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Packing lightly is a necessity whenever you travel, especially when you choose to fly, as most airlines impose heavy fees for additional baggage.
Besides, fees will be incurred if your travel bags exceed the standard size or weight limitations set by your airline of choice. If you are happen to be a heavy packer, be careful!

Since the beginning of 2011, lots of US airlines have increased fees on bags that do not meet their size or weight restriction, including United Airlines and US Airways. Delta along with Continental, which used to only charge a small amount for second checked bags on transatlantic flights, now raises the fees as well. It's also notable that bags more than 70 lbs are prohibited by more and more airlines today.

Generally, a majority of US airlines tends to allow passengers to carry one bag and one personal item on board. As long as your carry-on baggage don't exceed quantity, size and weight limits, you will not be charged. Otherwise, extra fees will occur. Charges for additional, overweight or oversize bags vary a lot from one airline to another. And they may also differ based on your destination countries. Take a look at the following tables to get a clear view of one-way fees for checked bags on major US airlines.

Baggage Fees for Domestic Trips:

If you are about to fly within the United States or Canada, your first two checked bags won't cost much, no matter which airline you choose. Averagely, the fees range from $25 to $35. However, fees for three or more check-in bags are really high. Well, below are the details of costs of checked bags, charged by 17 different airlines.

Please note that these are one-way fees for domestic travel within the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands may be included. As for Air France, domestic travel means trips within France.


Airline First check bag Second checked bag Additional bags Overweight bags Oversized bags
Delta Airlines $25 $35 3rd: $125
4th+: $200
51-70 lbs: $90;
71-100 lbs: $175
63 - 80 inches: $175;
81-115 inches: $300
American Airlines $25 $35 $150 for all 51-70 lbs: $100;
71-100 lbs: $200
>62 inches: $200
Alaska Airlines $20 $20 3rd: $20;
4th+: $50 each
51-100 lbs: $50 63 - 80 inches: $50;
81-115 inches: $75
US Airways $25 $35 3rd: $125
4th+: $200 each
51-70 lbs: $90;
71-100 lbs: $175
63 - 80 inches: $175
Airtran $20 $25 $50 each;
After April 10, 2012:
3rd-9th: $50;
10th+: $110
51-70 lbs: $49;
71-100 lbs: $79
After April 10, 2012:
50-100 lbs: $50
62-70 inches: $49;
71-80 inches: $79
After April 10, 2012:
62-80 inches: $50
Continental Airlines $25 $35 $100-200 each 51-70 lbs: $200;
71-100 lbs: $400
> 62 inches: $100 - 200
Southwest Airlines Free Free 3rd-9th: $50;
10th+: $110
51-100 lbs: $50 62-80 inches: $50
Frontier Airlines Economy: $20;
Other: free
Economy: $20;
Other: free
3rd+: $50 each >51 lbs: $75 > 62 inches: $75
Klm (Royal Dutch Airlines) Free $55(Within France, the Netherlands and Caribbean) 3rd+: $300 each 51-70 lbs: $55;
> 70 lbs: 100
62-118 inches: $20-75
Hawaiian Airlines $17 $17 $25 each Add $25 each Add $25 each
British Airways Free Free £77/$119/&8364;98 each 51-70 lbs: $40-60 --
United Airlines $25 $35 $100 each 51-70 lbs: $100;
71-99 lbs: $200
$100 each
Jetblue Airways Free $35 3rd+: $75 each 51-70 lbs: $50;
71-99 lbs: $100
63-80 inches: $75
Allegiant Air $35;
$29.99 (prepaid)
$35;
$29.99 (prepaid)
3rd+: $50 each 51-70 lbs: $50;
71-100 lbs: $75
>80 inches: $75
Spirit Airlines $28 (online);
$33
$35 (online);
$10
3rd-5th: $85 (online);
3rd-5th: $90
41-50 lbs: $25;
51-70 lbs: $50;
71-99 lbs: $100
62-80 inches: $100;
>80 inches: $150
Lufthansa Free $50 $70 each 51-70 lbs: $100;
71-100 lbs: $200
Add $50 each
Air France Free €55 €55 each 51-70 lbs: €55;
71-100 lbs: €100
> 62 inches: €20

As can be seen from the table above, there are actually a few airlines that let you bring two check-in bags at no charge, such as Southwest Airlines and British Airways. Other airlines like Klm, Jetblue Airways, Lufthansa and Air France only accept one free checked bag. For those who have a whole lot of things to carry with, Alaska, Airtran, Frontier, Hawaiian and Southwest might be great choices as they do not charge much on overweight bags.

Baggage Fees for International Trips:

When it comes to flying internationally, it's definitely not a good idea to bring too many bags, as the checked baggage fees might be even as high as the price of your air ticket. That's not impossible. You have to know that today lots of airlines charge way too much for checked bags on international flights. Just browse through the following table so that you can have a better understanding of how much it will cost for you to travel abroad with several pieces of checked baggage.
Airline First check bag Second checked bag Additional bags Overweight bags Oversized bags
Delta Airlines Free $40-60 Bags 3-10: $200 51-70 lbs: $75;
71-100 lbs: $200
63 - 80 inches: $175;
81-115 inches: $300
American Airlines $25 Purchased before August 30, 2011: free;
On/after August 30, 2011: $60
$150 for all 51-70 lbs: $100;
71-100 lbs: $200
63 - 80 inches: $200
Alaska Airlines Free Free 3rd: $20;
4th+: $50 each
51-100 lbs: $50 63 - 80 inches: $50;
81-115 inches: $75
US Airways Free $70;
To Brazil: free
3rd+: $200 each
To Brazil: $85
51-70 lbs: $150;
71-100 lbs: $175
63 - 80 inches: $175
Airtran $20 $25 $50 each;
After April 10, 2012:
3rd-9th: $50;
10th+:$110
51-70 lbs: $49;
71-100 lbs: $79
After April 10, 2012:
50-100 lbs: $50
62-70 inches: $49;
71-80 inches: $79
After April 10, 2012:
62-80 inches: $50
Continental Airlines Free $40-70 $100-200 each 51-70 lbs: $200;
71-100 lbs: $400
> 62 inches: $100 - 200
Southwest Airlines Free Free 3rd-9th: $50;
10th+: $110
51-100 lbs: $50 62-80 inches: $50
Frontier Airlines Purchased before November 8, 2011: free $20 3rd+: $50 each >51 lbs: $75 > 62 inches: $75
Klm (Royal Dutch Airlines) Free $75-100 3rd+: $200 each 50.5-70.5 lbs: $300 62-118 inches: $200-300
Hawaiian Airlines North America: $25;
Other places: free
North America: $35;
Other places: free
3rd-6th: $125 each;
7th+: $200 each
add $50 each add $100 each
British Airways Free £34/$51/€43 £34/$51/€43 each 51-70 lbs: $40-60 --
United Airlines Free $40-70 >$200 each >$400 each >$200 each
Spirit Airlines $33 (online);
$38
$40 (online);
$45
3rd-5th: $90(online);
3rd-5th: $95
41-50 lbs: $25;
51-70 lbs: $50;
71-99 lbs: $100
62-80 inches: $100;
>80 inches: $150
Lufthansa Free $50 $150 each 51-70 lbs: $300;
71-100 lbs: $400
$100 each
Air France Free €100 €100 each 51-70 lbs: €100;
71-100 lbs: €300
> 62 inches: €300

Notice that these basic charges mentioned in tables above are cumulative and subject to change. It's advisable for you to visit the official site of your airline of choice to obtain the latest information.

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