Research · Oct 17, 2026
Checked Bag Fee Index 2026
What a checked bag costs on 44 airlines, converted to dollars, from free to $100+ each way.
Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction
None of them is a U.S. airline on domestic flights. 10 include two bags on flights to and from the U.S., including Emirates, Qatar, ANA and JAL.
Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, Southwest and United all charge $45 each way for the first bag after the spring 2026 increases.
Only when you add the bag while booking. The same bag costs $150 round trip at the airport.
Waiting until the airport costs extra on Allegiant (+$110), Frontier (+$100), Avelo (+$50), Sun Country (+$32), JetBlue (+$20), American (+$10) and United (+$10).
All of them fly long-haul from the U.S.: ANA, Cathay, Emirates, Etihad, EVA, JAL, Korean Air, Qantas, Qatar, Singapore and Turkish.
That's on the cheapest fares, paying online; American Basic Economy costs $400. On Emirates, Qatar and ANA the same bags are free.
One checked bag, round trip, on a regular economy fare
Paying online, in U.S. dollars. Ranges mean the price depends on the route or date.
Included in the fare on 24 airlines (not charted): Aer Lingus, Air France, Air NZ, ANA, Avianca, British Airways, Cathay, Copa, Emirates, Etihad, EVA, Iberia, Icelandair, JAL, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM, Lufthansa, Qantas, Qatar, Singapore, SWISS, Turkish, Virgin Atlantic.
U.S. airlines: online, at the airport and for a family
One bag per person on the cheapest fare for the family of four.
| Airline | 1st bag online | At the airport | Round trip, 1 bag | Family of 4, round trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegiant Air | $20–$50 | $75 | $40–$100 | $160–$400 |
| Frontier Airlines | $29–$63 | $79–$92 | $58–$126 | $232–$504 |
| Sun Country Airlines | $34–$45 | $50 | $68–$90 | $272–$360 |
| Breeze Airways | $35–$41 | $35–$41 | $70–$82 | $280–$328 |
| JetBlue | $39–$49 | $49–$59 | $78–$98 | $312–$392 |
| Avelo Airlines | $40–$45 | $65 | $80–$90 | $320–$360 |
| Alaska Airlines | $45 | $45 | $90 | $360 |
| American Airlines | $45 | $50 | $90 | $400 |
| Delta Air Lines | $45 | $45 | $90 | $360 |
| Hawaiian Airlines | $45 | $45 | $90 | $360 |
| Southwest Airlines | $45 | $45 | $90 | $360 |
| United Airlines | $45 | $50 | $90 | $360 |
- Allegiant Air
- 1st bag online
- $20–$50
- At the airport
- $75
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $40–$100
- Family of 4
- $160–$400
- Frontier Airlines
- 1st bag online
- $29–$63
- At the airport
- $79–$92
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $58–$126
- Family of 4
- $232–$504
- Sun Country Airlines
- 1st bag online
- $34–$45
- At the airport
- $50
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $68–$90
- Family of 4
- $272–$360
- Breeze Airways
- 1st bag online
- $35–$41
- At the airport
- $35–$41
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $70–$82
- Family of 4
- $280–$328
- JetBlue
- 1st bag online
- $39–$49
- At the airport
- $49–$59
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $78–$98
- Family of 4
- $312–$392
- Avelo Airlines
- 1st bag online
- $40–$45
- At the airport
- $65
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $80–$90
- Family of 4
- $320–$360
- Alaska Airlines
- 1st bag online
- $45
- At the airport
- $45
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $90
- Family of 4
- $360
- American Airlines
- 1st bag online
- $45
- At the airport
- $50
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $90
- Family of 4
- $400
- Delta Air Lines
- 1st bag online
- $45
- At the airport
- $45
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $90
- Family of 4
- $360
- Hawaiian Airlines
- 1st bag online
- $45
- At the airport
- $45
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $90
- Family of 4
- $360
- Southwest Airlines
- 1st bag online
- $45
- At the airport
- $45
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $90
- Family of 4
- $360
- United Airlines
- 1st bag online
- $45
- At the airport
- $50
- Round trip, 1 bag
- $90
- Family of 4
- $360
Where bags are still included
Flights to and from the U.S. on long-haul airlines.
| Airline | Regular economy | Cheapest fare |
|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | 1 bagSmart | NoneSaver |
| Air France | 1 bagStandard | NoneLight |
| Air New Zealand | 1 bagSeat+Bag | NoneSeat |
| ANA (All Nippon Airways) | 2 bagsEconomy Value | 1 bagEconomy Basic |
| Avianca | 1 bagM and L | NoneXS and S |
| British Airways | 1 bagEconomy | NoneBasic (hand baggage only) |
| Cathay Pacific | 2 bagsEconomy Essential | 1 bagEconomy Light |
| Copa Airlines | 1 bagEconomy Classic | NoneEconomy Basic |
| Emirates | 2 bagsEconomy Saver | 1 bagEconomy Special |
| Etihad Airways | 2 bagsEconomy (most fares) | 2 bagsEconomy (most fares) |
| EVA Air | 2 bagsEconomy | 1 bagEconomy discount fares (A) |
| Iberia | 1 bagOptima | NoneBasic |
| Icelandair | 1 bagEconomy Standard | NoneEconomy Light |
| Japan Airlines | 2 bagsEconomy | 2 bagsEconomy (every fare) |
| KLM | 1 bagStandard | NoneLight |
| Korean Air | 2 bagsEconomy Standard | 1 bagEconomy Saver |
| LATAM Airlines | 1 bagStandard | NoneBasic and Light |
| Lufthansa | 1 bagEconomy Classic | NoneEconomy Light |
| Qantas | 1 bagEconomy | 1 bagEconomy (every fare) |
| Qatar Airways | 2 bagsEconomy Classic | 1 bagEconomy Lite |
| Singapore Airlines | 2 bagsEconomy Standard | 2 bagsEconomy Lite |
| SWISS | 1 bagEconomy Classic | NoneEconomy Light |
| Turkish Airlines | 2 bagsExtraFly | 2 bagsEcoFly |
| Virgin Atlantic | 1 bagEconomy Classic | NoneEconomy Light |
- Aer Lingus
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Smart
- Cheapest fare
- None · Saver
- Air France
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Standard
- Cheapest fare
- None · Light
- Air New Zealand
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Seat+Bag
- Cheapest fare
- None · Seat
- ANA (All Nippon Airways)
- Regular economy
- 2 bags · Economy Value
- Cheapest fare
- 1 bag · Economy Basic
- Avianca
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · M and L
- Cheapest fare
- None · XS and S
- British Airways
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Economy
- Cheapest fare
- None · Basic (hand baggage only)
- Cathay Pacific
- Regular economy
- 2 bags · Economy Essential
- Cheapest fare
- 1 bag · Economy Light
- Copa Airlines
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Economy Classic
- Cheapest fare
- None · Economy Basic
- Emirates
- Regular economy
- 2 bags · Economy Saver
- Cheapest fare
- 1 bag · Economy Special
- Etihad Airways
- Regular economy
- 2 bags · Economy (most fares)
- Cheapest fare
- 2 bags · Economy (most fares)
- EVA Air
- Regular economy
- 2 bags · Economy
- Cheapest fare
- 1 bag · Economy discount fares (A)
- Iberia
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Optima
- Cheapest fare
- None · Basic
- Icelandair
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Economy Standard
- Cheapest fare
- None · Economy Light
- Japan Airlines
- Regular economy
- 2 bags · Economy
- Cheapest fare
- 2 bags · Economy (every fare)
- KLM
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Standard
- Cheapest fare
- None · Light
- Korean Air
- Regular economy
- 2 bags · Economy Standard
- Cheapest fare
- 1 bag · Economy Saver
- LATAM Airlines
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Standard
- Cheapest fare
- None · Basic and Light
- Lufthansa
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Economy Classic
- Cheapest fare
- None · Economy Light
- Qantas
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Economy
- Cheapest fare
- 1 bag · Economy (every fare)
- Qatar Airways
- Regular economy
- 2 bags · Economy Classic
- Cheapest fare
- 1 bag · Economy Lite
- Singapore Airlines
- Regular economy
- 2 bags · Economy Standard
- Cheapest fare
- 2 bags · Economy Lite
- SWISS
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Economy Classic
- Cheapest fare
- None · Economy Light
- Turkish Airlines
- Regular economy
- 2 bags · ExtraFly
- Cheapest fare
- 2 bags · EcoFly
- Virgin Atlantic
- Regular economy
- 1 bag · Economy Classic
- Cheapest fare
- None · Economy Light
How we did this
We recorded each airline's published checked bag prices for the route most of our readers fly on it: domestic flights for U.S. airlines, flights to and from the U.S. for international ones, and flights within Europe for European budget airlines. Every figure was checked against the airline's own fee page and, where the airline blocks automated access, recent reporting; each airline's page lists its sources.
"Regular economy" is the fare most travelers buy (Main Cabin, Economy Classic, Economy Saver), not a bundle. Where an airline prices bags by route or date we show its published range, and where it publishes only maximum prices we say so. Prices in other currencies are converted at European Central Bank reference rates from 2026-10-16.
Data and citation
Download the data
Every row, with the airline or airport source we checked it against. Free to use in articles and research with a link to this page.
checked-bag-fees-2026.csvCite this study
Steven Mo, "Checked Bag Fee Index 2026," Good Flight Deals (Oct 17, 2026), https://www.goodflightdeals.com/research/checked-bag-fee-index-2026
Journalists: email hello@goodflightdeals.com for more detail or a custom cut of the data.
Sources
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Data as of Oct 17, 2026. We update this study when airlines change their rules.
- European Central Bank: euro foreign exchange reference rates (Oct 16, 2026)
- Checked bag fees for every airline, with sources
Read how we collect and check this data, or tell us if something's out of date.
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