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 Baggage Fees: The Unintended Consequences
Should You Check or Ship Your Bags?
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 Poll: How Will You Avoid Airline Luggage Fees?
 Still think you should be able to check a bag or two for free on your next flight? Unfortunately, the airlines don't agree with you. Over the past year, nearly every U.S. airline except Southwest has added fees to check bags on flights within the U.S. -- and many are charging those fees on flights to Canada, Latin America and Europe as well.
To add insult to injury, most airlines have also jacked up their penalties on excess, oversized and overweight luggage, with fees ranging from $50 to a whopping $600.
It's difficult to keep up with these rapidly changing fees, so we're doing it for you! Below is an airline-by-airline roundup of checked bag fees (as well as who's exempt from those fees), excess baggage penalties, and charges for oversized/overweight luggage. Use the links below to jump straight to your favorite airline.
A note on oversized luggage: The dimensions given below are based on the sum of your bag's height, length and width in inches.
AirTran * Alaska * American * Continental * Delta/Northwest * Frontier * JetBlue * Southwest * Spirit * United * US Airways
First Checked Bag: $15 each way for all economy-class reservations.
Second Checked Bag: $25 each way for all economy-class reservations.
Who's Exempt: Business-class travelers and active military personnel traveling with ID and official orders. Disabled travelers may check a wheelchair for no charge.
Excess Bags: $50 per piece beyond your first two checked bags. Special fees may apply for sporting equipment.
Overweight Bags: $49 for bags weighing 51 to 70 pounds, and $79 for bags weighing 71 to 100 pounds. Suitcases that weigh more than 100 pounds are not permitted.
Oversized Bags: $49 for bags with dimensions totaling 62 to 70 inches, and $79 for bags with dimensions of 71 to 80 inches. Bags larger than 80 inches are not permitted.
AirTran's full baggage policy
First Checked Bag: $15 each way for economy-class travelers.
Second Checked Bag: $25 each way for economy-class travelers.
Who's Exempt: First-class passengers, MVP Gold Mileage Plan members, active-duty military personnel, customers traveling solely within the state of Alaska or to Guadalajara or Mexico City, and passengers making international connections to other airlines (as long as a ticketing and baggage agreement is in effect between Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air and the other airline).
Excess Bags: $50 for a third bag, and $100 for each bag thereafter.
Overweight Bags: $50 for bags weighing 51 to 100 pounds. Heavier bags are not permitted.
Oversized Bags: $50 for bags measuring 63 to 80 inches; $75 for bags measuring 81 to 115 inches. Larger bags are not permitted.
Alaska Airlines' full baggage policy
First Checked Bag: $15 each way for economy-class flights within the United States, U.S.V.I., Puerto Rico and Canada booked before August 13, 2009. $20 for tickets to these destinations purchased between August 14, 2009 and January 31, 2010. For flights within the United States, U.S.V.I. or Puerto Rico booked on or after February 1, 2010, the fee has risen to $25. Fees for flights between these destinations and Canada will remain the same.
Second Checked Bag: $25 each way for economy-class flights within the United States, U.S.V.I., Puerto Rico and Canada booked before August 13, 2009. $30 for tickets to these destinations purchased between August 14, 2009 and January 31, 2010. For flights within the United States, U.S.V.I. or Puerto Rico booked on or after February 1, 2010, the fee has risen to $35. Fees for flights between these destinations and Canada will remain the same. $50 each way for economy-class tickets purchased on or after September 14, 2009, between the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S.V.I. and the following countries: Belgium, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
Who's Exempt: First- or business-class travelers, customers who purchase full-fare economy-class tickets, customers flying to destinations beyond those mentioned above, select AAdvantage and oneworld Alliance members, and military passengers on active duty. Other exemptions apply; see link below for details.
Excess Bags: $100 per piece for third, fourth and fifth checked bags; $200 per piece for any additional bags. Exceptions may apply for international itineraries.
Overweight Bags: $50 for each bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds; $100 for each bag weighing 71 to 100 pounds. Bags over 100 pounds are not permitted.
Oversized Bags: $150 for bags measuring 62 to 115 inches. Larger bags are not permitted.
American Airlines' full baggage policy
First Checked Bag: For economy-class flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S.V.I. and Canada purchased on or after January 9, 2010, $23 each way when prepaid on the Continental Web site or $25 when paid at the airport. For tickets to these destinations purchased between October 2, 2009 and January 8, 2010, $18 (online) or $20 (at the airport). For tickets to these destinations purchased before October 2, 2009, $15 (online) or $20 (at the airport).
Second Checked Bag: For tickets purchased on or after January 9, 2010, $32 each way for economy-class flights within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S.V.I. and Canada when prepaid at the Continental Web site, or $35 at the airport. For tickets to these destinations purchased between October 2, 2009 and January 8, 2010, $27 (online) or $30 (at the airport). For tickets to these destinations purchased before October 2, 2009, $25 (both online and at the airport). For flights to Mexico, Central or South America, or the Caribbean, a fee of $27 each way (prepaid online) or $30 (at the airport) applies to tickets purchased on or after October 2, 2009. For tickets to these destinations purchased before October 2, 2009, a $25 fee applies (both online and at the airport). For flights to Europe, a $45 fee applies when the bag is prepaid at the Continental Web site; the fee rises to $50 for bags checked at the airport.
Who's Exempt: EliteAccess customers, OnePass Elite members, customers on full-fare economy tickets, active-duty military personnel, and passengers headed to international destinations besides the ones listed above.
Excess Bags: $100 per excess bag for travel to and from Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Latin America and the United States. $150 per excess bag for travel to and from other international destinations.
Overweight Bags: $50 per bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds. Heavier bags will not be accepted.
Oversized Bags: For travel to and from Canada, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Latin America and the United States: $100 per bag that exceeds 62 inches; bags exceeding 115 inches are not permitted. For travel to and from other international destinations: $150 per bag between 62 and 80 inches; $300 per bag between 81 and 115 inches; bags exceeding 115 inches are not permitted.
Continental's full baggage policy
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