East, India: $100 Other international destinations: $70 ($0 for Japan)	Within and between US, Canada, Puerto Rico, US Virgins: $100; Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America: $150; Any other continent: $200 per bag each way	Within and between US, Canada, Puerto Rico and US Virgins: 51-70 lbs $100 each; 71-99.9 lbs $200 each; Other routes: $400	Within and between US, Canada, Puerto Rico and US Virgins: more than 62 linear inches: $100; Other routes: $200	No charge.
US Airways	U.S. / Canada / Latin America / Caribbean / Bermuda / South America (except Brazil): $25 Other international: $0	U.S. / Canada / Latin America / Caribbean / Bermuda / South America (except Brazil): $35 Transatlantic: $100 Transpacific: $0	U.S. / Canada / Latin America / Caribbean / Bermuda / South America (except Brazil): $125 for third bag; $200 4th-9th bag; Other international: 3rd-9th bag $200; Brazil $85	Within US/Canada/Latin America/Caribbean: 51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $90 71 to 99 lbs: $175 To/from Europe and Israel: 51-70 lbs. $150; 71-100 lbs. $175	62-80 total linear inches: $100 $175	No charge.
Virgin America	$25 (up to 70 pounds)	$25 (up to 50 lbs)	Bags 3-10 $25	51-70 lbs $50; 71-100 lbs $100	$50 (63-80 linear inches)	No charge.

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Airline baggage fees chart, updated

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