Checked‑bag fees rise
Checked‑bag fees are increasing across carriers — Alaska Airlines raised its checked‑bag fees starting April 11, joining five other major airlines that have recently hiked charges. (rollingout.com)
Alaska Airlines raised checked-bag fees for flights booked on or after April 10, pushing the first bag to $45 and the second to $55. (news.alaskaair.com) Alaska said the first-bag fee rose by $5 and the second-bag fee rose by $10 on North American Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines flights. Its baggage page now lists $45 for a first checked bag and $55 for a second checked bag in North America. (news.alaskaair.com) (alaskaair.com) The move landed in the middle of a broader April price reset across large United States carriers. United raised checked-bag fees for tickets bought on or after April 3, Delta and Southwest raised theirs starting April 8 and April 9, and American changed its fees on April 9. (today.com) (cnbc.com) (southwest.com) (news.aa.com) The new prices are clustering around the same range. Delta’s domestic standard fees are $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second, Southwest’s are $45 and $55 on most fares booked on or after April 9, United now charges $45 if travelers prepay for a first bag, and American now charges $50 at the airport or $45 online for a first bag on domestic itineraries. (delta.com) (southwest.com) (today.com) (aa.com) JetBlue’s pricing now swings by season and when the bag is added. Its posted rates show a first checked bag at $39 off-peak or $49 peak when added more than 24 hours before departure, with a $10 discount for adding the bag before check-in. (jetblue.com) Airlines have tied the increases to fuel. Alaska cited “ongoing volatility in fuel prices and an uncertain global environment,” and Airlines for America data cited by CNBC showed jet fuel in major United States cities at $4.69 a gallon on April 6, up nearly 88% since February 28. (news.alaskaair.com) (cnbc.com) The fee hikes do not hit every traveler equally. Alaska said Atmos Rewards status members, eligible cardholders, Club 49 members in Alaska, and Huaka‘i members in Hawaii keep their existing bag benefits, while Southwest and Delta still waive some bag fees for elite members, certain fare classes, active-duty military travelers, or co-branded cardholders. (news.alaskaair.com) (southwest.com) (delta.com) American paired its bag-fee increase with a tighter basic economy product. The airline said basic economy customers will pay $5 more than Main Cabin customers to check bags starting May 18, and some elite-seat and upgrade perks on those fares are being cut. (news.aa.com) For travelers, the practical change is simple: the base fare is less likely to be the full price of the trip in April 2026. On many domestic bookings, one checked bag now adds roughly $35 to $50 each way before any seat assignment or change fee enters the math. (alaskaair.com) (delta.com) (jetblue.com) (aa.com)
