Basic economy fares also don't always include a carry-on bag, much less a checked bag. This means you'll need to pay baggage fees if you want to check a bag and maybe even to carry anything larger than a backpack or purse on the plane.
People Also Ask
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.
Can I check-in online and add bags at the airport? During the check-in timeframe, there is no difference in fees whether adding your bags online, at a kiosk or at the check-in counter. If you check in online, drop your bags at the bag drop location when you arrive at the airport.
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.
When you can't get your bag under 23kg (50lb), here are your options: Pay an overweight charge. If your overweight bag is less than 32kg and there is space on the flight, you can pay an overweight charge at the airport.
That depends if you have several kg overweight and are asking for the price per kg or if you really just only have one single kg extra. For a singe kg above the limit you most probably will not get charged, especially not on a full service airline. There is usually a tolerance in the range of 2–3kg, sometimes up to 5.
On all flights, except to and from the United States, each passenger can purchase a checked luggage weight allowance of 20 kg, 25 kg, 30 kg, or 40 kg. It doesn't matter how many bags the total weight is split into, but no bag can be over 32 kg (70 lbs) in weight and 319 cm (126 inches) in total dimensions.
Also known as cargo or hold luggage, checked baggage is what's transported in the cargo hold of the aircraft. You have to check it at the airport, and pick it up once you land.
If your flight ticket is marked with the code “2 PC”, you may take two pieces of baggage, each weighing a maximum of 23 kg. If your flight ticket is marked with the code “3 PC”, you may take three pieces of baggage, each weighing a maximum of 23 kg.
The 23 KG luggage weight allowance includes the weight of the suitcase and the weight of the contents. A 23 KG allowance is enough weight to allow you to bring clothes, shoes and accessories for one person for a 2-3 week time period.
Your baggage allowanceOur standard checked baggage allowance is 23kg per bag. How many checked bags you're allowed will depend on your booking, cabin class and Executive Club Tier status.
Maximum weightNo single bag or item can weigh more than 32 kg . If you have a checked-baggage allowance of 35 kg or 40 kg your baggage must be split over at least two bags, with no bag weighing more than 32 kg . If any single bag or item weighs more than 32 kg it must be carried as freight.
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.
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.
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.