UPDATED January 19, 2010

 

Recently, I set out to find reliable information on checked baggage fees at individual airlines. Rather than simply call their respective media departments, I wanted to learn what information they provided to the public on their websites. Easy? No. Accurate? As accurate as I can be only using the internet as a resource. These fees are for checked baggage associated with domestic  coach class tickets purchased by people that don't have a bazillion frequent flier miles. The bottom line is check with your carrier before booking a ticket and be sure to factor in the cost of checked baggage.

Air Tran- The first bag you check at Air Tran costs $15.  The second bag is always $25. It doesn’t matter if you check it in online or not. (their website is still showing prices for 2008 though, so this may have changed.) Looks like Air Tran is a little disorganized. *could do a little chortle here*

 

American Airlines- First bag $25, Second checked bag is $30

Continental Airlines- $25 for the first bag, $35 for the 2nd. Both less if booked online.

Delta Airlines- At Delta Airlines, the first bag you check is just $25 dollars (less if you book online).  The second bag is $35 (less if you book online). According to the website that is a one time fee and there is no coming back cost.  You just pay once and that’s it.  The trick is, you must do it online.  Checking your bags at the airport is gonna cost you an additional $5 surcharge.  This deal is also only for people traveling throughout the USA.  And yes, that does include US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Hawaiian Airlines- It’s $15 dollars for your first bag at Hawaiian Airlines, and $25 dollars for your second checked bag if you knock it out on their website, but again, a $5 surcharge on both bags if you choose to check your bags at the airport.  They also don’t say if it’s a one-time shot, or if you have to pay again when you come back to reality land. And by reality land, I mean the Continental United States. But hey, it is Hawaii after all, and Hawaii is an amazing place to visit! (you could just say reality instead)

Jet Blue- As usual, Jet Blue is awesome allowing everyone to check one bag completely free.  The second bag however is $30, which sort of makes up for the would-be cost of the first bag.  Again the bags must be normal, and not over 50 lbs.  No sneaking your pet elephant in a checked bag here; that would be crazy anyway. Use cargo for that *wink*. There is also no option for an online check in for bags at Jet Blue.  All bags must be checked in at the airport.

Midwest Airlines- It is $20 each way for your first bag to be checked at Midwest Airlines, and $30 each way for your second bag.  It’s expensive, but Abraham Lincoln was from the Midwest, and you can’t argue with that for attraction quality as far as touristability goes for a destination. There is no option for online baggage check in. All of it is done at the airport.

Northwest Airlines- Northwest gives you two checked bags for free under 50 lbs, rivaling the ‘Mavericks’ of Southwest airlines, however, that is only if you check them in online. There’s that sneaky $5 surcharge if you check them at the airport that keeps popping up.

Southwest Airlines- Southwest Airlines does not charge ANYTHING to check your first OR second bag!  Priding themselves as the “Mavericks” of the airline industry, Southwest brashly protests their competitors for charging money for the checking of a few measly bags. Sports equipment like skies and golf clubs are also free.

 

Spirit Airlines- Spirit Charges $19 to check your first bag online, and $25 if you want to check the first bag at the airport. It’s $25 for your second bag online and at the airport. There is no extra fee for airport check in of your second bag like there is for your first.

Sun Country- On Sun Country, it is strongly encouraged to check your bags online for $5 less than at the airport. It is $15 for your first bag online, and $20 for your second bag registered online.

 

United Airlines- United charges $25 for the first bag going and coming from your destination, and $35 dollars for your second bag if you check them in online on the United website.  The price goes up if you check your bags at the airport.  You get a $5 surcharge per bag if you do it there. (The airport)

US Airways- US Airways follows suit with many other airlines by  charging an extra $5 to check bags at the actual airport. To check your first bag online it’s $15, to check your second it’s $20. They don’t specify if it’s a one time payment, or if you have to pay again when you come back.

Virgin America- One can check their first bag for free at Virgin as long as it weighs less than 70 lbs.  There is no mention of a fee for a second bag. They were very nice and gave reasons as to why bags could be no heavier than 100 lbs.  No other airline gave a nice explanation even though I think we all know by sheer common sense why we can’t check bags larger than 100 lbs.

 

Check back often as we will continue to update this list and improve it as more information is made available by the individual carriers.