Airline baggage fees,
clear before you fly.
Baggage fees depend on more than weight. Check the airline, fare, route, date, bag number and payment stage in one place.
Start a baggage check for your flight
Baggage fee calculator
Enter your route, fare, ticket date and each bag; see known components and unknowns.
↗Airlines A–Z
See what the airline says about your bag and where to check the price.
↗Check bag size
Add outside dimensions, including handles and wheels.
↗Compare airlines
Use matching bag inputs and see where a fare quote is still needed.
↗Baggage guides
Understand extra bags, split packing, deadlines and fare conditions.
↗Refunds and problems
Follow the DOT reporting path for delayed, lost or damaged baggage.
↗Policy changes
Track dated changes and known source conflicts.
↗Sources and method
See which rules we checked and what still needs a price from the airline.
↗Packing tools
Convert weight, check personal items and compare payment stages.
↗U.S. route regions
See why domestic, Canada, transatlantic and transpacific bags differ.
The difference between a fee and a quote
A fee table helps you plan. But your ticket date, fare, airline, and any free-bag benefit can change what you pay. We’ll show a dollar amount only when those details match the airline’s published rule.
What you’ll find here
Browse 92 airline brands. We have checked detailed rules for 50; the others link you to an official place to start. A directory listing doesn’t tell you whether an airline flies your route today, so check your booking before you buy a bag.
Checked bag rules at a glance
A size or weight limit won’t tell you the full price. The same 45 lb bag is ordinary under some 50 lb policies and overweight under Frontier’s 40 lb standard.
| Question | What the airline says | Next check |
|---|---|---|
| American standard checked bag | 50 lb and 62 linear in for the published standard U.S. bag | Ticket date, Basic vs Main Cabin, online eligibility and any waiver |
| Southwest mainland checked bag | 50 lb and 62 linear in standard threshold | Fare, April 2026 ticket boundary, Choice Extra or other benefit |
| Frontier standard checked bag | 40 lb and 62 linear in standard threshold | Check your bag price; two published heavy-bag fees disagree |
Carry-on and personal item are different
An overhead suitcase and an underseat backpack use different size boxes. A bag that fits the box can still be excluded by a fare or require gate handling on a small aircraft.
| Carrier | Overhead carry-on | Underseat personal item |
|---|---|---|
| American | 22 × 14 × 9 in | 18 × 14 × 8 in |
| Delta | 22 × 14 × 9 in; 45 linear in | Underseat fit; no universal box confirmed here |
| JetBlue | 22 × 14 × 9 in | 17 × 13 × 8 in |
| Southwest | 24 × 16 × 10 in | Underseat fit |
Where a lower bag cost can come from
Compare online and airport
A discount applies only to the carrier, route, bag and cutoff in the published rule.
PackingSplit a heavy bag
Check whether a second piece costs less than the excess charge for the first.
Existing benefitsCheck card and status
Verify the exact product, member and companion conditions before subtracting a fee.
Policy changes to check first
American 2026 fee rows
The April and May boundaries can change the first or second bag row.
Fare inclusionSouthwest 2026 changes
Choice Extra and eligible benefits differ from the ordinary mainland table.
Airline statusSpirit ceased operations
Historic bag information should lead to refund guidance, not a new purchase.
Before you leave for the airport
- Find the ticket’s operating airline and exact fare.
- Check the date the ticket was issued or changed.
- Count bags per traveler and per direction.
- Measure all three outside sides and weigh each bag.
- Check a separate excess or special-item rule if applicable.
- Confirm the purchase cutoff, bag-drop time and final price in the airline checkout.
Three questions travelers ask first
Does 50 lb equal 23 kg?
Not exactly. Fifty pounds is about 22.68 kg; 23 kg is about 50.71 lb. Use the airline’s original limit near a boundary.
Is a free checked bag free when it is overweight?
Not necessarily. A fare or card may cover the standard piece while excess weight or size follows a separate rule.
Can I use the same bag fee for a round trip?
Only when both directions have the same operator, fare, ticket-date rule, bag and purchase conditions. Otherwise check each leg.