Adjusting to Airline Checked Bag Fees
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Photo by coteYesterday, a friend of mine was preparing to buy a plane ticket for an interview; he was all set to buy the ticket on American Airlines, which offered one of the lowest prices, until at the last minute he remembered that American charges for a first checked bag. At $15 each way, that quickly changes the cost comparison, and so he stepped back to reconsider his options.
Unfortunately, baggage fees seem like they are here to stay. What started as a small fee for a second checked bag a few months ago has turned into fees for checking anything on many airlines, and some airlines are making it almost prohibitively expensive to check a second bag. What is one to do?
The Actual Fees
First, some facts. The chart below lists the current checked bag policies that I found when I quickly checked the websites of various airlines.
| Airline | First Checked Bag (one way!) |
Second Checked Bag (one way!) |
| American Airlines | $15 | $25 |
| Continental Airlines | $15 | $25 |
| Delta Airlines | Free! | $50 |
| JetBlue Airways | Free! | $20 |
| Southwest Airlines | Free! | Free! |
| United Airlines | $15 | $50 |
| US Airways | $15 | $25 |
* Note: Check with your airline to confirm bag fees; these things change all the time.
Some Bags Are Still Free
First thing to note is that Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest still allow you to check your first bag for free. After that, Delta and JetBlue will make you pay for a second bag, while Southwest will give you a second one for free. In fact, Southwest’s web page right now makes a point of advertising that they have “No First Checked Bag Fee, No Second Checked Bag Free, No Change Fee, No Window or Aisle Seat Fee, No Curbside Checkin Fee, No Phone Reservation Fee, No Snack Fee, No Fuel Surcharge.” Pretty cool.
These Are One Way Fees
Don’t get confused — these fees are for each way. So that means a second checked bag on United will cost you an extra $100 round-trip!
International Trips — Usually Still Free
One thing that seems to often be overlooked is that these fees apply to Domestic US flights; on most airlines, international flights still allow two free checked bags. Note that many US airlines, for the purposes of airline operations, consider Canada a domestic destination – so on American Airlines, for example, that trip to Canada will cost you for a checked bag, while Mexico will get you two free bags.
Some People Escape The Fees
Although this will not apply to most of us, the major airlines tend to exempt their best customers from baggage fees. On American, for example, those traveling on First or Business Class tickets or those with AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Platinum, or Gold Status may check two bags for free. I guess paying more has its perks…
Do You Need To Check A Bag?
Earlier this year, a friend of mine insisted on checking a bag and paying the checked-bag fee in order to bring along one or two specific toiletries — specifically toiletries that could have been purchased at the other end for far less than the checked bag fee!
Can you make do with just a carry-on? Most airlines have fairly generous carry on allowances, all things considered. On American, the restriction is one bag and one personal items, as long as neither weighs more than 40 lbs and that the bag is no more than 45 inches and the personal item is no more than 36 inches when you add length+width+height.
What about toiletries? You are of course still allowed your one liter baggie that can be filled with liquids of up to 3.4 ounces each. Do you need more? Can you purchase it at the other end?
Consider Shipping? I have never been in a position where this has made sense economically, but I’m sure there are cases where shipping items in order to avoid a checked bag fee makes sense. Keep in mind that with advance notice, most hotels will accept packages for you.
These days I have gotten very good at traveling with only a carry-on bag, and am thankful that I am still able to pull this off. But if you have to check a bag, it is definitely worth being aware of all of your options.
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