Checked-bag fees rose across the US industry in April 2026, and the old mental model — “$30 a bag, Southwest is free” — is now wrong on both counts. Here is the current, side-by-side picture: a first checked bag is about $45 prepaid online on the big network carriers, a second is $55, JetBlue undercuts them at $39 off-peak, and ultra-low-cost Frontier sells bags dynamically from about $29 — while charging for carry-ons that the others include free.
Fees change several times a year and vary by fare class, route and when you pay. The figures below are the lower prepaid-online, domestic main-cabin rates; airport-paid and international rates are higher. Always confirm on the airline’s own site for your fare and route. See our full baggage-fee comparison page for the live data table.
Checked- and carry-on bag fees by airline (2026)
| Airline | Carry-on (basic fare) | 1st checked | 2nd checked | Overweight 51–70 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | $29 | $29 | $59 | $100 |
| JetBlue | Free | $39 | $59 | $150 |
| American | Free | $45 | $55 | $100 |
| Delta | Free | $45 | $55 | $100 |
| United | Not in Basic Economy | $45 | $55 | $100 |
| Southwest | Free | $45 | $55 | $100 |
| Alaska | Free | $45 | $55 | $100 |
Source: airline published 2026 fee schedules (reflecting the April 2026 increases), cross-checked with BTS baggage-fee data. Prepaid-online, domestic main-cabin rates. See the full comparison and per-airline notes.
The two traps: carry-ons and “prepaid vs. airport”
Two details cost travelers the most:
- Carry-on is not free everywhere. A full-size carry-on is free on American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue — including their Basic Economy fares. But United’s domestic Basic Economy excludes a full-size carry-on (you get only a personal item), and Frontier charges for carry-ons on its base fare. On those two, the cheapest headline fare can end up costing more than a competitor’s standard fare once you add a bag.
- Pay online, never at the airport. The rates above are the prepaid-online prices. United and American charge several dollars more at the airport; JetBlue adds about $10 within 24 hours of departure; Frontier’s gate prices can be dramatically higher than at booking. Prepaying bags is almost always cheaper.
Why did bag fees jump in 2026?
The April 2026 increases pushed the legacy carriers’ first/second bags to roughly $45/$55. Two structural shifts drove the trend:
- Southwest ended free checked bags. Its longstanding “Bags Fly Free” policy ended in 2025; by April 2026 its first/second bags matched the industry at about $45/$55, with two free bags surviving only for Choice Extra fares and A-List Preferred members.
- Unbundling continues. Carriers keep separating the bag from the ticket so the base fare looks cheaper at search time. That makes the total cost of flying harder to compare — the bag fee is now a core part of the price, not an afterthought.
How to avoid or reduce baggage fees
The reliable ways to skip or cut checked-bag fees on US carriers:
- Elite status. Mid-tier and above frequent-flyer status typically waives the first (and often second) checked bag.
- Co-branded credit card. Many airline cards waive the first checked bag for the cardholder (and sometimes companions on the same reservation), often paying for the annual fee in two round trips.
- Buy up the fare. Premium-cabin and higher main-cabin fares frequently include bags.
- Go carry-on only on a carrier that includes a full-size carry-on free (avoid United Basic Economy and Frontier base fares for this).
- Prepay at booking, especially on ultra-low-cost carriers where gate prices spike.
How bag fees factor into the real cost of a route
A cheap fare with two $45 bags each way adds $180 round-trip for a couple — enough to flip which airline is actually cheapest. When you compare options, weigh the bag fee alongside reliability: a punctual route that costs $40 more in bags may still beat a delay-prone bargain. Use our route on-time pages and hub airport delay data to judge reliability, then layer in the bag cost from the baggage-fee comparison.
The bottom line
In 2026, budget about $45 for a first checked bag and $55 for a second on the major US carriers, with JetBlue ($39 off-peak) and Frontier (from $29, but carry-ons cost extra) as the outliers. Watch the two carriers — United Basic Economy and Frontier — where a “cheap” fare hides carry-on charges, always prepay online, and lean on status or a co-branded card to make bags free. Confirm the live figures on the baggage-fee page before you buy.