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Airline baggage fees chart, updated

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Airline baggage fees chart, updated

Posted by George Hobica on Sunday, January 17, 2010

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 Jan 18, 2010.

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

Airtran

 $0 $15

 $10 paid online, $20 at airport $25

 $50

 51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $29 $39

71 to 99 lbs: $69 $79

62-70 total linear inches: $29 $39; 71-80 inches $69 $79

Alaska

 $0 ($15 eff. 7/1/2009)

 $0 $25

3rd-6th bags: $100; 7th or more: $150

51-100 lbs: $50

 63-80 inches: $50; 81-115 inches: $75

American

 $20 or $25 for tickets bought after Feb 1; ($15 to/from Canada)

 $30 or $35 for tickets bought after Feb 1 ($25 to/from Canada)

Bags 3-5: $100; 6th or more: $200

51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $50; 71-100 lbs: $100. These fees may be higher on international routes

63 inches and over: $150

Continental

 $23 ($2 more if not paid online)

 $32 ($3 more if not paid online)

 $75 nonstop/$100 connecting

51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $50
Over 70 lbs not accepted.

63 inches and over: $100

Delta

 $23 ($2 more if not paid online)

$32 ($3 more if not paid online) $50 for European travel

For travel within the US and Canada: Third bag: $125; Bags 4 to 10 $200 each;  For travel to Europe: no charge for first bag, $50 for second; $200 for 3rd,  $350 for 4th and 5th, $600 for bags 6-10).

51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $90 ($150 for travel outside US)
71 to 100 lbs: $175 ($300 each outside US)

 63-80 total linear inches: $150 $175

Frontier

 $0 $15

 $25

 $50

51-100 lbs:    $75

63-80 inches: $75 

JetBlue

 $0

 $20

 $75

51-70 lbs: $50; 71-99 lbs: $100

63-80 inches: $75

Northwest

 See Delta

 See Delta

 See Delta

 See Delta

See Delta

Spirit

$19 paid online ($25 if paid at airport)

$25 (online or at airport)

Bags 3-5: $100 (online or at airport)

51-70 lbs: $50

71 to 99 lbs: $100

62-79 inches: $100; 80 inches and over: $150 

Southwest

 $0

$0

3-9: $50; 10 and more: $110

51 -100 lbs: $50

62-80 inches: $50

United

 $25  ($2 discount if paid online)

 $35 ($3 discount if paid online)

 Bags 1-4: $125; 5th or more: $250

 $100

63-115 inches: $125

US Airways

$25 at airport, $23 online

 $35 at airport, $32 online, $50, online, to Europe ($55 at airport)

 Bags 3-9: $100

 51-70 lbs (23-32kgs): $70

71 to 99 lbs: $120

 62-80 total linear inches: $100

Virgin America

$20 (up to 70 pounds)

$20 (up to 50 lbs)

Bags 3-10 $20

51-70 lbs $50; 71-100 lbs $100

$50 (63-80 linear inches)

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southwest jetblue the way to go. people are bringing more crap on the plan and its getting more crowded. why the f charge for baggage? the planes have empty space below. dumb concept.
by stantheman on Monday, February 08, 2010
I HAVE BEEN FLYING WITH DELTA FOR YEARS AND YEARS BUT LOOKS LIKE SOUTHWEST IS THE SH*T RIGHT NOW SOOOOOOO GUESS WHAT I AM SWITCHING TO SOUTHWEST. LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING THE SAME. YOU OTHER AIRLINES JUST KEEP DIGGING YOUR GRAVE CAUSE YOU WILL BE OUTA BUISNESS SOON WITH THEM BAG FEES
by BAG MAN on Sunday, February 07, 2010
I had no idea about the baggage fees. I haven't flown since May 08 and there were not any than. I already bought our plane tickets through Delta...so I could get Skymiles. Well, I'm not doing that again...ridiculous, when we booked the flight nothing was mentioned of these bag fees. I'm switching to Southwest...Delta can jump in a lake.
by RunnerMom on Thursday, February 04, 2010
Thank you so much for the heads up on the baggage costs as I will be taking a trip with Continental Airlines. This is just frightful to have to pay for your bags to be put on a plane as for all the years we did not need this at all. What next tokens for the restroom??????? Anyhow thanks a bunch for letting us all know==GOOD JOB
by Lin on Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Do you have anything on Czech Airlines or Lufthansa?
by katie on Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Can you tell me if most airlines are allowing you to check a box? Also - you say these fees are cumulative, meaning - they charge a fee for checking the box & then another fee if it is over sized & a certain weight? Thanks for your help. This is a great resource site.coco
by coco on Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Just booked on Frontier, here's what they charge "Economy" fare for First Checked Bag: $20 Second #30. If you book "Classic" fare First & Second bag are free. Since we have 1 bag each "Economy" is a beter deal, however if we had 2 bags each it would be cheaper to book "Classic".
by Cindy on Sunday, January 24, 2010
How is this calculted? Is this per flight leg, or charged for the total to & from departure airport to the final destination for the flight. What is your charge if you switch airlines for a longer trip, like United for the 1st half of the trip, then Frontier for the 2nd half? Thanks, dwcport
by dwcport on Sunday, January 24, 2010
I've flown NW (Delta) for decades, and never flown Southwest. I'm switching! Delta could raise the fee again later in the year, but may include a free restroom token in the price.
by spacepilot500 on Wednesday, January 20, 2010
This is great. I'll be flying Southwest from now on. The other airlines are trying to put themselves out of business. With these fees no wonder they're losing business
by aparker7113 on Tuesday, January 19, 2010
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