Can I pay to check a bag at the airport?

You must prepay for your checked bags at least 24 hours before your flight to receive any discount. Prices are based on standard sized bags for one-way flights. Oversized and overweight bags, as well as special items, must be paid for at the airport.



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Paying for checked bags Pay for first bag: Online or at airport kiosk during check in. Pay for second bag: Only available through the Manage Trips tool. Pay for third bag: At airport only. Please check in at ticket counter.

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If you're not careful, checked bag fees can throw your vacation budget out of sorts. For most major U.S. airlines, fliers can expect to pay $30 to $35 each way to check a bag when flying economy class on a domestic route. Travelers can save money by earning elite status or getting a credit card with free baggage perks.

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Luggage fees
The sure-fire way to avoid this fee is to travel with a carry-on bag only. However, if you simply cannot do without your checked luggage, try to pay for the bag online, as it is typically much cheaper to purchase your bag on the airline's website rather than pay up front at the check-in counter.

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Within 24 hours of your departure, you can check in and notify Delta of the number of bags you will check on delta.com or on the Fly Delta app. If you've already checked in, drop your bags at Baggage Drop. You may also check in and pay for bags at the airport.

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The Delta Basic Economy baggage policy is almost identical to any standard economy fare: You get a carry-on bag and personal item for free and pay $30 each way for a checked bag (or $60 each way to Europe).

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It's rare to find U.S. airlines with free checked baggage. Southwest Airlines is the only airline without any bag fees. For other airlines, you'll need to earn elite status or book your tickets with an airline credit card.

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Make the check-in process easier by prepaying for bags before your flight. For some routes, you'll also save money on fees. You must prepay for bags at least 24 hours before your flight to save.

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Best ways to avoid checked bag fees
  1. Hold elite status (or travel with a friend/family member with elite status)
  2. Carry the right airline credit card (or travel with a friend/family member with the right card)
  3. Use a travel credit card that covers ancillary costs like baggage fees.


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A key driver in domestic checked baggage fees is tax arbitrage. Airlines want to get a portion of the transportation cost out from under the base airfare so that it is not subject to the government's 7.5% excise tax on tickets. At some level it doesn't matter what pricing mechanism is used, as long as there is one.

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It's nearly always cheaper to book extra hold luggage in advance rather than paying excess baggage fees at the airport. Airlines know that keeping within weight/size limits is not always possible, so they encourage you to plan ahead by selling extra weight online.

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Luggage fees The sure-fire way to avoid this fee is to travel with a carry-on bag only. However, if you simply cannot do without your checked luggage, try to pay for the bag online, as it is typically much cheaper to purchase your bag on the airline's website rather than pay up front at the check-in counter.

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Winner: Southwest Airlines Southwest charges absolutely no bag fees. American, Alaska, Delta and Hawaiian charge $30 for a checked bag, while JetBlue and United charge $35 for the same. Low-cost airlines Spirit and Frontier separate from the pack here, as they charge customers for all overhead carry-on items.

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This probably depends on where you're going, how long you'll be gone and what kind of trip it is. If you have more to pack than will fit in a carry-on, you'll need to check your bags with the airline.

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Weight limits for checked luggage vary from airline to airline and depend on which route you're traveling and class you're flying in. Typically, the weight limit for an individual checked bag is 50 lbs (23 kg), with some business and first class tickets allowing you to carry two bags up to this weight.

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Payment Options If you are departing from an airport where cash is no longer accepted, you have the option of paying tickets as well as baggage and other fees with any major credit or debit card.

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Southwest Checked Baggage Allowance Southwest is the only airline that provides 2 FREE CHECKED BAGS for all fares.

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With the Southwest baggage rules, your first two checked bags are free as long as they fit within the allowed weight and size limits. Specifically, each checked bag should weigh 50 pounds or less and be 62 inches in size (the sum of the bag's length, width and height) or smaller.

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The Delta baggage policy allows passengers to check up to two bags per flight. But some passengers have to pay a Delta checked bag fee. The fee varies based on route and fare class, but those with Delta elite status or a Delta credit card will sometimes get the fee waived.

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How much does it cost to gate-check a bag? Unlike bags you check ahead of a flight, an airline will check any otherwise allowed carry-on bag at the gate for free, regardless of your fare type.

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