Airline baggage fees can vary greatly, and there’s nothing worse than being hit by surprise fees after booking. To add to the challenge, many U.S. airlines raised fees in March and April 2026 by about $10, with several increases tied to rising fuel costs amid the war in Iran.

At TPG, we aim to please — in other words, we try to help readers spend smarter to travel better.

This guide summarizes baggage fees by airline, so you know what fees to expect. It also outlines some smart ways to help you avoid them entirely.

How much does it cost to check a bag?

Most major U.S. airlines impose several common bag fees, including for checked bags.

As you’ll see in the chart below, the fee for your first checked bag typically starts at $45 each way, but increases quickly as you add a second or third suitcase.

This table assumes you’re purchasing a regular domestic fare and checking standard luggage that’s not overweight or oversized. Note that Frontier Airlines considers oversized baggage to weigh more than 40 pounds, whereas most others consider a bag overweight at more than 50 pounds.

These prices also assume you have no elite status, do not carry a cobranded airline credit card with a checked-bag benefit and are paying for your checked bag at the airport. The price for flights outside of the U.S. might vary slightly.

How much does it cost to bring a carry-on bag?

Some airlines also charge for carry-on baggage. This is usually limited to low-cost carriers, but you’ll want to pay attention to your allowances before your next flight. For some airlines, you’ll find that checking a bag is less expensive than bringing it on the plane with you.

Here are the carry-on bag allowances for domestic flights in economy class with most major U.S. airlines:

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You’ll notice that most airlines don’t charge a fee to bring a carry-on bag, but they limit each passenger to one personal item and one carry-on item.

A personal item is considered a backpack, laptop bag, camera bag or other small item you can stow underneath the seat in front of you. A carry-on is typically a larger bag or small suitcase that fits in the overhead bin above your seat. Each airline has different dimension limits, so you’ll want to measure your luggage and check your airline’s policy before heading to the airport.

Related: How to tell if your backpack counts as a personal or carry-on item

Best airlines for baggage fees

Unfortunately, no airlines currently offer free checked bags on domestic flights. So, regardless of your carrier, expect to pay to check your bag unless you have the airline’s cobranded credit card or status. Most major airlines charge similar prices — around $45 for your first checked bag. However, JetBlue now follows a peak and off-peak model, so if you’re flying during a peak time, expect to pay more.

Frontier is the least favorable airline when it comes to baggage fees. Not only is the price the highest, but it also depends on the particular route, date and time of a given flight. Also, while most airlines allow you to check a bag up to 50 pounds, Frontier caps the weight of a standard checked bag at 40 pounds. After that, you’ll pay a pretty penny for overweight bags. Fortunately, though, the airline offers a baggage calculator to check the price; so be sure to calculate your baggage fees to determine whether your overall travel cost is lower.

Also note that most airlines charge additional fees for overweight baggage (generally once your bag exceeds 50 pounds). Suitcases over a certain size (often measured in linear inches, length plus width plus height) will almost always require an additional fee, as will certain kinds of specialty luggage, like skis or scuba equipment.

Overall, these fees vary.

Some airlines don’t allow you to check luggage with a basic fare, while others offer bundled fares that include checked baggage. Pay close attention to which fare you purchase to minimize luggage fees.

When it comes to basic economy fares, United is the only major U.S. airline (American, Delta and United) that doesn’t include a free carry-on bag. United also charges an additional $25 gate handling fee (on top of the regular baggage fee) if an economy passenger brings a full-size bag to the gate that then must be checked.

Paying for your luggage in advance is usually the least expensive option with most airlines. You’ll want to pay special attention as some airlines offer a discount during the booking process, while others require you to simply pay for your luggage when checking in for your flight online.

How to avoid checked bag fees

Use the right credit card

Many U.S. carriers offer a simpler pathway to free checked bags: opening an airline credit card.

The majority of cobranded cards from U.S. airlines waive the first checked bag fee on domestic itineraries. In fact, many of these perks extend to companions — up to eight on the same reservation, in some cases. Some cards have annual fees of less than $100.

In other words, you and your entire family could check a bag for free on your next trip simply by holding the right credit card.

For most carriers discussed in this guide, there’s at least one credit card that waives the fee for your first checked bag. Most also extend the favor to additional companions traveling on the same reservation. If you’re a frequent flyer with a particular airline, it’s worth investigating whether there is a cobranded credit card that suits your needs.

However, perks vary by card and airline; some are more restrictive than others. For example, you must purchase your ticket using the card to utilize the first bag for free benefit on the United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees).

With most other airline cards, merely having cardholder status is sufficient, regardless of the card you swiped at the time of purchase. Similarly, with the United Explorer Card, only one additional passenger can reap the benefits; meanwhile, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card allows up to eight traveling companions to check their bags for no additional cost.

Each carrier uses slightly different rules for these policies, but here’s a summary of the cards that offer this perk:

*The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard, Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select, Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®, JetBlue Plus Card, JetBlue Premier Card and JetBlue Business Card have been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

It’s worth pointing out that many of these perks apply automatically based on the loyalty program account associated with the card. However, a few airlines require you to pay for your airfare with the cobranded card to receive the bag fee waiver.

Use a travel credit card

Many travelers aren’t loyal to a given airline, so it may not make sense to hold, say, a United card if you only travel with United once a year. Thankfully, many of the best travel credit cards include credits that can cover checked bag fees when you incur them, and some of them aren’t limited to individual airlines.

Here are a few examples:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees): Each year, Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive up to a $300 travel credit that’s applied to virtually any travel-related purchase, including checked bag fees. Any eligible purchase will be automatically credited back to you within a day or two of posting to your account.
• American Express Platinum Card®: The Amex Platinum provides cardholders with up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year to cover incidentals like seat assignments, lounge passes and checked bag fees (enrollment is required). The only downside is that you have to designate a single airline at the beginning of the calendar year, so you can’t use this across multiple carriers.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: The Hilton Aspire card provides up to $200 per year ($50 per quarter) in annual airline fee statement credits, which work just like the Amex Platinum credit (enrollment is required for select benefits). If you have both cards, you can designate two separate airlines, one for each card.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: If you can’t stomach a large annual fee, consider opening the Premium Rewards card from Bank of America. This card comes with an up to $100 annual airline incidental fee statement credit that can be used for checked bag fees, along with a reasonable annual fee of $95.

Related: The best credit cards with airline fee credits

Additionally, you could consider using a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to pay for checked bag fees. The miles you earn on this card can cover travel purchases, and you can use your miles to pay for baggage.

Have elite status

Another option to avoid checked bag fees is to hold elite status with the airline’s frequent flyer program. All airlines mentioned here offer at least one free checked bag to certain elite members.

The vast majority of these tiers — even the lowest ones — allow you to check a bag for free. However, the exact waiver depends on the airline and can vary as you climb the elite status ladder.

For example, all Delta Medallion travelers enjoy at least one free checked bag up to 70 pounds on flights within the U.S. and Canada and 50 pounds on international flights. This allowance jumps to two bags for Gold Medallion members and three free bags for Platinum and Diamond Medallion travelers.

United also grants Premier travelers a 70-pound weight allowed for checked bags: one bag for Premier Silver, two for Premier Gold, and three for Premier Platinum and Premier 1K.

American follows a similar method for checked bag quantity: one for AAdvantage Gold, two for AAdvantage Platinum and three for AAdvantage Platinum Pro and AAdvantage Executive Platinum. However, unless you’re confirmed in business or first class, bags are limited to 50 pounds (except for flights to and from Australia or New Zealand).

Plus, some published policies may offer wiggle room for elite members. For example, elite status holders might be able to get away with a 52-pound bag without tacking on an overweight fee. And, if you have elite status, you may still be able to convince a sympathetic check-in agent to waive the bag fee.

Note that many of these perks extend to partner flights as well. If you have elite status with any airline in SkyTeam, Star Alliance or Oneworld, you should be able to check your bags for free (or enjoy an increased allowance for checked bags) on partner airlines.

For more details on the perks of elite status, check out these guides:

Book a premium cabin ticket

When you travel in a premium class of service, you’ll generally enjoy waived checked bag fees — in many cases above and beyond the standard weight allowance as well. These policies typically apply whether you paid cash, points or miles for your ticket, so this can be a great way to use your travel rewards and not have to worry about extra bag fees.

You can check out your operating carrier’s checked baggage page for full details on what’s included for your specific trip.

Here are a few more tricks to avoid checked baggage fees, including overweight or oversize fees.

Gate-check your bag

Most airlines allow you to gate-check carry-on luggage for no additional cost when overhead bin space is tight — and on a fully packed flight, sometimes they’ll often require travelers to gate check.

The exceptions are typically low-cost carriers like Frontier, as well as basic economy fares on legacy carriers. Otherwise, most airlines are happy to gate-check just about whatever you’d like — and you may even have luck doing this before boarding starts.

If you gate-check your luggage, ensure the airline checks it through to baggage claim. However, you must claim some items — such as strollers, wheelchairs and even rolling carry-ons on regional planes — at the gate upon arrival.

Read the rules closely

As punitive as airline baggage policies can be, some helpful exceptions exist. For example, most U.S. carriers let you check skis, snowboards and boots as a single checked bag — even if your skis are in a different bag from your boots. The same often holds for hockey equipment, which typically doesn’t require an additional fee as long as it’s within the standard weight allotment.

Before you go to the airport, take a screenshot of the rules in case you encounter an agent who is unfamiliar with uncommon checked items.

Try curbside check-in

Check-in agents at the curb are often contractors, not airline employees. So, they may have less incentive to strictly enforce the airline’s baggage rules. Additionally, some locations may not have scales to weigh the bags.

Carry the heavy stuff on board

In the U.S., carry-on weight restrictions are rarely (if ever) enforced. So, when packing for your next vacation, put heavy items in your carry-on bag rather than risk paying for overweight checked bags.

Buy a baggage scale

For less than $10, you can find a small, lightweight scale to weigh your luggage. These scales are typically quite accurate and will help you stay under your desired weight. You’ll also avoid being that person repacking their bags at the airport and holding up the line.

Travel to select destinations

Beyond the above strategies, many airlines waive checked bag fees for all customers when traveling to specific areas. For example, American Airlines offers free checked baggage on flights to select destinations including Argentina, Brazil, China, India and Japan. This also extends to all transatlantic travels. And, if you’re flying American to either Australia or New Zealand, your free bag can weigh up to 70 pounds.

However, this often doesn’t apply to basic economy tickets, and there may be seasonal restrictions for certain locales.

Regardless of the airline you’re flying, be sure to research your baggage allowance ahead of time so you know what to expect — and so you don’t encounter an expensive surprise at the airport.

Bottom line

Bag fees are an unfortunate reality of air travel in 2026. In certain situations, your bags could wind up costing hundreds of dollars beyond the original price of the ticket. So, carefully consider baggage policies before jumping on that “great deal.”

If there’s a cobranded credit card or an easy way to earn elite status (one that offers waived baggage fees) for the particular airline you’re flying, it might be worth looking into those options. You might find that the annual fee on the credit card is far less than the checked bag fees for your family over the course of the year.

For airline-specific baggage guides, check out:

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