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 few years, 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.

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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 Airways
First Checked Bag: $20 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

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Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air
First Checked Bag: $20 each way for all economy-class travel.
Second Checked Bag: $20 each way for all economy-class travel.
Who's Exempt: First-class passengers, MVP and Gold Mileage Plan members and their traveling companions booked in the same record, active-duty military personnel, customers traveling wholly 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: $20 for a third bag, and $50 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

American Airlines
First Checked Bag: $25 each way for economy-class flights within the United States, U.S.V.I., Puerto Rico and Canada.
Second Checked Bag: $35 each way for economy-class flights within the United States, U.S.V.I., Puerto Rico and Canada.
Who's Exempt: First- or business-class travelers, customers who purchase full-fare tickets in economy class, 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; $150 per piece for any additional bags. Exceptions may apply for international itineraries.
Overweight Bags: $60 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 126 inches. Bags measuring more than 126 inches are not permitted.
American Airlines' full baggage policy

Continental Airlines
First Checked Bag: For economy-class flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S.V.I. and Canada, $25 each way.
Second Checked Bag: $35 each way for economy-class flights within the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S.V.I. and Canada. For flights to Mexico, Central or South America (except Brazil), or the Caribbean, a fee of $30 applies. For flights to Europe or India, a $70 fee applies for trips booked on or after June 1, 2011; a $50 fee applies for trips purchased before that date.
Who's Exempt: OnePass Elite members, Continental Airlines Presidential Plus primary Cardmembers, Star Alliance Gold and Silver members, customers on full-fare economy tickets, active-duty military personnel, and passengers headed to international destinations besides the ones listed above.
Excess Bags: $150 per bag (beyond your first two).
Overweight Bags: For domestic flights, $100 per bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds and $200 per bag weighing 71 to 100 pounds. Heavier bags will not be accepted. For most international flights, $60 per bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds. Heavier bags will not be accepted.
Oversized Bags: $100 per bag that exceeds 62 inches; bags exceeding 115 inches are not permitted.
Continental's full baggage policy

Delta
First Checked Bag: $23 each way for travel within or between the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and the U.S.V.I. when prepaid online at the Delta Web site, or $25 at the airport.
Second Checked Bag: For travel within or between the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S.V.I. and Canada, $32 each way when the fee is paid online at the Delta Web site, or $35 at the airport. For travel between the United States or Canada and Europe, $60 each way when paid online at the Delta Web site, or $75 at the airport.
Who's Exempt: First- or business-class passengers, select SkyMiles and World Perks members, passengers paying full economy fare, and active-duty military personnel. Other exemptions apply; see link below for details.
Excess Bags: For travel within the United States, Canada, U.S.V.I. and Puerto Rico: $125 for a third checked bag and $200 each for bags 4 through 10. For travel outside these regions, fees vary by itinerary from as little as $75 to as much as $600 per bag. See link below for details.
Overweight Bags: For travel within the United States, Canada, U.S.V.I. and Puerto Rico: $90 for each bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds, and $175 for each bag weighing 71 to 100 pounds. For travel outside these regions, fees vary by itinerary from as little as $50 to as much as $450 per bag. See link below for details. Bags weighing over 100 pounds are not permitted regardless of itinerary.
Oversized Bags: $100 - $175 for each bag measuring 63 to 80 inches, depending on destination. Bags measuring 81 - 115 linear inches are considered specialty items, for which fees vary by destination. Bags measuring more than 115 inches are not permitted.
Delta's full baggage policy

Frontier Airlines
First Checked Bag: $20 each way for economy-class travel within the United States.
Second Checked Bag: $20 each way for economy-class travel within the United States or to international destinations.
Who's Exempt: Summit and Ascent mileage level members, passengers traveling domestically on Classic airfares, passengers traveling on Classic Plus domestic or international airfares, and active-duty military personnel.
Excess Bags: $50 for each bag beyond your first two.
Overweight Bags: $75 for each bag weighing more than 50 pounds. Bags weighing more than 100 pounds are not permitted.
Oversized Bags: $75 for each bag measuring more than 62 inches. Bags measuring more than 110 inches are not permitted.
Frontier's full baggage policy

JetBlue
First Checked Bag: Free.
Second Checked Bag: $35 each way for travelers who booked travel on or after March 2, 2011. $30 for travelers who booked before this date.
Who's Exempt: Active-duty military personnel.
Excess Bags: $75 per bag beyond your first two checked bags.
Overweight Bags: $50 for each bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds, and $100 for each bag weighing 71 to 99 pounds. Bags over 99 pounds are not permitted.
Oversized Bags: $75 for each bag measuring 63 to 80 inches. Larger bags are not permitted.
JetBlue's full baggage policy

Southwest Airlines
First Checked Bag: Free.
Second Checked Bag: Free.
Who's Exempt: N/A.
Excess Bags: $50 each for a third through ninth bag, and $110 for any bag thereafter.
Overweight Bags: $50 for each bag weighing 51 to 100 pounds. Heavier bags will not be accepted.
Oversized Bags: $50 per bag measuring 62 to 80 inches. Larger bags will not be accepted.
Southwest's full baggage policy

Spirit Airlines
Carry-On Bags: Spirit is the first airline to charge a fee for carry-on bags. Any carry-on item that cannot fit under the seat in front of the passenger will be charged the following fees: $20 when reserved online by $9 Fare Club members more than 24 hours before departure; $30 when reserved by phone or online by non-members of the $9 Fare Club more than 24 hours before departure; $40 at the airport counter; or $45 at the gate. Carry-on bags paid for online within 24 hours of departure cost an additional $5, whereas those paid for by phone within 24 hours of departure cost an additional $10. (Certain items are exempt from these fees, such as strollers and diaper bags.)
First Checked Bag: $9 Fare Club members pay $18 for domestic flights and $23 for international flights when checking in online; non-members checking in online or any passengers checking in by phone or at the airport pay $28 for domestic flights and $33 for international flights; passengers checking their bag at the gate pay $45 for domestic or international flights.
Second Checked Bag: $9 Fare Club members pay $25 for domestic flights and $30 for international flights when checking in online; non-members checking in online or any passengers checking in by phone or at the airport pay $35 for domestic flights or $40 for international flights.
Who's Exempt: No one.
Excess Bags: $9 Fare Club members checking in online pay $75 each for a third through fifth bag on domestic flights, and $80 each on international flights. Non-members checking in online or any passengers checking in by phone or at the airport pay $85 each for a third through fifth bag on domestic flights or $90 each on international flights.
Overweight Bags: $25 for each bag weighing 41 to 50 pounds, $50 for each bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds, and $100 for each bag weighing 71 to 99 pounds. Heavier bags are not permitted.
Oversized Bags: $100 for bags measuring 62 to 79 inches, and $150 for bags measuring 80 to 160 inches. Spirit does not accept bags that measure more than 80 inches in a single dimension or that have combined dimensions exceeding 160 inches.
Spirit's full baggage policy

United
First Checked Bag: $25 each way for economy-class flights within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I.
Second Checked Bag: $35 each way for economy-class flights within the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I. $30 each way for travel between the U.S. and the Caribbean or Mexico. $50 each way for flights from North America to Europe or India if purchased before June 1, 2011; $70 each way if purchased on or after June 1, 2011.
Who's Exempt: First- or business-class travelers; Global Services, Mileage Plus 1K, Premier Executive, Premier, or Star Alliance Gold or Silver members; active-duty military personnel (and/or dependents) with ID and traveling on orders; and passengers flying to destinations besides those listed above.
Excess Bags: $100 per excess bag for flights within the U.S. or to Canada, Central America, Mexico or the Caribbean. Excess baggage fees for other international flights vary by destination; see link below for details.
Overweight Bags: $100 per bag weighing 51 to 99.9 pounds for flights within the U.S. or to Canada, Central America, Mexico or the Caribbean. Fees for other international flights vary by destination; see link below for details. Bags larger than 99.9 pounds will not be accepted.
Oversized Bags: $100 per bag measuring 62 to 115 inches for flights within the U.S. or to Canada, Central America, Mexico or the Caribbean. Fees for other international flights vary by destination; see link below for details. Bags larger than 115 inches, or with any single dimension exceeding 62 inches, will not be accepted.
United's full baggage policy

US Airways
First Checked Bag: $25 each way for all economy-class flights (except to Europe, Brazil or Israel).
Second Checked Bag: $35 each way for all economy-class flights (except to Europe, Brazil or Israel). $55 each way for flights to Europe.
Who's Exempt: Dividend Miles Preferred members, Star Alliance Silver and Gold status members, unaccompanied minors, First Class and Envoy passengers, and active U.S. military personnel with ID.
Excess Bags: $125 each for your third through ninth bags on flights anywhere except Europe, Brazil or Israel for tickets purchased on or after February 1, 2011. For tickets purchased before this date, the cost is $100. $200 each for your third through ninth bags on flights to Europe or Israel for tickets purchased on or after February 1, 2011. For tickets purchased before this date, the cost is $100. $85 each for your third through ninth bags on flights to Brazil for tickets purchased on or after February 1, 2011. For tickets purchased before this date, the cost is $100.
Overweight Bags: For tickets purchased on or after February 1, 2011, fees vary by destination and weight. For flights anywhere except Europe, Israel and Brazil, the fee is $90 per bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds and $175 per bag weighing 71 to 100 pounds. For flights to Europe or Israel, the fee is $150 per bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds and $175 per bag weighing 71 to 100 pounds. For flights to Brazil, the fee is $85 per bag weighing 71 to 100 pounds. For tickets purchased before February 1, 2011: $50 for each bag weighing 51 to 70 pounds, and $100 for each bag weighing 71 to 100 pounds. Heavier bags are not accepted.
Oversized Bags: For tickets purchased on or after February 1, 2011 to any destination except Brazil: $175 for each bag measuring 62 to 80 inches. For tickets to Brazil purchased on or after February 1, 2011: $85 for each bag measuring 62 to 80 inches. For tickets purchased before February 1, 2011: $100 for each bag measuring 62 to 80 inches. Larger bags are not accepted.
US Airways' full baggage policy

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--written by Sarah Schlichter