Air travel costs are continuing to increase amid the war with Iran and resulting oil crisis. As fuel costs have climbed, so have airfares—and now, baggage fees are next.
The latest US carrier to raise its baggage fees is Delta Air Lines, which said it would increase the cost of checking a bag by $10 for tickets purchased on or after Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
That means that with the new fees, travelers will now pay $45 to check their first bag and $55 for the second bag. “These updates are part of Delta’s ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics,” a Delta spokesperson tells Traveler. The increased fees only apply to domestic and certain short-haul international flights, so travelers on long-haul flights can still check their first bag for free.
Delta isn’t the only US airline charging more for customers’ bags: United and JetBlue already implemented similar fee hikes earlier in April.
United also raised its baggage fees by $10 for all bookings made on or after April 3, 2026. That means travelers on domestic and other short-haul routes will now pay $45 for their checked first bag and $55 for the second bag. (Long-haul flights still include one free check bag.)
JetBlue raised its fees by $4 during off-peak travel periods and $9 during peak travel periods. Passengers on domestic flights and certain short-haul international routes will pay $39 to check a bag during slower seasons like winter and $49 during busy travel periods like summer and around most holidays.
JetBlue’s new policy is currently in effect for all new bookings. “Adjusting fees for optional services used by select customers, such as checked baggage, allows us to continue offering more competitive fares while delivering the onboard experience our customers love,” says a JetBlue spokesperson.
Delta, United, and JetBlue all offer baggage fee calculators on their sites so passengers can tabulate their potential luggage fees before showing up at the airport. All three airlines allow at least one free checked bag for fliers with elite status through their loyalty programs, holders of their co-branded credit cards, as well as for active duty members of the military.
Looking ahead, experts say it’s likely only a matter of time before all US airlines increase their checked luggage fees. “I would be more surprised if we didn’t hear about other US carriers following suit at this point,” says Katy Nastro, a travel expert at Going. “These other carriers have basically given everyone else the green light to follow.”
Even if the war ends soon and oil prices cool, that doesn’t mean airlines will bring their baggage fees back down. “Airlines likely had bag fee hikes in their playbook all along, but were waiting for the right moment in the future,” Nastro says. Now, with the rising cost of fuel, carriers “can raise fees, generate extra revenue to cover some additional expense, and remind travelers they aren’t required to check a bag.”
