American Airlines rises baggage fees: How much does it cost to check a bag in other airlines in 2024?
American Airlines is once again increasing their baggage fees. A look at how much these fees are across companies.
Tired of paying for your bags when flying? Well, passengers who frequently fly with American Airlines may want to consider other options as the company announced this week that it will once again raise the price for checking a bag.
How much will checking a bag cost now?
The company allows passengers to save if they purchase online rather than waiting until they arrive at the airport. Purchasing a bag online will cost $35 or $40 at the airport. In either case, if you check a second bag, they will cost $45 regardless.
The airline will also be increasing the prices of oversized bags. A bag weighing between fifty and seventy pounds can cost between $100 and $200. However, after 17 April, bags weighing between fifty and fifty-three pounds will cost $30, and those over fifty-three but under seventy will cost between $100 and $200. This gives travelers a little wiggle room. For more information on how much the fee will be for bags over seventy pounds, check out the table published by American Airlines on their website.
What about other airlines?
American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airways, and Southwest Airlines control two-thirds of the US commercial aviation sector. How do their baggage prices stack up against each other? For international flights not purchased under a basic economy ticket, up to two bags can be checked for free.
Starting with Southwest, all passengers who purchase a ticket receive two bags under fifty pounds for free.
Delta prices are slightly less than American’s: $30 for the first bag $40. United Airlines offers a baggage calculator because the prices vary based on the destination and origin of the flight, as well as the ticket’s class.
Budget airlines like Spirit and Fronteer have higher prices for bags.
Fronteer, like United, has a calculator that shows how much a carry-on would cost, in addition to the fees for checking one, two, three, or more bags online versus at the airport. For a flight between Atlanta and Buffalo, a carry-on would cost $69 if you purchase it when booking the ticket. However, if you wait, you will pay $10 more. The first would cost $68 for larger bags if purchased when buying the ticket and $78 thereafter. The second and third back cost $98 and $118, respectively. At Spirit, bag prices vary depending on how far ahead the flight is and when the bag is being purchased. Fees range from the upper forties to more than one hundred dollars.