Airline baggage charges can differ enormously, and there is nothing worse than being hit without warning charges after reserving.
At TPG, we intention to please — and by that, we imply really assist readers spend smarter to journey higher. On this information, we have summarized baggage charges by airline.
How a lot does it price to verify a bag?
The chart beneath compares the price of your first, second and third checked bag on main home airways in the US.
Be aware that this desk assumes you are buying an everyday home fare kind and checking commonplace baggage that is not obese or oversize. It additionally assumes you don’t have any elite standing and don’t carry a cobranded airline bank card with a checked-bag profit. The value for flights exterior of the U.S. may differ barely.
| Provider | First bag | Second bag | Third bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airways | $35 | $45 | $150 |
| American Airways | $35 to $40 | $45 | $150 |
| Delta Air Strains | $35 | $45 | $150 |
| Frontier Airways | $55 to $100 | $73 to $94 | $93 to $110 |
| Hawaiian Airways | $25 to $50 | $20 to $45 | $50 to $150 |
| JetBlue | $35 to $40 | $50 to $60 | $125 |
| Southwest Airways | $0 | $0 | $125 or $135 |
| Spirit Airways | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| United Airways | $35 to $40 | $45 to $50 | $150 |
As you possibly can see, these charges are far and wide and vary from $0 to $100 on your first checked bag. With some airways, you can’t verify baggage with a primary fare kind, whereas different airways supply bundled fares that embody checked baggage. Pay shut consideration to which fare you buy to reduce baggage charges.
You will additionally discover that some airways’ costs for checked luggage rely on the flight booked. With Frontier and Spirit, you should use a fare calculator to see the precise value on your particular flight; paying on your baggage in the course of the reservation course of would be the least costly choice with these two airways. For Hawaiian Airways, you may pay a cheaper price for flights between the islands and the next value for flights to, from and inside North America.
Lastly, whereas most airways let you verify a bag as much as 50 kilos, Spirit and Frontier cap the load of an ordinary checked bag at 40 kilos. After that, you may pay a reasonably penny for obese luggage.
How a lot does it price to convey a carry-on bag?
Some airways additionally cost for carry-on baggage. That is often restricted to low-cost carriers, however you may need to take note of your allowances earlier than your subsequent flight. For some airways, you may discover that checking a bag is inexpensive than bringing it on the airplane with you.
This is a chart indicating carry-on bag allowances for home flights with most main U.S. airways.
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| Provider | Allowance | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airways | One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise | |
| American Airways | One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise | The non-public merchandise should be capable of match beneath the seat in entrance of you. |
| Delta Air Strains | One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise | |
| Frontier Airways | One private merchandise; a carry-on merchandise prices $55 to $99 | The non-public merchandise should be capable of match beneath the seat in entrance of you. |
| Hawaiian Airways | One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise | |
| JetBlue | One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise | Blue Primary passengers can not convey a bigger carry-on for the overhead bin, only a private merchandise. |
| Southwest Airways | One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise | |
| Spirit Airways | One private merchandise; a carry-on merchandise prices $26 to $65 | |
| United Airways | One private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise | Primary financial system passengers will not be allowed to convey a bigger carry-on for the overhead bin, only a private merchandise. |
You will discover that almost all airways do not cost a payment to convey a carry-on bag, however you might be restricted to at least one private merchandise and one carry-on merchandise.
A private merchandise is a backpack, laptop computer bag, digital camera bag or one other small merchandise you possibly can stow beneath the seat in entrance of you, whereas a carry-on is usually a bigger bag or small suitcase that matches within the overhead bin above your seat. Every airline has totally different dimension limits, so you may need to verify your baggage dimension and your airline’s coverage earlier than heading to the airport.
As with checked luggage, the payment for bringing a carry-on bag for Frontier and Spirit varies. Each airways supply a baggage calculator to verify the value when reserving your flight.
With regards to primary financial system fares, United is the one one of many Large Three main U.S. airways that does not enable a free carry-on bag. United additionally fees an extra $25 gate dealing with payment (on high of the common baggage payment) if an financial system passenger brings a full-size bag to the gate which should then be checked.
Greatest airways for bags charges
As you possibly can see, Southwest is by far the most effective airline for bags charges because it’s the one airline that permits each two carry-on gadgets (one private merchandise and one bigger carry-on bag) and two checked luggage free of charge.
If that you must verify a 3rd bag, the payment is $150.
On the alternative finish of the spectrum, Spirit and Frontier are the 2 worst airways for bags charges. Though fares is likely to be decrease, you may need to calculate your baggage charges to find out whether or not your general journey price is decrease.
Ideas for avoiding checked bag charges
As a result of baggage charges can add up shortly, attempt to keep away from them at any time when doable.
The simplest method to do that is to make use of the corresponding airline’s cobranded bank card. For the entire above carriers, besides Frontier, there’s at the very least one bank card that’ll waive the payment on your first checked bag. Most additionally prolong the favor to further companions touring on the identical reservation (excluding Hawaiian).
Nonetheless, perks differ by card and airline; some are extra restrictive than others. For instance, to make the most of the primary bag free of charge profit on the United℠ Explorer Card, you have to buy your ticket utilizing the cardboard.
With most different airline playing cards, merely having cardholder standing is enough, whatever the card you swiped on the time of buy. Equally, with the United Explorer Card, just one further passenger can reap the advantages; in the meantime, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Specific Card permits as much as eight touring companions to verify their luggage for no further price.
One other choice to keep away from checked bag charges is to carry elite standing with the airline’s frequent flyer program. All airways talked about right here supply at the very least one free checked bag to sure elite members (besides Southwest, which gives two free checked luggage to everybody).
For instance, American permits one commonplace, 50-pound bag for Gold, two for Platinum and three for Platinum Professional and Govt Platinum.
Listed below are a couple of extra tips to keep away from checked baggage charges, together with obese or oversize charges:
Gate verify
Most airways let you gate-check carry-on baggage for no further price — and so they’ll usually pressure vacationers to take action when overhead bin house is tight.
The exceptions are sometimes low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier, and legacy carriers when touring on primary financial system fares. In any other case, most airways are completely satisfied to gate-check nearly no matter you want — and chances are you’ll even have luck doing this earlier than boarding begins.
When you gate-check your baggage, make sure the airline checks it by to baggage declare. Nonetheless, you have to declare some gadgets, equivalent to strollers, wheelchairs and even rolling carry-ons on regional planes, on the gate upon arrival.
Learn the principles carefully
As punitive as airline baggage insurance policies may be, some useful exceptions exist. For instance, most U.S. carriers allow you to verify skis, snowboards and boots as a single checked bag — even when your skis are in a special bag out of your boots. The identical usually holds for hockey gear, which generally does not require an extra payment so long as it is inside the usual weight allotment.
Earlier than you go to the airport, take a screenshot of the principles in case you encounter an agent who’s unfamiliar with unusual checked gadgets.
Strive curbside check-in
Test-in brokers on the curb are sometimes contractors, not airline staff. So, they could have much less incentive to strictly implement the airline’s baggage guidelines. Moreover, some places might not have scales to weigh the luggage.
Carry the heavy stuff on board
Within the U.S., carry-on weight restrictions are not often (if ever) enforced. So, when packing on your subsequent trip, put heavy gadgets in your carry-on bag quite than threat having to pay for obese checked luggage.
Purchase a baggage scale
For below $10, yow will discover a small, light-weight hanging scale for weighing baggage. These scales are sometimes fairly correct and can assist you keep below your required weight. You will additionally keep away from being that individual repacking their luggage on the airport and holding up everybody else.
Backside line
Bag charges are an unlucky actuality of air journey in 2025. In sure conditions, you may wind up spending a whole lot of {dollars} past the unique value you paid on your ticket. So, fastidiously think about baggage insurance policies earlier than leaping on that “nice deal.”
If there is a cobranded bank card or a straightforward approach to earn elite standing (one that provides waived baggage charges) for the actual airline you are flying, it is likely to be price wanting into these choices. You may discover that the annual payment on the bank card is way lower than the checked bag charges for your loved ones over the course of the yr.
For airline-specific baggage guides, try:
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