Airline Baggage Fees
Compared. Side by Side.
Stop getting surprised at the gate. Every checked bag fee, carry-on charge, and oversize penalty for every major US airline — one table, updated daily.
2026 Baggage Fee Comparison
Click any column header to sort. All fees in USD. Prices reflect standard economy fares.
Showing 19 of 19 airlines
| # | Airline | Book | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FREE | FREE | $50 | $75 | FREE | None | Book ↗ | |
| 2 | | FREE | FREE | FREE | $200 | $125 | Always Free ✓ | Book ↗ |
| 3 | BreezePoints members and Nicest fare includes bags. One of the lowest bag fees available. | FREE | $20 | $20 | $100 | $50 | None | Book ↗ |
| 4 | | FREE | $20 | $30 | $75 | $50 | None | Book ↗ |
| 5 | FREE | $25 | $25 | — | FREE | None | Book ↗ | |
| 6 | First checked bag fee is lower than most majors. Premier Club members get free bags. | FREE | $30 | $40 | $175 | $50 | Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard® — 1 free checked bag | Book ↗ |
| 7 | Regional carrier serving Florida, Bahamas, and Caribbean. Personal item free. | $30 | $30 | $30 | $75 | $50 | None | Book ↗ |
| 8 | | FREE | $35 | $45 | $200 | $100 | Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select — 1 free checked bag | Book ↗ |
| 9 | | FREE | $35 | $45 | $200 | $100 | Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex — 1 free checked bag | Book ↗ |
| 10 | | FREE | $35 | $45 | $200 | $100 | United℠ Explorer Card — 1 free checked bag | Book ↗ |
| 11 | | FREE | $35 | $50 | $175 | $150 | JetBlue Plus Card — 1 free checked bag | Book ↗ |
| 12 | | FREE | $35 | $45 | $175 | $100 | Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® — 1 free checked bag | Book ↗ |
| 13 | | $35 | $35 | $35 | $100 | $75 | None | Book ↗ |
| 14 | Basic Economy on Delta still includes carry-on (unlike AA/UA). Bag fees same as Main Cabin. | FREE | $35 | $45 | $200 | $100 | Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex — still waives 1 bag on Basic Economy | Book ↗ |
| 15 | Basic Economy: carry-on NOT included (gate-check fee applies). Same checked bag fees as Economy. | $45 | $40 | $50 | $200 | $100 | United℠ Explorer Card — still waives 1 bag on Basic Economy | Book ↗ |
| 16 | Basic Economy: carry-on NOT included. Overhead bin denied at gate. | $45 | $45 | $50 | $200 | $100 | Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select — still waived on Basic Economy | Book ↗ |
| 17 | Carry-on is charged. WORKS Bundles include free bags. Book early for lowest rates. | $45 | $49 | $79 | $150 | $75 | None | Book ↗ |
| 18 | | $50 | $50 | $55 | $75 | $75 | Allegiant World Mastercard — 1 free checked bag/flight | Book ↗ |
| 19 | Carry-on bag is NOT free. Pay at booking to get lowest rate. Airport prices are highest. | $79 | $79 | $99 | $200 | $100 | None | Book ↗ |
Fees verified Jun 1, 2026. Always confirm on the airline's official site before booking.
View Sources & MethodologyCards That Waive Baggage Fees
The right co-branded airline credit card pays for itself in the first round trip. Here are the best cards for avoiding bag fees on major carriers.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
1st checked bag free for you + up to 8 companions on same reservation
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
First checked bag free for you + up to 4 companions
United℠ Explorer Card
First checked bag free for you and one companion
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
Free checked bag for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation
5 Ways to Avoid Baggage Fees (Without a Credit Card)
Most airlines allow a free personal item (under-seat bag). Airlines like Spirit and Frontier charge for overhead carry-ons but never the personal item. A 40L backpack often qualifies.
Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant charge significantly more at the gate than during online check-in. Always prepay when booking for the lowest rate.
Most airlines waive bag fees for status holders. Even the lowest tier (AA Gold, Delta Silver, United Silver) typically includes 1–2 free checked bags.
Southwest's "Bags Fly Free" policy means 2 checked bags are always included. On routes where Southwest competes, this makes them significantly cheaper than the sticker fare suggests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about airline baggage fees in 2026.
Southwest Airlines is the clear winner — their first 2 checked bags are always free for every passenger, on every fare. Among airlines that charge, Breeze Airways ($20) and Avelo Airlines ($20) currently offer the lowest first checked bag fees in the US.
Airline Baggage Fees in 2026: What You Need to Know
Airline baggage fees have become one of the largest sources of ancillary revenue for US carriers, generating over $7 billion annually across the industry. For travelers, understanding the fee structure before booking can mean the difference of $100+ per trip.
The landscape divides sharply into two camps: legacy carriers (American, Delta, United) that charge $35–$45 for the first bag but offer credit card waivers, and ultra-low-cost carriers (Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant) that charge for almost everything but advertise cheaper base fares.
Southwest remains the outlier — its "bags fly free" policy has been a consistent competitive differentiator for decades. When comparing fares, always add bag fees to the ticket price to get the true cost of flying.
Airlines With Free Checked Bags
How to Use This Comparison Table
Fee for a bag that goes in the overhead bin. Most legacy carriers include this free; ultra-low-cost carriers typically charge $45–$79.
1st and 2nd checked bags. Bags must be under 50 lbs and 62 linear inches to avoid overweight/oversize surcharges.
Extra fees for bags exceeding size or weight limits, added on top of the standard checked bag fee. Can add $75–$200 per bag.
Sources & Data Verification
All baggage fee data on this page is sourced directly from each airline's official website. We do not rely on third-party aggregators for pricing data. Each entry is manually verified and we link directly to each airline's official site for your own verification below.
Disclaimer: Baggage fees shown are for standard domestic economy fares and may vary by route, fare class, loyalty program status, and booking method. Fees are subject to change without notice. Always verify fees on the airline's official website before purchasing your ticket. Some links on this page contain affiliate tracking codes — we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our fee data or rankings.