Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines are the latest two U.S. carriers to raise baggage fees in the face of rising fuel costs and uncertainty in the Middle East.
Delta, Southwest Raises Checked Bag Fees, The Latest Carriers To Hike Prices
Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines have raised its checked baggage fees, becoming the latest U.S. carriers to pass along higher costs to travelers in the form of higher luggage fees.
Starting this week, Delta will charge $45 for a first checked bag and $55 for a second, both up $10. The fee for a third checked bag jumps even more steeply to $200. Delta says the increase reflects higher operating costs, particularly fuel, which has surged in recent weeks.
Southwest Airlines is also raising its checked bag fees by $10, bringing the cost to $45 for a first checked bag and $55 for a second, matching Delta’s pricing. That move is perhaps even more notable than Delta’s because Southwest only abandoned its long-standing “bags fly free” policy less than a year ago. Now, it is not just charging for checked bags…it is raising those fees as well.
These increases come as airlines grapple with a sharp rise in jet fuel prices, which have surged nearly 90% in recent weeks amid geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions.
Airlines have a long history of moving in lockstep when it comes to fees. Last week, United Airlines and JetBlue Airways also increased their checked bag fees, and other carriers often follow such pricing moves.
American Airlines Is The Last Major Holdout…For Now
At this point, American Airlines is the only major U.S. carrier that has not yet matched this latest increase.
But history suggests that may not last long. Airlines rarely leave money on the table when a competitor successfully raises fees, and there is little incentive for American to remain the outlier. In fact, I would not be surprised if American announces a similar increase before this post even publishes.
UPDATE: American Airlines Raises Bag Fees, Adds New Basic Economy Restrictions
CONCLUSION
Delta and Southwest have raised checked baggage fees to match United and JetBlue. The latest baggage fee increase is part of a broader industry shift as airlines look to offset rising fuel costs without directly raising fares.
But don’t expect these fees to retreat if the ceasefire holds and oil prices retreat. In fact, the only thing I would expect is for American Airlines to follow soon.
> Read More: United Airlines Raises Checked Bag Fees By Up To $50 Per Bag
image: Delta Air Lines
Virtually every carrier in the world will sell you a Y ticket with the facility to check luggage in, either as the baseline option or as part of a bundled fare. The likes of DL and UA are offering bundled fares with names like ‘comfort extra’, sometimes priced at hundreds of dollars for a shortish journey, which come without any baggage allowance. DL have six domestic Y fare types and none of them includes luggage.
Does anyone know whether there’s any actual rationale explaining that choice, or are they just pointlessly aping each other?
This is a regressive tax against consumers. Most of those with status, traveling in premium cabins, or doing carry-on only are not affected by this. Ironically, it’s punishing the poors, yet again. If prices rise too much, they’ll just stay home. It’s corporate greed at it’s finest. Certainly not unique to America, but something we excel at. *sigh*
LOL…’monkey see, monkey do….’
It seems inevitable that AA will follow this trend…
All those fees, once they go up, they never go back down!
Is that lady in the article’s lead photo smiling cuz she just got screwed outta $10 ? …lol.. Maybe just a tad of disconnect
with the text of the article ( except it does look like she is checking a bag ) ?…On the other hand maybe she’s a hamster, spinning in the wheel with her American Express card !
I know the agent is as it’ll help next years profit sharing