American, United and Delta have all raised checked-bag fees since early April 2026, pushing the first checked bag on a domestic flight to $45 or $50 at most of the three largest U.S. carriers just as holiday travel booking ramps up.
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American Airlines’ new pricing, confirmed on its own newsroom site, took effect April 9, 2026: a first checked bag now costs $45 prepaid or $50 at the airport, a second bag runs $55 prepaid or $60 at the airport, and a third bag jumps to $200. Basic Economy flyers on domestic itineraries face even steeper charges starting May 18, paying $50 prepaid for a first bag and $60 for a second, and American set a $70 first-bag fee for Basic Economy tickets in select South American markets as well.
United and Delta Moved First
United raised its checked-bag fees on April 3, 2026, according to ABC News, taking a prepaid first bag from $35 to $45 and a prepaid second bag from $45 to $55; paying at check-in instead of in advance now costs $50 for a first bag and $60 for a second. Third bags climbed from $150 to $200.
Delta followed less than a week later. A first checked bag now costs $45 and a second costs $55, per Delta’s own baggage policy page, up from $35 and $45 previously, with third bags also rising to $200, as CBS News reported at the time.
- American: first bag now $45-$50, up from prior pricing, effective April 9
- United: first bag now $45-$50, up from $35-$40, effective April 3
- Delta: first bag now $45, up from $35, effective April 9
Airlines have layered on charges for seat selection, priority boarding and even carry-on space in recent years, especially in Basic Economy fare classes. American also confirmed that starting May 18, Basic Economy passengers will pay to select a seat and lose eligibility for complimentary upgrades even if they hold elite status, according to its own announcement. But a checked bag remains one fee that most leisure travelers, particularly families and anyone flying for more than a long weekend, still cannot easily avoid.
The timing lands squarely ahead of the busiest travel booking window of the year. Families planning Thanksgiving and Christmas trips who wait to book, or who check more than one bag per traveler, will feel the increases most directly once fares for late 2026 go on sale.
Carriers have pointed to rising fuel costs as the reason for the increases. Fliers with airline-branded credit cards, elite status or premium-cabin tickets are typically still exempt from the higher fees, but travelers booking basic fares for holiday trips this year will likely pay more to check a bag than they did last winter.
