In 2008, as oil prices surged, American Airlines became the first major U.S. carrier to charge passengers for checked bags—at the time, a controversial move that quickly spread across the industry.
Now, with fuel costs climbing amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, that same playbook is back. Jet fuel prices in the United States are up roughly 85 percent since the day before the war on Iran began in February, according to data from Argus published by the industry group Airlines for America. At the same time, airspace closures tied to the conflict are forcing some flights onto longer routes, increasing fuel burn and putting additional pressure on airline margins.
Last week, United Airlines and JetBlue raised checked baggage fees, signaling what could be the start of a broader round of increases heading into the busy summer travel season. Now, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines have followed suit, raising fees on checked bags, further cementing what’s shaping up to be an industry-wide shift.
According to Robert Mann Jr., an airline industry analyst and consultant, instead of raising fares and possibly alienating potential customers due to sticker shock, airlines opt to increase post-booking ancillary fees. “JetBlue initiated, its erstwhile partner United followed within 48 hours, and others are likely to match, now that they have embraced fees,” Mann told Afar.
Here’s what you need to know about increased baggage fees by Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United, what’s on the horizon for other carriers, and how you can reduce the costs on your next flight.
JetBlue’s new bag fees
JetBlue’s new pricing, which took effect on Monday, March 30, increases checked baggage costs across the board.
For most domestic economy passengers, a first checked bag now costs at least $39, up from $35 previously. During peak travel periods—think spring break, major holidays, and the summer—a first checked bag now costs $49, up from $40 previously. And passengers who pay for their luggage within 24 hours of departure will be charged an additional $10.
“As we experience rising operating costs, we regularly evaluate how to manage those costs while keeping base fares competitive,” the airline said in a statement.
But there are a few ways to save, most notably for passengers with Mosaic frequent flier status or a cobranded credit card from the airline, who will still get to check their first bag for free.
You can find JetBlue’s baggage calculator online.
United’s new bag fees
United’s changes are more sweeping. For tickets purchased on April 3 and beyond, the airline has raised fees for first and second checked bags by $10 on routes within the USA and to Mexico, Canada, and much of Latin America.
That brings the cost of a first checked bag to $45 if prepaid (or $50 if paid within 24 hours of departure), while a second bag will run $55 prepaid (or $60 within 24 hours). Fees for third (or more) bags jump from $150 to $200.
For comparison, travelers who booked their flights through April 2 paid $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second when prepaid—meaning the increase represents a roughly 25 to 30 percent jump overnight.
There are some exceptions here, too: United’s cobranded Chase credit card holders, MileagePlus Premier members, active-duty military personnel, and premium cabin passengers will still receive at least one free checked bag. For everyone else, prepaying more than 24 hours before departure unlocks a $5 discount.
Delta’s new bag fees
Delta is one of the latest carriers to join the recent wave of increases. Passengers on all flights booked on or after April 8, 2026, will see fees for first and second checked bags raised by $10, bringing them in line with United’s new pricing structure. The first checked bag now costs $45, while a second bag is $55 on most domestic routes.
The increase is even steeper for travelers checking additional luggage. A third checked bag now costs $200, up $50 from previous pricing.
As with other airlines, there are exceptions: Medallion elite members, Delta SkyMiles credit card holders, and premium cabin passengers will still receive at least one free checked bag.
Southwest’s new bag fees
Less than a year after getting rid of its beloved Bags Fly Free policy, Southwest recently joined the growing list of airlines raising checked baggage fees. Baggage costs for tickets booked from April 9, 2026, and beyond will rise to $45 (from $35) for the first bag and $55 (from $45) for a second bag. The third checked bag fee remains the same: $150. Inter-island Hawai‘i flights still permit free first and second checked bags for residents.
Rapid Rewards A-list preferred members continue to get two free checked bags, while Rapid Rewards A-List members and Rapid Rewards credit card members will still get their first checked bag for free. However, for credit card holders, the second checked bag fee will jump from $45 to $55.
Why baggage fees are increasing
Fuel is one of the airline industry’s largest and most volatile expenses, and recent geopolitical tensions have pushed oil prices higher. That puts pressure on margins as airlines head into one of their busiest—and most competitive—travel seasons.
“One reason it’s easier to raise checked bag fees than fares is customers compare fares directly,” Gary Leff, an airline mileage expert who writes the View from the Wing blog, told Afar. “Raising fares unilaterally can make an airline’s price appear uncompetitive.”
That’s why, he explains, carriers often lean on ancillary fees like baggage. These charges are less visible upfront and affect only a subset of passengers, making them a relatively low-risk way to boost revenue.
Baggage fees, in particular, have long been a reliable revenue stream for airlines. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. airlines made close to $5.5 billion in revenue off baggage fees alone in 2025.
Leff added that the current tax code subsidizes checked bag fees. “Domestic airfares are subject to a 7.5 percent excise tax, but fees are not subject to this tax,” Leff says. “When airlines are able to move part of the price a customer pays for travel out of the fare and into fees, they’re able to pocket the difference in taxes. An airline generating $1 billion in bag fees saves $75 million in taxes.”
Katy Nastro, travel expert at flight-deal tracking service Going.com, told Afar an additional benefit—at least for airlines—of raising bag fees is that it makes “their credit cards more attractive by dangling the offer of a ‘free’ checked bag.”
Will other airlines follow?
Airlines don’t typically raise fees in isolation, and the U.S. airline industry has a long track record of fee “matching,” where competitors adopt similar pricing after one or two carriers make the first move.
In 2018, an industry-wide increase saw U.S. airlines align on a $30 first-checked-bag fee. And in early 2024, most major U.S. airlines raised the cost of a first checked bag to $35 and a second checked bag to $45. Since then, changes have been incremental and infrequent. Alaska Airlines, for example, raised its first checked bag fee from $35 to $40 in October 2025 for travelers who didn’t prepay.
How quickly other airlines move to follow, however, is hard to say.
“Airlines either move quickly or wait slightly to see how performance goes, almost like waiting to see how cold the water is by using your friend’s jump as a test,” Nastro said. “Would we be shocked to learn in the coming weeks of other airlines raising bag fees? Absolutely not. This essentially has given them the green light to jump, if they want.”
U.S airline checked bag fees (as of April 8, 2026)
Will bag fees come back down?
When carriers introduced checked bag fees in 2008 amid soaring fuel costs, the charges were initially framed as a temporary measure. But even after oil prices dropped during the global financial crisis, the fees remained—and eventually became a core part of airline revenue.
“Unfortunately, travelers should expect these new prices to stick even after jet fuel comes down,” Nastro said. “Unless revenue from bag fees drops dramatically, there is no reason for airlines to roll back these fees.”
Leff echoed that sentiment, saying, “It is unlikely we will see bag fees fall unless airlines see in the data that customers are traveling less because of them or unless other airlines do not match.”
