Ticket-date explainer
US airline bag fee changes in 2026
Ticket-date explainer for 2026 US airline bag fees: Southwest after Bags Fly Free, United Basic Economy, and AA/DL/AS/HA published ladders. Last verified 2026-09-16.
Quick answer
Several US carriers raised or restructured bag fees in 2025–2026. Ticket purchase (and sometimes change) date often decides which table you pay. Southwest no longer gives two free checked bags on most fares. United Basic Economy gate checks cost more on new tickets. American, Delta, Alaska, and Hawaiian publish $45 / $55-class domestic first/second ladders for new tickets. Frontier and Allegiant still use dynamic pricing — use their calculators.
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Last verified: 2026-09-16. Confirm the airline’s dated table or calculator before you fly.
Southwest — Bags Fly Free ended; Apr 2026 raise
- Checked fees introduced for most products for bookings on/after May 28, 2025.
- U.S. Mainland booked/ticketed and/or changed on/after April 9, 2026: Basic / Choice / Choice Preferred 1st $45 / 2nd $55; Choice Extra still 2 free; 3rd+ $150.
- Pre–Apr 9, 2026 mainland bookings often still $35 / $45 until voluntarily changed.
- Carry-on + personal item remain free all fares (24 × 16 × 10 carry-on).
- Interisland Hawaii non-resident post–Apr 9: $30 / $40 / $50 (residents with RR # still 2 free — see SWA fees page).
- Source: southwest.com travel-fees (live-confirmed 2026-09-16). Full leaf: Southwest baggage fees.
United Basic Economy / Apr 2026 fee windows
- Most domestic BE: personal item only (9 × 10 × 17).
- Tickets on/after April 3, 2026: forced full carry-on / failed personal → $45 prepaid / $50 lobby / $75 gate (gate also described as $25 handling + applicable checked-bag fee). Pre–Apr 3 tickets may still show $35 / $40 / $65 — do not present $65 as current default.
- Domestic Economy checked sample: $45 / $50 1st; $55 / $60 2nd; $200 3rd+.
- Asia / Japan / HK / Philippines fee increases for tickets on/after Jul 21, 2026.
- Contrast: Delta/AA Basic still include free carry-on.
- Leaves: United baggage fees, United personal item.
American — Apr 9 / May 18 ticket-date tables
- Main Cabin core domestic/short-haul, tickets ≥ Apr 9, 2026: 1st $45 online / $50 airport; 2nd $55 / $60; 3rd+ $200.
- Basic Economy checked often +$5 vs Main for tickets issued ≥ May 18, 2026.
- Cabin bags: free carry-on + personal (22×14×9 / 18×14×8) including BE.
- Sources: aa.com + Apr 9, 2026 newsroom (2026-09-16). Leaf: American baggage fees.
Delta — published domestic ladder
- Main/Comfort domestic: 1st $45 / 2nd $55 / 3rd+ $200 (single published amount; no prepaid split listed).
- Free carry-on + personal on Basic. Personal inches not published.
- Sources: delta.com baggage pages. Leaf: Delta baggage fees.
Alaska & Hawaiian — Apr 10, 2026+
- NA Main/Saver tickets ≥ Apr 10, 2026: $45 / $55 / $200; no prepaid discount listed on that table.
- Legacy Oct 14, 2025–Apr 9, 2026: often $40 ($35 pre-pay) / $45 / $150.
- Interisland (wholly within Hawaii): $30 / $40.
- Saver ≠ ultra-basic bags — free carry-on; checked = Main rates.
- HA Huakaʻi: 1st+2nd free ≤50 lb wholly within HI.
- Sources: alaskaair.com / hawaiianairlines.com checked-bags (HA live 2026-09-16). Leaves: Alaska baggage fees, Hawaiian baggage fees.
Frontier & Allegiant — dynamic only
- Frontier: Bag Price Checker; published OW $75 (41–50 lb); $100 vs $129 for 51–99.99 lb by booking before/on-after Apr 4, 2026; OS $75 (63–110). Personal 18×14×8 free; carry-on 24×16×10 paid on Basic/Standard (live bag-options 2026-09-16).
- Allegiant: per-segment route/timing; carry-on Optional Services $10–$75; OW/OS +$50 / +$75 / +$75; personal 8×14×18; carry-on 10×16×22.
- Same dynamic honesty for Sun Country / Avelo / Breeze on sibling leaves.
Leaves: Frontier baggage fees, Allegiant baggage fees, Sun Country baggage fees, Avelo baggage fees, Breeze baggage fees.
How to use ticket dates (checklist)
- Find purchase / change date on confirmation.
- Open the airline’s official fees page and match the dated table.
- For ULCCs, run the airline calculator for the exact itinerary.
- Re-check before airport payment — lobby/gate is often higher.
FAQ
- Did Southwest stop Bags Fly Free?
- For most fares, yes — checked fees began May 28, 2025. Carry-ons stayed free. Some fares and status/card/military paths still include free checked bags.
- Why is United’s Basic Economy gate fee $75 now?
- For tickets on/after April 3, 2026, United’s BE forced-check ladder is $45 / $50 / $75. Many older blogs still cite $65 from the prior window.
- Do American and Delta Basic Economy include a carry-on?
- Yes. Unlike most United BE domestic flights, AA and DL still include a free size-compliant overhead bag (bin space can still be limited).
- Are Frontier and Allegiant checked bags a fixed price?
- No. Use each airline’s official pricing tool. BagRule only lists published overweight/oversize add-ons.
- Which date controls my fee?
- Usually when the ticket was purchased (and for Southwest, sometimes when it was changed). Confirm on the carrier’s dated table.
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Bag rules change. Confirm size, fee, and fare rules on the airline site before you travel. BagRule is a publisher site and does not sell tickets or bags.