Checked bag now often $110

Checking one suitcase on a domestic round trip now often costs about $90, and on some airlines and routes it can push past $100. (usatoday.com) United raised its standard North America checked-bag fees in early April to $45 if prepaid online or $50 at the airport for a first bag, and $55 or $60 for a second bag. American said on April 9 that it was also adjusting bag fees and tightening its Basic Economy rules, while Delta’s baggage page now lists $45 each way for a first checked bag and $55 for a second on domestic trips. (cnbc.com) (news.aa.com) (delta.com) JetBlue now charges $39 to $49 for a first checked bag and $59 to $69 for a second on most trips within the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, depending on when you pay and whether travel falls in peak periods. Alaska said April 9 that it was lifting North America bag fees by $5 for the first bag and $10 for the second, and its current fee page shows $45 and $55 for Main Cabin and Saver travelers in North America. (jetblue.com) (news.alaskaair.com) (alaskaair.com) Southwest, which long advertised two free checked bags, changed course in 2025 and then raised first- and second-bag fees by another $10 effective April 9, 2026. Its current fee table shows Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares paying $45 for a first bag and $55 for a second, while Choice Extra still includes two free bags. (swamedia.com) (southwest.com 1) (southwest.com 2) The jump lands after airlines turned bag charges into a major revenue stream. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics says U.S. airlines collected $7.3 billion in baggage fees in 2024, with $5.8 billion of that on domestic flying. (bts.gov) (publicnow.com) Airlines say many travelers can still avoid the charge through loyalty status, premium cabins or co-branded credit cards. Delta says eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express cardmembers get a first checked bag free, and Southwest says Rapid Rewards credit cardholders and A-List members get that first bag waived. (delta.com) (southwest.com 1) (southwest.com 2) That makes the fee increase hit occasional travelers hardest, while giving airlines and card issuers a stronger sales pitch for branded cards. CNBC Select reported this week that with the new pricing, most airlines now charge at least $90 to check one bag on a domestic round trip. (cnbc.com) For passengers who do not have status, a credit card or a premium fare, the old rule of thumb has changed fast: checking a bag is no longer a minor add-on, but a line item that can rival a cheap ticket. (usatoday.com)