Since JetBlue led off the parade, airline after airline has been jumping fees for checked bags from $25 to $30, a 20% increase, with second bags also going up, to $40 from $35. Delta and American have now fallen in line.
Others that have followed include United, WestJet, and Air Canada. Southwest, on the other hand, has restated that it will not change its baggage allowance, which includes two checked bags for all travelers.
The amount seems small, but as fuel prices rise and airlines look to hedge against unpopular fare increases, the totals can be amazing. For example, last year, Delta collected over $900 million in baggage fees; the new change is likely to add at least $200 million more to that, even if the number of bags checked doesn’t rise.
