American Airlines announced on Thursday that it would be increasing checked baggage fees, bringing it in line with pretty much every other major U.S. airline that has already made the same move over the past few weeks. The airline says the decision was made “in light of the current operating environment,” which is corporate shorthand for jet fuel is expensive again and we’re not willing to absorb that cost.
American Airlines Increases Check Bag Fees
Going forward, passengers flying domestically including to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, and short‑haul international destinations will now pay $50 for a first checked bag and $60 for a second. A third bag? That’ll run you $200! Travelers who prepay online or in the American app can knock $5 off those prices, paying $45 and $55 respectively, which feels less like a discount and more like a reward for helping them reduce airport staffing costs.
Remember the days when we were outrage about the $20 fees for check bags! Now taking clothing with you or a bottle of wine is going to cost you $50 dollars each way! Honestly ridiculous, as we have only seen airline ticket prices climb post covid. And service or legroom is not getting any better!
Basic Economy customers, naturally, are getting hit even harder. For tickets purchased starting May 18, the first checked bag will jump to $55, and the second to $65. Yet like main cabin fares, travelers can unlock their $5 “digital coupon” by paying in advance.
Airline fees: Monkey See, Monkey do
If this sounds familiar, it’s because American Airlines was essentially the last holdout among the big U.S. carriers. JetBlue kicked things off in late March just days after Trump’s “not war” started in Iran. Jet fuel prices spike and airlines look for ways to increase revenue. Shortly after, United followed on April 3, Delta on April 8, and both Southwest and Alaska piled on this week. With this move, American, Delta, and United now have near‑identical bag pricing models (including the small prepaid discount). Alaska, notably, eliminated its own prepayment discount when its new fees took effect on April 10.
Common baggage fee by Airlines
| Alaska | American | Delta | Jetblue | Southwest | United | |
| Bag 1 | $45 | $50 | $45 | $49 | $45 | $50 |
| Bag 2 | $55 | $60 | $55 | $69 | $55 | $60 |
Remember it wasn’t until May 2025 that Southwest started to charge for checked bags. Now less than a year later. Prices are increasing. What a joke.
The underlying driver here is fuel. Airlines went into 2026 budgeting jet fuel at around $2.50–$2.70 per gallon. Instead, global prices surged from about $96 per barrel in late February to nearly $197 per barrel by late March. By April 9, the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index hit $4.25 per gallon. A massive swing that effectively blew up cost forecasts across the industry.
While many European and Asian carriers opted for temporary fuel surcharges (a more transparent, if equally unpopular, approach), U.S. airlines have largely chosen to quietly hike ancillary fees instead. After all something temporary comes back down. Airlines rarely reduce fees.
This goes beyond just baggage fees. Delta has already announced plans to trim some marginal flying particularly red‑eyes and off‑peak routes suggesting that baggage fees alone won’t fully offset the spike. Los Angeles to Anchorage is just one of many routes getting the axe.
In other words: the era of “unbundled” air travel continues and your suitcase is paying the price thanks to an illegal war.
